Earlier this week, Enzo Maresca left Chelsea after 18 months in charge. With Conference League and Club World Cup trophies, as well as a first top-four finish under the current regime, it is hard to argue that it was not a job well done on the whole for the Italian. 

Nevertheless, The Blues once again finding themselves looking for a new manager. The frontrunner as it stands is Liam Rosenior, current head coach of Chelsea's sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1. There is a fairly strong chance that he will be Maresca's replacement. 

Still, that doesn't mean we can't give an opinion on who we think would make the best, whilst also realistic, replacement for the 45-year old. 

Indeed, so here is a case for a former Chelsea player - but not the one many people have suggested. Not Como's Cesc Fabregas, but rather Flamengo's Filipe Luis. 

The Brazilian only took over Flamengo - his first job as a senior coach - in September of 2024, but he has already managed 88 games. In that time, he has swept up silverware, winning the Brasileiro Serie A, Copa do Brasil, Campeionata Carioca, Supercopa do Brasil, and Copa Liberatdores since taking over. 

If you have concerns over how that could translate to European football, fear not. Flamengo were the only team to defeat Chelsea at the Club World Cup, and were also very competitive in their defeat to Bayern Munich. They were even more competitive against PSG last month in the Intercontinental Cup against PSG, taking the French side all the way to penalties after a 1-1 draw. 

When it comes to style of play, Luis' side are very fun. They have built a reputation for playing a very attractive brand of football, with very fluid and off ball rotations during their build up play, allowing them to open up their opponents and create chances. 

During the 2025 Brasileiro season, Flamengo scored 78 goals - 12 more than anyone else. They also had 109 big chances, 11 more than anyone else. Additionally, they only conceded 27 goals - four fewer than any other team. Complete dominance all across the pitch. 

Another thing to consider is the intense schedule of Brazilian football. As touched on earlier, Luis has already taken charge of 88 games in just 15 months. Their 2025 season ended on the 17th of December, and will start again as quickly as the 13th of January. 

As a result, there are naturally fewer training sessions and less time to implement your philosophy. Yet, the former Chelsea full-back has managed to do that and then some. Although the appointment of Rosenior is the most likely option, it would be a shame if Luis was not at least considered.