Find out who is being backed to be the next Chelsea manager as Liam Rosenior's tenure at the club looks close to ending.
Chelsea are officially in their worst run of league form since 1912, losing five consecutive Premier League games without scoring.
The pressure has been increasingly mounting with the Chelsea hierachy meeting on Wednesday afternoon to decide on Liam Rosenior's future.
Find out here who is favourite to be the next Chelsea manager after the club announced they have parted ways with Liam Rosenior on Wednesday.
Who is favourite to be next Chelsea manager?
At the time of writing, Andoni Iraola is the 2/1 favourite to be the next Chelsea Permanent Manager, shortening from 6/1 following the news of Liam Rosenior's sacking.
There are a cluster of names following Iraola at a similar price next in the betting: Filipe Luis (4/1), Diego Simeone (4/1), Oliver Glasner (5/1), Xavi Hernandez (6/1), and Cesc Fabregas (6/1).
Chelsea Next Manager Contenders
Filipe Luís
Filipe Luís is currently without a club after a brief but eventful spell in charge of Flamengo, where he rose rapidly through the ranks from the U17s to first-team manager in 2024. Despite his inexperience, he made an immediate impact, winning both the Copa do Brasil and the Copa Libertadores, becoming one of the few to lift the latter as both a player and manager.
However, his tenure ended abruptly in early 2026, highlighting concerns around stability and long-term suitability at elite level. While his winning pedigree and deep understanding of top-level football — shaped under Diego Simeone — are clear positives, his short managerial track record makes him a high-risk option for a club like Chelsea.
Cesc Fàbregas
Fàbregas is currently in charge of Como, where he has quickly built one of the most impressive early managerial CVs in Europe. After guiding the club to promotion to Serie A, he followed it up with a top-half finish (10th) in their first season back, before pushing them into European contention the following campaign, including a notable home record and a historic win over Juventus.
His teams are built around a possession-heavy, progressive style, which would align well with Chelsea’s squad profile and long-term vision. However, despite his rapid rise and clear tactical identity, he remains relatively inexperienced at elite level, making him a high-upside but still unproven option for a club with immediate expectations.
Diego Simeone
Simeone remains firmly in charge of Atlético Madrid, where he has built one of Europe’s most consistent and competitive sides over the past decade, winning La Liga titles and reaching multiple Champions League finals. His track record of instilling defensive structure, discipline, and resilience would immediately address Chelsea’s current issues. However, his pragmatic, defence-first style may clash with the club’s recent push towards a more expansive identity, and prising him away from Atlético would be both difficult and costly. Still, in terms of proven pedigree, few candidates come close.
Andoni Iraola
Iraola is currently in charge of Bournemouth, where he has rapidly enhanced his reputation as one of the Premier League’s most progressive coaches. After guiding the club to a best-ever Premier League points total (48) and a 12th-place finish in 2023/24, he has continued to build momentum, including standout results such as a win over Manchester City that ended their 32-game unbeaten league run and an away victory against title-chasing Arsenal.
His coaching journey has been shaped by both setbacks and rapid progression. Early spells at AEK Larnaca and Mirandés were mixed, but his work at Rayo Vallecano — where he achieved promotion and multiple deep cup runs — established his tactical identity based on aggressive pressing and high-tempo football. That approach has translated well to the Premier League, where Bournemouth have become one of the most difficult mid-table sides to face.
Iraola’s intense, front-foot system would likely appeal to Chelsea’s young, energetic squad, but there are still questions over whether his high-risk style can be sustained under the relentless pressure and expectation of a top-six club.
