He rejected them once! Chelsea still want this 37-year-old Italian as new coach
Chelsea are still hunting for a new permanent manager after sacking Liam Rosenior last week. Reports suggest the club are set to get back in touch with Porto boss Francesco Farioli, hoping they can finally convince him to take over at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are looking at Francesco Farioli as Liam Rosenior’s replacement
Simon Phillips revealed that Chelsea plan to approach Farioli again, even though the 37-year-old already turned them down once to stay focused on his successful project in Portugal. The Blues are also keeping an eye on Andoni Iraola as they look for someone to steady the ship once Calum McFarlane’s interim spell ends this summer.
The owners are ramping up the search following Rosenior’s sudden exit. His three-month tenure ended after a nightmare run of five straight Premier League losses without a single goal. That drought was the club’s worst in over a century and effectively killed their hopes of a European spot.
Farioli, on the other hand, has been flying at Porto. He has led the Portuguese giants to 37 wins in 50 games, building a rock-solid defence without losing any attacking spark. Porto are currently sitting pretty at the top of the league, and Farioli even signed a new deal earlier in 2026 after breaking several club records.
According to Simon Phillips, Chelsea are ready to try their luck with the Italian coach one more time. However, those close to the situation say Farioli has already said no before and recently doubled down on his commitment to Porto, making it clear he’s happy at the Dragão.
What are the other options?
While Chelsea love his tactical discipline and the way he gets the most out of his players, the manager seems settled and isn’t in a rush to trade stability for the chaos at Stamford Bridge. Portuguese outlets like A Bola have backed this up, noting that Farioli prefers his current setup over a move to West London.
Chelsea’s shortlist still includes Iraola and a few others as they look ahead to the 2026/27 season. Iraola has won plenty of fans with the aggressive pressing style he used to transform Bournemouth. Farioli shares some of those strengths with his organised defending, though he has occasionally struggled against high-intensity counter-attacks in Europe. His age brings a fresh perspective, but there are still questions about whether he can handle the constant pressure of the Premier League.
VF Opinion:
It leaves Chelsea in a tough spot as they desperately chase some stability. Farioli’s work at Porto has been incredible, but his desire to stay put is a major roadblock. The club have to decide whether to keep pushing or move on, especially since Farioli seems like the type of coach who needs a long-term vision rather than a quick fix.
Rohit Sarkar
