Calum McFarlane's Tough Choice: Leaving Family for Chelsea Interim Role

Sudden Appointment for Calum McFarlane

Chelsea's interim head coach, Calum McFarlane, was in the middle of a family day out in Windsor on Thursday when he received an unexpected call that changed his plans entirely. The under-21 coach was diverted to the club’s Cobham training centre at around lunchtime after being contacted by sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

There, he was informed that he would be taking charge of the senior team for the upcoming match against Manchester City, following the sudden departure of Enzo Maresca earlier that day.

McFarlane, who will make his debut as a senior football coach against six-time Premier League winner Pep Guardiola, had to quickly adjust to his new role. He required a new pass to access the first-team building at Cobham, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

“I was actually on the way to a Windsor light show with my family,” said McFarlane. “I got a call that said ‘when can you get in?’ I said I can be there in an hour. The missus wasn’t very happy about that.”

He rushed to the training centre, where he was briefed on the situation and told that he would be preparing to face Manchester City on Sunday. “We really support you and trust you, and good luck,” he was told.

Once the details were clear, McFarlane worked with the staff to figure out what he wanted from the team. “We made calls around and everyone came in at short notice,” he explained.

Background of Calum McFarlane

McFarlane only joined Chelsea in the summer, moving from Southampton where he had been in charge of their under-21s for two years and previously their under-18s. Before that, he spent three years at Manchester City working with under-15, under-16, and under-18 teams. He also had roles at Tromso in Norway and held youth coaching positions at Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Now, with limited time before the match against Manchester City, McFarlane is focused on continuing the work already done by previous coaches while introducing his own ideas. “There’s been some really good work done previously. It will be about introducing some of my own ideas, some of my own concepts around how you think you can be successful,” he said.

However, he emphasized that the goal is not to reinvent the wheel. “But not trying to reinvent the wheel. There’s been some great work done and we’ll try and continue that.”

Potential Long-Term Replacement

While McFarlane is currently in charge, the search for a long-term replacement for Enzo Maresca is ongoing. Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior remains the leading candidate. During a pre-scheduled press conference, Rosenior hinted at the possibility of a move to Stamford Bridge, stating: “In life, there are zero guarantees. I love (Strasbourg), but I can’t guarantee anything. Nobody can.”

The Ligue 1 side is owned by BlueCo, the investment group that also owns Chelsea, which could facilitate a potential move. However, the group would also need to consider who might replace Rosenior in Alsace.

For now, McFarlane is focused on the immediate challenge. He took first-team training on Friday morning and will have another session on Saturday before the squad travels to Manchester. “We’ve got limited time,” he said, emphasizing the importance of preparation.

As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on McFarlane as he takes on one of the most challenging roles in English football. His ability to lead the team through this transition period will be crucial in determining the direction of Chelsea's season.