If you are looking for job security, being a Premier League manager should be far down your list. The dismissals of Enzo Maresca from Chelsea and Ruben Amorim from Manchester United represent the sixth and seventh managerial exits in the league since last June. Interestingly, both departures appear to be driven more by fractured relationships than by poor results, which is not usually the case when a manager is shown the door.
In Maresca’s case, the Italian experienced a rapid breakdown in relations with the club’s power brokers. During a mid-December press conference, he spoke openly about enduring the worst 48 hours of his time at Chelsea. Matters only seemed to deteriorate further from there, eventually reaching a point where a mutually agreed split was viewed as the only viable solution for all parties.
Amorim’s exit followed a similarly tense pattern. The visibly frustrated Portuguese coach hinted at underlying issues before United’s 1–1 draw with Leeds. After the match, he openly challenged the club’s hierarchy, stating that he was the manager, not merely a head coach. The higher-ups at Old Trafford, who had backed Amorim through a difficult 15th-place finish the previous season, decided those comments crossed a line and dismissed him shortly afterwards.
Chelsea Opt for Rosenior
Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Liam Rosenior as head coach of the men’s team.
Welcome to Chelsea, Liam! 🔵
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 6, 2026
Chelsea wasted little time filling their managerial vacancy, turning to another BlueCo-owned club in Strasbourg. This is where Liam Rosenior has been honing his craft since the summer of 2024. In his first season in charge, he guided the French side to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1, a significant improvement on the 13th-place finish they recorded the year before.
That progress did come following heavy investment in the transfer market, with Strasbourg posting a net spend of over €60 million that summer. While that figure may not raise eyebrows by Premier League standards, it is substantial in the context of French football and should be factored into any assessment of Rosenior’s achievements.
Before his move to France, Rosenior spent a year and a half in charge of Hull City. During that spell, he oversaw a dramatic upturn in performances and results, narrowly missing out on the Championship play-offs in his only full season at the KC Stadium. It is also worth noting that Hull finished 21st the season after his departure, which only served to make the decision to sack him look increasingly short-sighted.
Beyond results, Rosenior has built a reputation as a coach with notable tactical flexibility. While he favours possession-based football and clear patterns of play, he is not wedded to a single system. His use of formations, pressing intensity, and attacking approach has varied throughout his relatively short managerial career, suggesting an adaptability that may serve him well at Stamford Bridge.
Rosenior is also media-savvy, articulate, and fully aware of how the BlueCo ownership model operates, which should help him navigate the unique demands of the role. The main concern is his lack of experience at the very highest level and the pressure that inevitably comes with managing Chelsea. Whether that proves to be a serious disadvantage remains to be seen, but with the Blues in something of a slump, a fresh face could make a positive impact.
Top 5 Finish Odds: 1/1 – Correct at the time of writing
United to Wait for Permanent Successor
Club statement: Ruben Amorim.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 5, 2026
Following Amorim’s dismissal, Manchester United quickly confirmed that they would appoint an interim manager until the summer, at which point a permanent successor would be named. They have yet to finalise who will take charge in the short term, but it appears likely to be one of three former players: Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Michael Carrick, or Darren Fletcher. The fact that all three have strong ties to the club is by design rather than coincidence as there is a desire to install someone who ‘knows the club’.
Looking further ahead, several high-profile names have been linked with the permanent role. Oliver Glasner, who is soon to be out of contract, is reportedly high on the club’s list. Luis Enrique has also been mentioned, although his current deal does not expire until 2027. Other potential candidates include former and current England managers Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel. Those decisions, however, are for the summer. The more immediate question is whether the interim boss can deliver improvements between now and the end of the campaign.
With United currently sitting seventh in the table, but only three points behind Liverpool in third, a strong finish is far from unrealistic. There is also a growing sense that the players may benefit from greater freedom and a move away from the rigid 3-4-3 system. Admittedly, United could only manage a draw against struggling Burnley in their first match after Amorim’s departure, but the performance offered encouragement. The Red Devils registered 30 shots to Burnley’s seven, and Benjamin Sesko doubled his goal tally for the season.
Sterner tests lie ahead, but with Bryan Mbeumo returning from AFCON and Bruno Fernandes back to full fitness, there is reason to believe a more liberated United side can push for a top-five finish over the remainder of the season.
Top 5 Finish Odds: 5/2 – Correct at the time of writing