The long love story between Chelsea and Italian managers

To say that the 2023/2024 season for Chelsea was bad would be an understatement. The Blues, after a lavish transfer window, finished sixth in the Premier League standings, just 3 points ahead of Newcastle and Manchester United. It is primarily for this reason that the club chose to part ways with Mauricio Pochettino and bring in Enzo Maresca, who comes from a stellar run (97 points) as manager of Leicester City, where he successfully showcased the talent of players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in a well-crafted 4-3-3 formation, preparing for a rapid career leap. Enzo Maresca, formerly of Juventus, Piacenza, Fiorentina, Sevilla, and many other clubs, is especially remembered for a cheeky celebration in black and white during the Turin derby where he mimicked the Bull’s horns with his fingers, taunting the Torino fans. He is indeed a unique, exuberant, and bold character—traits that, when translated into his tactical approach, have led him to be considered the latest disciple of the Guardiola school, having been part of his technical staff at City. The fact is that Maresca joins the very long list of Italian managers who have passed through Chelsea: at this point, it is fair to think that the club is somewhat fascinated by coaches born and raised in Italy, mindful of the impact they have had, to varying degrees, in southwest London.

From 1998 to 2024, there have been seven Italian managers at Chelsea: Vialli, Ranieri, Ancelotti, Di Matteo, Conte, Sarri, and Maresca. It is said that a good beginning is half the battle—and so it was in this sentimental relationship that began 26 years ago. Gianluca Vialli started this adventure as a player-manager, a role that is as rare as it is fascinating in football (the most famous players to have held this role include Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney, and Vincent Kompany). When he took over the team, following the failed tenure of Dutchman Ruud Gullit, Chelsea was competing for the League Cup and the Cup Winners’ Cup: both would be added to the Stamford Bridge trophy room by the end of the season. This marked a kind of passing of the torch from Vialli’s Chelsea to what would come later. In the League Cup final, Gianluca Vialli fielded Roberto Di Matteo in the midfield, the same Di Matteo who, with only a few weeks in charge during the 2011/12 season after replacing Villas Boas, led Chelsea to their first Champions League victory: a titanic veni, vidi, vici. Although, to be fair, credit must also be given to Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and John Terry, who were crucial in a salvific surge of pride for a club that had not yet added a Champions League to its palmarès.

Between Vialli’s and Di Matteo’s tenures, there were also those of Carlo Ancelotti and Claudio Ranieri. The former brought a splendid treble to the Blues’ bench in the 2009/10 season (League, FA Cup, and Community Shield), while the latter won zero trophies in four years. Ranieri, unfortunate to have managed Chelsea during Wenger’s invincible era, is nonetheless fondly remembered, perhaps evidenced by the nickname Tinkerman he was given: those were tough years for Chelsea, which could not afford to spend vast sums on players like Moisés Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez. Consider that the standout player of those years was the Surinamese Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, an average player who overperformed within Ranieri’s chaotic tactical schemes, patching up a team that struggled to find balance during his over one thousand days in charge. Trophies do not solely determine the fans' affection for their managers. Maurizio Sarri, who succeeded a victorious Antonio Conte and gave Chelsea a Europa League title against Arsenal, also divided the supporters due to his poor communication skills and excessive protagonism in certain situations, such as the incident involving goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s substitution.

Enzo Maresca can count on an Italian tradition that is on his side; at the same time, he must be able to handle the pressures that come from the high standards set by all the Italians who have passed through the Chelsea bench.