The incredible rise of Calum McFarlane as interim manager of Chelsea.

The meteoric rise of Chelsea’s little-known interim coach is causing a stir in the football world. Calum McFarlane, at just 40 years old, is experiencing a whirlwind, going from unknown to a central figure in the management of the Blues at a critical moment in the season. Having never been a professional player or a head coach before, McFarlane earned his place through hard work, climbing from the youth ranks to the top of English football. Now, with the departure of Liam Rosenior, he is taking on the interim leadership of Chelsea, facing monumental challenges.

McFarlane is preparing to begin his second stint as interim coach on a dream stage: Wembley. Interestingly, he has only been there as a spectator until now. The coach’s debut was in January when he replaced Enzo Maresca for two matches, managing a 1-1 draw against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, which was then his 1,012th match as a coach. Now, with Chelsea going through a deep crisis—five consecutive league defeats that have distanced them from the Champions League—McFarlane faces an almost impossible task of turning the tide.

The tensions at the club are evident, with protests from fans intensifying and even attacks on social media directed at one of the grassroots clubs where McFarlane began his career, highlighting the climate of instability surrounding him. Promoted from under-21 coach to assistant manager of the first team under Rosenior, McFarlane does not hide his frustration with recent events: “I am devastated by what happened this week. It’s a whirlwind, but whatever happens, will happen.” He also states that despite the difficulties, there is plenty of talent in the squad: “Some of these players are among the best in the world in their positions. There is still belief within the group. We can turn this around and recover the season.”

But what is the true story of this man who now carries the weight of Chelsea on his shoulders? McFarlane was born and raised in Forest Hill, south London, and describes himself as a “failed player” who found his path in youth coaching. He had stints at clubs like Crystal Palace and Fulham in development roles, but it was at Lambeth Tigers where a pivotal turning point occurred. It was there that he met two young Norwegians, sons of former Tromso player Thomas Hafstad, who would open doors for him to an experience that changed everything.

Hafstad, who played 260 times for the club located within the Arctic Circle, recalls: “In 2012, I spent a year observing academies across England and immediately realized that Calum was a very good coach. He listened to the players, boys aged 11 and 12, and understood perfectly how to work with them.” The technical director of Tromsø brought McFarlane to Norway, where he began coaching the under-14s, progressed to the under-19s, and even conducted training sessions for the first team during a season when the club was competing in European competitions. Hafstad has no doubts: “We have a strong connection and I believe he could be a top coach in the near future.”

After his Nordic experience, McFarlane returned to London to work for six years at the Kinetic Foundation, a charity that supports disadvantaged youth through football and education. His work at Kinetic became a benchmark, to the extent that two other coaches trained by the foundation, Dan Hogan and Harry Hudson, are also part of Chelsea’s staff. However, the connection to the foundation has faced criticism and abuse from some fans dissatisfied with the club’s current crisis, something that McFarlane deeply regrets.

This is the portrait of a man who, despite everything, holds on to hope and believes in Chelsea’s capacity for recovery. Calum McFarlane is living proof that the path to the top can be paved with humility, hard work, and resilience — a story that is being written now, at one of the most complicated moments in the recent history of the Blues. If he can turn the team’s fortunes around and lead Chelsea to an FA Cup final, he could firmly establish himself as one of the great revelations in English football. The adventure is just beginning.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.