Chelsea FC have officially confirmed the departure of their Under-21s head coach, Filipe Coelho, in a move that caught many fans off guard on Tuesday morning.
In a statement shared via their official website, the club revealed that Coelho has joined French Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg, where he will take on a new role as assistant head coach. Omo, man don level up o!
While some supporters were still trying to process the news, Chelsea wasted no time in announcing his replacement — Calum McFarlane, who only recently joined the club from Southampton. McFarlane will now take charge of the U21 squad, and he won’t be doing it alone.
According to Chelsea, former academy players Andy Ross and James Simmonds will serve as his assistants. E be like say dem dey form solid backroom team for Cobham ahead of the new youth campaign.
Now let’s talk legacy.
Coelho didn’t just pass through Stamford Bridge — he made his mark. He led Chelsea’s U21 side to a third-place finish in Premier League 2 last season, a notable achievement considering the level of talent and competition in the division.
Before his time in England, the 40-year-old Portuguese tactician had already made headlines for a successful stint with Estoril’s U23s, which reportedly earned him the Chelsea job in the first place.
His move to RC Strasbourg — a club part of the BlueCo ownership group alongside Chelsea — has sparked talks about a broader strategic synergy between both clubs. Whether Coelho’s departure is part of long-term planning or just a career jump remains to be seen.
But make no mistake, Cobham’s bench just got a shakeup, and all eyes will now be on McFarlane to keep the momentum going with Chelsea’s talented youth.
