After yesterday’s thoroughly horrid performance against Brighton Hove & Albion, it appears that Chelsea are heeding manager Liam Rosenior’s post-match words literally.
Chelsea Boss Sacked After Record-Setting Debacle
Chelsea lost 3-0, tying a club record for consecutive league losses without scoring a goal in five matches. The last time that happened was back in 1912, 113 years ago. Their goal drought has lasted 7 hours and 57 minutes. More embarrassingly, they failed to register a single shot on target, a feat they last achieved back in Feb. 2025, curiously also against Brighton.
The current Chelsea gaffer, talking to media outlets on camera, pulled no punches in lambasting his side’s tepid effort. “It was unacceptable in every aspect. I keep coming out here to defend the players, but that was indefensible tonight.” He continued: “What I witnessed, I never want to see again from my team. We didn’t win duels, we didn’t run, we didn’t compete. That’s not a Chelsea team. That’s not what we’re building. We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror.”
He ended ominously: “Something has to change. And it has to change quickly.”
Chelsea Got the Message
Earlier this morning our sources are buzzing with news that Chelsea’s brass have taken Rosenior’s words to heart, and have opened discussions with some of the hottest managerial candidates in Europe.
And moments ago, Chelsea announced that they have parted ways with Rosenior.
Below we list the top contenders to replace him, in the club’s preferred order.
Xabi Alonso
The former Real Madrid boss is far and away the leading choice. He brings a combination of managerial excellence and star power to the role. His turnaround of Bayer Leverkusen from Bundesliga bottom-feeders to undefeated powerhouse in a single season was the coaching coup of 2023-24.
He followed that up with a turn at Real Madrid, where his on-field success (33 games in charge with 24W, 6D, 4L and a +34 goal differential) couldn’t overcome divisive locker room schisms. He was let go back in January. Chelsea are counting on the Leverkusen-edition Alonso to come on board. Much like that side, Chelsea are replete with young yet underperforming talent. Rosenior isn’t milking that; but Alonso should.
Another BIG PLUS: Alonso is available right now, and could start ASAP.
Andoni Iraola
A close second to Alonso is fellow Basque and current Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. While he lacks the celebrity cachet of the former, Iraola’s impact with the Cherries is undeniable.
He took a side only one year up from the Championship who barely survived the drop (finishing 15th in 2022/23) and has turned them into a solid Premier League squad currently sitting level with Chelsea on points (48). He accomplished this despite having his players poached by bigger clubs summer after summer. Iraola recently announced that he would leave Bournemouth after this season.
Cesc Fabregas
The former Arsenal academy graduate would be the emotional choice. Fabregas spent four seasons in Chelsea blue during which they won the Premier League twice (14/15, 16/17), the FA Cup (17/18), the League Cup (now called the Carabao Cup, 14/15) and the UEFA Europa League (18/19).
He’s a symbol of some of Chelsea’s golden years, and his return would carry monumental expectations. The only problem is his experience. Fabregas is a first time manager with Italy’s Como, having taken the job in July 2024. While that upstart club is currently on a meteoric rise, it remains unclear if this is due to his managerial brilliance (even though he has won three Serie A Coach of the Month accolades) or the massive spending by the club’s Indonesian owners.
Oliver Glasner
Admittedly, this is a long-shot choice. The current Crystal Palace chief has been widely lauded for his work with the South London club. He led the team to their first-ever major trophy with last year’s FA Cup win over Manchester City, and has the Eagles in a semi-final of the UEFA Conference League.
Much like Iraola, he’s had to make do with a team whose best players are lured away by bigger contracts. Because control over transfers was a major factor in his decision to leave Palace, it’s not clear whether that desire would clash with the current Chelsea executives.
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