Chelsea have dismissed head coach Liam Rosenior after just 107 days in charge following a sustained run of poor results, the club said on Wednesday.
Assistant coach Calum McFarlane will take over on an interim basis until the end of the season as Chelsea attempt to revive their campaign and secure European qualification.
In a statement, Chelsea said the decision was made after performances “fell below the necessary standards,” adding that it had not been taken lightly. The club thanked Rosenior and his staff for their work during a brief but turbulent spell.
Rosenior made a positive start, winning 11 of his first 23 matches and initially limiting defeats. His early setback came against Arsenal in the League Cup, while his first Premier League loss arrived later in his tenure.
Form, however, declined sharply after a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Chelsea had been level late in that match before conceding three goals in quick succession.
The downturn continued, with the team losing six consecutive matches across all competitions without scoring, conceding 14 goals in that stretch. Their run of five straight Premier League defeats without a goal, including a loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, marked their worst sequence in over a century.
A 7-0 FA Cup victory over Port Vale provided rare relief, but it remained their only win in the last seven outings.
Chelsea are currently seventh in the league with 48 points from 34 matches, leaving their hopes of European football next season in doubt.
The club said it will begin the process of identifying a permanent head coach, while McFarlane is tasked with stabilising results in the closing weeks of the campaign.
