Chelsea parted ways with Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day, and the decision has not gone down well with fans and pundits alike. A Premier League Hall of Famer has also come out and slammed the London club for their decision.
Alan Shearer Slams Chelsea for Enzo Maresca Decision
Alan Shearer was speaking to Betfair, making his predictions for this weekend’s Premier League games, when he hit out at Chelsea for parting ways with Maresca. He claimed that the manager was the least of their problems and they should have stuck with him.
The Newcastle United legend believes that the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Conference League wins last season showed that he was doing a good job at Stamford Bridge. The former striker added that he would not be surprised if the Italian is back working soon and said:
“You know when you go into that job what you’re doing. It’s a very different football club to others in terms of how it’s managed. That’s not Maresca. That’s the people above him. Their model is obviously to buy young, develop them, and give them crazy long contracts with the potential to sell.”
“The guy that left won two trophies last year. They were sitting in fifth, one win off the top four, so, I think he did a really good job. I’m not sure he could have done any better. His stock is high. Am I surprised? Not really.”
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola Insists Chelsea Have ‘Lost An Incredible Manager’ After Maresca’s Exit From Club
Shearer was furious with Chelsea over their decision, slamming their owners and urging them to rethink how they run the Premier League club. He was quick to point out how the club was unbeaten in November in all competitions, including a win over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, and said:
“I think Chelsea is a bonkers football club at times. That’s the owners, that’s how they want to run their club. It’s very different, and that’s what Maresca was trying to tell us with that little rant three weeks ago. He was Manager of the Month in November. I know they’ve only won one in seven, and at a top club that is hard to watch, but nothing surprises me in football, let alone at that club.”
Maresca fell out with the club’s hierarchy in late 2025 amid behind-the-scenes issues. The Athletic reported that the London side was unhappy that the Italian had held three meetings with Manchester City, which he was obligated to disclose to the club under a clause in his contract.
The publication adds that the coach also locked horns with the medical department over concerns about player fitness and playing time. However, a key cause of his exit was the dip in form, which saw the Blues go from second to fifth in the Premier League table, with just one win in their last seven league games.
The Blues are in talks to appoint Liam Rosenior as the new manager. The Englishman currently manages Blue Co’s other club, Strasbourg, and is seen as the perfect replacement for Maresca.
