GM football fans. It’s Friday, Jan. 2 - Enzo Maresca becomes the first Premier League manager to depart this year, Serie A is proving to be Europe’s closest title race, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
Premier League MD20: Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest, Sat 3, 12:30 GMT / 7:30 ET. Villa have won their last 10 home games in all competitions, but haven’t won their opening league game in consecutive calendar years since 2008 and 2009. Meanwhile, no team have failed to score in more different Premier League games this season than Nottingham Forest (10). Bournemouth vs. Arsenal, Sat 3, 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET. Having won just one of their first 14 Premier League games against Arsenal, Bournemouth did the double over the Gunners last season. However, the Cherries have lost 12 of their 13 games against sides starting the day on top of the table. Manchester City vs. Chelsea, Sun 4, 17:30 GMT / 12:30 ET. City are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League games against Chelsea. Plus, managerless Blues have won their first league game in just one of the last nine calendar years, beating Fulham 1-0 in 2024. See every Premier League MD20 fixture here.
Results…
TOP TALKING POINTS
Maresca Leaves Chelsea
Chelsea have parted ways with head coach Enzo Maresca with immediate effect less than two years into his contract, which ran through 2029. The Italian head coach, who has won the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup with the Blues, also won the Premier League’s Manager of the Month award in November.
The move comes after Chelsea’s dip in form in the league, having won just once in their past seven Premier League matches. The Blues sit fifth in the table, 15 points behind leaders Arsenal. Despite this, they have reached the Carabo Cup semi-finals, sit within points of securing automatic qualification for the Champions League knock-out rounds (see table), and will face Charlton in the FA Cup third round.
Aside from form, reports suggest Maresca felt his work with the Premier League’s youngest squad was undervalued internally and insufficiently defended publicly. He was also said to be uncomfortable with key decisions remaining with the Chelsea hierarchy, alongside restrictions on external activities, including a proposed book project. Additionally, Maresca changed agents, a move analysts interpreted as positioning himself for future opportunities, amid speculation linking him to a potential succession role to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior is reportedly the leading candidate for the role—see the potential candidates here.
Europe’s Closest Title Race
Four points separate the top five in Serie A, with Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli, Roma, and Juventus in contention for the title—see the Serie table here. By comparison, the top five clubs in the Premier League and La Liga were both separated by 13 points at the end of the calendar year. In the Bundesliga, 14 points separate the top five and 10 points separate the top five in Ligue 1.
Inter, who are on a four-match winning run, are the top scorers in the league, with 35 goals in 16 games, with this season's leading marksman, Lautaro Martinez, with nine goals. AC Milan, just one point behind Inter, travel to Cagliari on Friday (Jan 2). Massimiliano Allegri's side are unbeaten in 16 league games while Cagliari have won only two out of eight home matches.
Reigning champions Napoli, who were the favourites among the markets heading into the campaign, sit two points off the leaders and will face an away match against Lazio on Sunday, who are coached by former manager Maurizio Sarri. Following a strong start to the campaign, Bologna’s league form has dipped. They’re without a win in their last four games and are now seventh and 10 points off the top.
National Team Dissolved
Gabon’s government has suspended its national football team following their elimination from the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations. In doing so, Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gabon’s captain Bruno Ecuele Manga have also been banned from future selection, while the coaching staff have been dissolved.
The Gabonese government made the announcement on national television following their elimination. The video clip of the statement was later removed from the social media channels of Gabon Television, and no corresponding statement was published on the government website. Before Wednesday’s final group game, Gabon’s president, Brice Oligui Nguema, criticised the team for its performance in Morocco and blamed a “lack of method and the application of resources.”
Gabon finished bottom of Group F after losing all of their Afcon matches without securing a point. Despite winning eight of their 10 World Cup qualifiers, they failed to reach the tournament after losing to Nigeria in a one-legged play-off semi-final.
POLL
Should football managers have full control over football decisions at their clubs?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> After 36 years, French football will see a capital city derby when Paris Saint-Germain hosts Paris FC in Ligue 1 on Sunday (Jan 5) (More)
> The Scottish Premiership Old Firm derby takes place on Saturday (Jan 3) as second-placed Celtic host third-placed Rangers (More)
> Aston Villa kicked off the January transfer window by signing 19-year-old Brazilian right winger Alysson from Gremio for €10m initial fee plus €2m add-ons (More) | Tottenham attacker Brennan Johnson has agreed to join Crystal Palace in a deal worth £35m (More); see every signing in Europe’s top five leagues (More)
> Championship leaders Coventry dropped points again in a 1-1 draw to Charlton Athletic, while second-placed Ipswich Town beat Oxford United 1-1 (More); see upcoming Championship fixtures (More)
Americas
> The Kraft Group has announced it has reached agreements with the cities of Boston and Everett to build the MLS side New England Revolution’s stadium (More) | The Columbus Crew have hired Henrik Rydstrom as the ninth full-time head coach in club history (More)
> Neymar has reportedly agreed to extend his contract with his boyhood club Santos through the end of 2026 (More)
> Former Brazil international Roberto Carlos is "recovering well" after undergoing what he described as "a preventative medical procedure" (More)
Rest of the World
> AFCON round of 16 fixtures kick off on Saturday (Jan 3); see every fixture (More)
> A-League’s Brisbane Roar are seeking legal advice and police involvement following comments made by Central Coast Mariners coach Warren Moon, insinuating serious misconduct by the club (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Which competition are you most excited for in 2026?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🌎 World Cup (62%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🏆 Champions League (19%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🏠 Domestic league (16%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (3%)
Your punditry takes:
🌎 W.A: “I’m excited for the Fifa World Cup in 2026, because it’ll be the first time I will ever be able to attend a World Cup and it will be in my home city of Seattle.”
🏆 T.L: “The Champions League is the highest level of football and always produces the best matches. It’s always the best players and managers facing off. While it’s hard to beat the passion of the World Cup, there are too many throwaway matches where the disparity between teams is too much. This year’s Champions League also feels like another one that’s up for grabs for any team.”
🏠 P.B: “Premier League football is much more exciting and unpredictable than a bloated World Cup played in difficult conditions, while half of the world is asleep! Champions League, also, is too big and can spoil domestic football which usually has more atmosphere and involves less travelling.”
EXTRA TIME
Which players could be on the move in January?
Know why Lens are making the Ligue 1 title race interesting.
Analysing Messi’s road to 900 career goals.
Inter Milan’s 2026-27 home kit leaked.
10 female footballers set for breakthrough in 2026.
How is the EPL doing in the race for five UCL places?
Every teams’ nicknames at the Afcon.
GAME FACE ON
Question: Three people have won the World Cup as a player and as a coach. Mario Zagallo, Didier Deschamps and... can you name the third?
Scroll below for the answer.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
Jose Mourinho was the toughest coach I had. I saw him make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker room because he didn't chase the opposition full-back.
Answer
Franz Beckenbauer.
