Eight names have emerged as the leading candidates to take over from Liam Rosenior at Chelsea, following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat away to Everton in the Premier League.
The loss was Chelsea’s second without a win in the league across their last five outings, yielding just a single victory. They now find themselves three points adrift of Aston Villa in fifth place, with Villa also holding a game in hand. The heat on Rosenior has intensified significantly in the short time he has been in charge, with a vocal section of the support already demanding his removal. The question of who could realistically come in has been answered in part by the latest odds from Oddspedia.
**8. Frank Lampard — 12/1**
Lampard is currently doing impressive work at Coventry City, who sit comfortably at the top of the Championship. As both a former player and previous manager at Stamford Bridge, he carries an emotional connection to the club that few candidates can match. He would undoubtedly lift the mood around the place, and there is a genuine sense that he has grown considerably as a coach since his first spell in charge. Whether that growth is enough to steady a struggling Premier League side is another question entirely.
**7. Unai Emery — 11/1**
Emery’s inclusion feels more theoretical than realistic. He is deeply embedded in a promising project at Aston Villa, currently pushing for Champions League qualification — and doing so above Chelsea in the table. His track record speaks for itself, but prising him away from Villa Park would be an enormous challenge.
**6. Marco Silva — 9/1**
Silva’s contract at Fulham expires at the end of the season, making him an accessible option. He has consistently delivered more than expected at Craven Cottage, but has yet to manage a club operating at the very top end of the game. Moving to Chelsea would represent the biggest test of his managerial career — one he may well be eager to take on, even if it carries a degree of risk.
**5. Andoni Iraola — 8/1**
Like Silva, Iraola’s future beyond this season remains unresolved. At Bournemouth, he has performed near miracles, turning the Cherries into a settled and competitive Premier League side despite routinely losing key players to bigger clubs. His ability to work effectively within the recruitment process is particularly relevant to Chelsea’s current needs.
**4. Oliver Glasner — 7/1**
Glasner has already confirmed he will be departing Crystal Palace when his contract concludes in the summer. A mid-season switch seems unlikely given Palace’s continued involvement in the Europa Conference League, but his record of elevating clubs into European contention makes him an intriguing prospect. It is worth noting that his preferred three-defender system would represent a significant stylistic departure from Rosenior’s approach.
**3. Xavi Hernández — 6/1**
One of the more immediately available names on the list, Xavi is currently without a club and has been open about his ambition to manage in the Premier League. His experience at the helm of one of world football’s biggest institutions carries obvious appeal. The absence of English top-flight experience might give the ownership pause for thought — though as Rosenior’s own appointment demonstrated, that alone would not necessarily be a dealbreaker.
**2. Filipe Luis — 5/1**
Another figure with personal ties to Chelsea, Filipe Luis made his name as a left-back at Stamford Bridge before embarking on a managerial career with Flamengo in Brazil. His time there produced the Copa do Brasil and Copa Libertadores, though he was ultimately dismissed earlier this year in circumstances that many considered harsh, despite a dominant 8-0 win in his final match. Still relatively early in his coaching journey, Luis has nonetheless made a strong early impression.
**1. Cesc Fàbregas — 4/1**
Leading the betting is another familiar face from Chelsea’s past. The 38-year-old has been at the helm of Italian side Como since 2023, orchestrating a remarkable transformation that has seen the club emerge as genuine Champions League contenders in Serie A. Timing a departure now would be complicated, with Como sitting just outside the top four with a match in hand. Still, Fàbregas’s brand of football has drawn widespread admiration across Europe, and the prospect of him taking charge at Stamford Bridge would generate considerable excitement among the fanbase.
