Chelsea now see Gareth Southgate as prime candidate to succeed Enzo Maresca
Chelsea have now singled out an “incredible” manager as their main target to take over from Enzo Maresca, following their separation from the Italian on New Year’s Day.
Blues searching for new manager after Maresca exit
In light of Maresca’s exit, BlueCo is not intending to delay in naming a new manager, as asserted by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, who remarked: “Chelsea will appoint a new manager very soon, not gonna take weeks or a long time. The club is now working on it. “Liam Rosenior, highly regarded internally after an impressive tenure at Strasbourg, is among the candidates. “Decision to be made in days, won’t take long.” The Blues are facing a packed month ahead, with eight fixtures scheduled to take place before the conclusion of January, commencing with a challenging visit to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Sunday.
Therefore, they would benefit from quickly securing a new manager, and Rosenior may present an intriguing option, considering the work the Englishman accomplished at Strasbourg, where he led the French club to the Europa Conference League last season. However, the 41-year-old is not the primary choice, according to a Spanish report, which indicates that Chelsea have now recognized Gareth Southgate as their leading target to replace Maresca, with the quest for a new manager already initiated. The former England manager is the top contender for the position, with the board notably impressed by his performance with the Three Lions, where he demonstrated the capacity to manage pressure from the press. Additionally, Southgate is acknowledged for his talent in nurturing young players, making the 55-year-old an appealing candidate for BlueCo.
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“Incredible” Southgate could be a risky choice for Chelsea
The Englishman has garnered acclaim for his work with the Three Lions, with Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman stating: “What he has done for English football is just really incredible. Of course, they made the final again, they made the final at the last Euros too. I think he can be very, very proud of himself. I think England is very proud of him and me as a Dutchie, I’m very proud of him too.”
Indeed, Southgate guided England to two European Championship finals, but they ultimately fell short, despite having home ground advantage against Italy in 2021.
Moreover, the former Middlesbrough manager’s club-level experience is quite limited, as he has not managed any team besides England since departing from the Riverside Stadium back in 2009. Having faced relegation with Boro, the ex-England manager could represent a risky choice for Chelsea, and they might find a better fit, especially considering the opportunity for Champions League football at Stamford Bridge.
Published: 2026-01-01 20:47:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
