Liam Rosenior has been sacked as Chelsea head coach after less than four months in charge, following their 3-0 defeat by Brighton.
Rosenior was appointed by Chelsea on January 6 following Enzo Maresca’s shock departure on New Year’s Day.
The 41-year-old joined the Blues from their sister club Strasbourg, signing a five-and-a-half year deal, with the option to extend for a further year.
Despite the long-term deal, Chelsea have axed the coach after just 23 matches in charge with Calum McFarlane taking interim charge until the end of the season.
‘Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior,’ a club statement read.
‘On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.
Chelsea have sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after less than four months in charge
Rosenior’s dismissal comes following Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat by Brighton on Tuesday
‘Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment mid-way through the season.
‘This has not been a decision the Club has taken lightly, however recent results and performances have fallen below the necessary standards with still so much more to play for this season. Everyone at Chelsea FC wishes Liam every success in the future.
‘Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season with support from existing Club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup.
‘As the Club works to bring stability to the Head Coach position, we will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment.’
The Blues hierarchy have acted after a run of five successive defeats in the Premier League, with Rosenior’s side failing to score in each of them.
Chelsea’s dismal run has left their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League hanging by a thread.
The Blues slipped to seventh in the Premier League on Tuesday night, with Brighton leapfrogging them in the table after Ferdi Kadioglu, Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck earned the Seagulls a 3-0 victory at the Amex.
The result left Chelsea seven points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who occupy the final Champions League spot and have a game in hand.
Rosenior has been dismissed after a run of five straight defeats without scoring in the league
Calum McFarlane will take charge of Chelsea until the end of the season, the club has confirmed
Chelsea will next be in action on Sunday when they face Leeds in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.
Rosenior, who won 11, drew two and lost 10 of his 23 matches in charge, had expressed his confidence that the Chelsea board were backing him ahead of the match against Brighton.
‘100 per cent,’ Rosenior said on Monday. ‘They’ve been supportive of me in our daily conversations, the sporting directors involved – they’ve been magnificent in their support of me and the team.
‘We’re aligned that we know we need to win games of football now. That doesn’t go against what we’re trying to do, which is to give consistent success to this club long term.’
Rosenior’s departure comes just days after Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali stressed the club were working to have ‘stability on the manager side’.
‘Our policy has been no in-season (head coach) changes,’ Eghbali said last week in Los Angeles. ‘You certainly review and hold not only the manager, but the management team, the sporting team, accountable, but typically in the summers, not in season.
‘It’s not a change we wanted to make (Enzo Maresca leaving). It’s a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you’re changing systems and personnel, and it’s one we’ve got to fight our way out of.
‘We still have six matches in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi-final coming up. So, hopefully the story of this season hasn’t been written yet, and you’ve got a lot to fight for. In my perspective, when you get punched in the face, you’ve got to fight back, you’ve got to stand up and fight. And it’s going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad.
‘I think the perspective is stability, and frankly, getting that stability on the manager side is one of the things we haven’t done right yet, and it’s something we’re striving to improve on.’
