From Club World Cup glory to Elland Road horror-show: Five key moments as Enzo Maresca exits Chelsea

2026 is barely a day old, and yet the Premier League has already claimed its first managerial victim of the year, as Enzo Maresca exits Chelsea.

The ex-Leicester City boss claimed European and continental honours during his eighteen-month spell in charge of the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

The Italian's exit comes after a turbulant month where his side claimed only one top-flight win, and two victories in total across three competitions.

In the interim, Maresca appeared to take aim at the club's hierarchy, with many wondering if his days were numbered even if form was to be found.

Here, DAZN News looks back at five key moments from his reign in London - from some glorious highs to some ignimonious lows that marked his tenure.

Chelsea 3-1 Liverpool (Premier League, May 2025)

Struggles against heavyweight rivals like Manchester City and Arsenal, along with a rough February, had cranked up domestic pressure on Maresca.

But this flagship win against new champions-elect Liverpool showed that his young squad, bolstered with some superstars in the making, could truly fly.

An early Enzo Fernandez finish and a Jarell Quansah own goal teed up success, with Cole Palmer adding an injury-time penalty to ice an impressive cake.

Real Betis 1-4 Chelsea (UEFA Conference League, May 2025)

Having found themselves in the third tier of European competition, the Blues were heavy pre-tournament favourites to prevail, even with a few close calls.

Even so, nerves abounded as they faced Real Betis at Wrocław Stadium - but Maresca swiftly put fears to bed with an inspired squad selection for the final.

Despite trailing early on, he kept a cool head on his team, and a final-quarter flood of goals secured a crucial piece of silverware for the Blues away from home.

Chelsea 3-0 Paris Saint-Germain (FIFA Club World Cup, July 2025)

Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Further success was to come however - and this time around, Chelsea were far away from being the bookie's favourites to enjoy success on this very stage.

Part of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup through their UEFA Champions League success several years ago, the Blues battled their way through to the final.

There, they stunned incumbent European champions PSG in a 3-0 rout, with Maresca involved in an altercation with opposite number Luis Enrique afterwards.

Leeds United 3-1 Chelsea (Premier League, December 2025)

Mixed form appeared to have been mostly arrested as the Blues headed into the final month of 2025 - but they were in for a rude awakening at Elland Road.

Against a Leeds side previously bereft of confidence, Chelsea were outrun and outgunned by Daniel Farke's men, who smashed their way to a home victory.

It kick-started what ultimately proved to be the final orders for Maresca at Stamford Bridge - but it would not be the straw that broke the camel's back in the end.

Chelsea 2-0 Everton (Premier League, December 2025)

A lone league win in December came against David Moyes' Toffees on home soil, to give supporters something to cheer about - but they were stunned afterwards.

Marseca suggested he had endured the toughest forty-eight hours of his time at the club so far, and appeared to take aim at the hierarchy behind the scenes.

Though more games would come, it seems that his public words proved to be the critical difference in the end, and effectively served as a soft curtain-call to his time.

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