Calum McFarlane will manage Chelsea until the season's end following Liam Rosenior's dismissal. He previously served as interim coach earlier this year.
Key points
Calum McFarlane is the new interim manager of Chelsea.
He replaces Liam Rosenior, who was sacked.
McFarlane previously managed Chelsea in January.
His first match back is an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds.
Mentioned in this story
Chelsea Football ClubLiam RoseniorCalum McFarlane
FA CupLeeds
Calum McFarlane will take charge of Chelsea until the end of the season after Liam Rosenior's sacking, starting with Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Leeds.
It's not McFarlane's first stint in interim charge at Stamford Bridge.
He took temporary charge after Enzo Maresca's exit in January for Chelsea's 1-1 draw away to Manchester City and the 2-1 defeat at Fulham.
Chelsea's statement...
"Chelsea Football Club has today parted company with Head Coach Liam Rosenior.
"On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, we would like to place on record our gratitude to Liam and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the Club.
"Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team as Interim Head Coach until the end of the season with support from existing Club backroom staff, as we strive to achieve European qualification and progress in the FA Cup."
But now he faces a crucial few days as he prepares to be in the dugout for the Blues' FA Cup semi-final at Wembley before being tasked with trying to achieve European qualification.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want!
Who is Calum McFarlane?
Calum McFarlane is Chelsea's interim head coach - for the second time in four months.
McFarlane was working with Chelsea's youth team when he stepped in to look after the senior squad when Enzo Maresca left in January.
He led Chelsea to a last-gasp draw at Man City and a 2-1 defeat at Fulham, in a match which saw Marc Cucurella sent off in the first half.
Rosenior kept McFarlane as part of the first-team coaching staff.
The 'tactical obsessive' who rose from grassroots
Analysis from Sky Sports' Nick Wright:
McFarlane, who was Rosenior's assistant at Chelsea, completed an incredible rise from grassroots football to the Premier League during his first stint as Chelsea interim boss in January.
The club's former U21 coach subsequently formed part of Liam Rosenior's coaching staff and is now set for a second spell in the hot seat.
McFarlane earned praise after his tactical adjustments helped claim a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium during his first spell in charge following Maresca's sacking. He also oversaw Chelsea's subsequent defeat to Fulham.
His success is no surprise to those who worked with him during a six-year spell as academy manager at Kinetic Academy, a London-based charity with a history of producing professional players from disadvantaged backgrounds.
COBHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 2: U21 Head Coach Calum McFarlane of Chelsea during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on January 2, 2026 in Cobham, England. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Image:
McFarlane led Chelsea to a draw against City and a defeat against Fulham in his previous spell
"I think the Man City game probably changed the narrative from being a nobody to being somebody who knows what he is doing, who is able to execute plans perfectly on the big stage," Fotheringham told Sky Sports in January.
"We found that it was always tactically where grassroots players struggled and Cal was great at relaying that information straight across to the kids to give them a chance.
"He was a massive student of the game and obsessed tactically with modern developments and what the managers were doing.
"There was a lot of time spent analysing games using the technology available to make sure that we knew, as a grassroots academy, how we could give the kids an advantage. He gave them tools to exploit to help them shine when they got opportunities.
"If you asked anyone, kid or adult, who played in teams that he has led or been a part of the coaching staff with, they would say he is one of the strongest tactical coaches out there.
"I am not surprised at all to see him make the leaps that he has done."
Does McFarlane have what it takes to be interim boss at Chelsea?
Sky Sports News' kaveh Solhekol:
"Does Callum McFarlane have the sort of personality and character to even be an interim head coach at Chelsea?
"He's very inexperienced despite being Chelsea's interim boss before. He didn't win a game.
"He is now being thrown into the deep end again in a massive game against Leeds for a place in the FA CUp final. Then he has to scramble around to try and get a place in the EUropa League or the Coference League.
"A lot of fans I speak to say they'd like to get in a former player, someone from the past who knows the club inside out.
"Some Chelsea fans will be saying why McFarlane. Surely giving him the job again is part of the problem. Why are they looking again inside the structure and not potentially a former Chelsea player."
McFarlance's last games in charge...
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
PL HLTS
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Manchester City’s match against Chelsea in the Premier League.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Fulham vs Chelsea Highlights
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Fulham's win against Chelsea in the Premier League.
'McFarlane has another chance to impress'
Former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Sky Sports News:
"They are believing in McFarlane.
"He's done a job against Man City, he's held it together so they must believe he can do it. He's been at the club over a year, everyone speaks really highly of him, so he's got an opportunity here like Michael Carrick.
"He knows the players, they like him, they fought for him against Man City. He's been helping Liam, so it will calm things down, hopefully.
"Hopefully he can get them going on Sunday."
Chelsea's fixtures until the end of the season...
April 26 Leeds (N) - FA Cup
May 4: Nottingham Forest (H) - live on Sky Sports
May 9: Liverpool (A) - Premier League
May 17: Tottenham (H) - Premier League
May 25: Sunderland (A) - Premier League
Who could take over at Chelsea long term?
Latest from Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol:
Chelsea are planning to take their time to make the right appointment.
They have not spoken to any candidates to replace Rosenior yet and no shortlist has been drawn up.
Having said that, the likes of Andoni Iraola, Oliver Glasner and Xabi Alonso will all be available.
Other names in the frame could be Marco Silva, if he leaves Fulham and Cesc Fabregas.
Chelsea have previously held talks with Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann and Roberto De Zerbi when the top job has become available.
It remains to be seen whether elite-level managers are willing to work in the structure currently in place at the club.
