Calum McFarlane will take charge on an interim basis for the remainder of Chelsea’s campaign, beginning with the FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United in four days.
Chelsea have parted ways with head coach Liam Rosenior, just 107 days after he took charge at Stamford Bridge, following a damaging run of results that has left the club’s season in serious jeopardy.
The decision was taken one day after a 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in the English Premier League, extending Chelsea’s winless league run to five successive matches without a single goal scored.
That sequence is the club’s worst in the division since 1912 and has dropped them to seventh place in the table, while their overall losing run stands at its longest in the top flight since November 1993.
Rosenior arrived from Strasbourg in January on a five-and-a-half-year contract and initially impressed, winning seven of his opening nine matches.
Form deteriorated sharply thereafter, however, and he departed with a record of 11 wins, two draws, and 10 defeats from 23 games in all competitions, a win rate of 47.8%.
Chelsea’s exit from the UEFA Champions League also occurred during his tenure.
In a statement, the club acknowledged his conduct throughout.
“Liam has always conducted himself with the highest integrity and professionalism following his appointment midway through the season,” Chelsea said.
It added that results and performances had “fallen below the necessary standards, with still so much more to play for this season.”
