Chelsea's four-year manager revolving door raises serious questionsChelsea have dismissed their second manager of the season and are going through a deep crisis in the closing stages of the campaign. Liam Rosenior lasted just over three months, overseeing 23 matches in 106 days at the helm of the London club, the current world champions, who now risk missing out on continental competition next season. It was in May 2022 that the Blues left the hands of Roman Abramovich and were acquired by Behadad Eghbali and Todd Boehly in a deal worth £4.25 billion.
In less than four years, around £1.5 billion has already been spent on signings, and the club has become a manager-munching machine. Thomas Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, was sacked at the end of the first 100 days under the new ownership.Then came Graham Potter, who lasted seven months before being replaced on an interim basis by Frank Lampard, who finished that season with one win in 11 games. From the third place in the Premier League achieved days before the ownership change, the team fell to 12th in the domestic league.The following season was under Mauricio Pochettino, who left the club by mutual agreement after just one year, finishing sixth in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca then arrived and led the club to the UEFA Conference League title and then the first Club World Cup. Yet that only earned him six months of patience in a season of highs and lows. Calum McFarlane was interim manager for two matches until Rosenior arrived and will return to the bench until the end of this season, which could still bring an FA Cup triumph.
In other words, in four years Chelsea have had five permanent managers and two interim bosses, with one of them serving two separate spells.Looking ahead, several names are being linked, including Xabi Alonso, the former Real Madrid coach, Cesc Fabregas, who has been doing impressive work at Como, and Andoni Iraola, who will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.The question is not only who the board will choose, but who will be willing to step into such turbulent waters.Without directionRecently, Chelsea announced that it had posted the largest pre-tax loss in Premier League history, recording a deficit of £262 million in the 2024/25 season. This came despite the club stating that it had generated the second-highest revenue in its history, bringing in £490.9 million over the same period.There are also questions on the pitch about how the squad has been built.
It is a young group, full of high-value investments, such as Estêvão and not a single player over the age of 28. Robert Sánchez and defender Tosin Adarabioyo are currently the most experienced members of the squad. Recently, in an interview with L'Equipe, American owner Todd Boehly explained the "process" that led him to sign Spanish defender Marc Cucurella.
It was the first transfer window he oversaw at the club, and his 'method' was far from orthodox."I found myself stuck as interim sporting director all summer, with absolutely no idea what defines a good footballer. But I knew that if Manchester City wanted Marc Cucurella, I wanted him too. It was as simple as that," he said.Paul Winstanley and Laurence Steward took over football operations shortly afterwards, and Boehly, who is also co-owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers, returned to the role of club owner alone.