Welcome to Sideline Moves, Insider Sport’s weekly roundup spotlighting the key moves shaping the business of sport.
Every Friday, we bring you the latest executive appointments, strategic hires, boardroom shifts, and behind-the-scenes deals from across the global sports industry – all in one place.
Enzo Maresca exits Chelsea after 18 months in charge
Chelsea has parted company with Head Coach Enzo Maresca, with the club expecting to confirm his replacement in the coming days.
The decision was confirmed on January 1, ending an 18-month spell at Stamford Bridge which included silverware but ultimately unravelled amid inconsistent league form. Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League, 15 points behind leaders Arsenal, and won just once in the last seven league matches.
In a statement, Chelsea said Maresca “led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup,” adding both parties believed a change would give the club “the best chance of getting the season back on track” with Champions League qualification still in play.
Maresca’s departure follows a breakdown in relations behind the scenes, with reports of growing tension over results, public comments and internal disagreements. The Italian is understood to have felt his position had become untenable as pressure mounted during the winter period.
His exit triggers Chelsea’s search for a fourth permanent head coach since the club’s takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022. Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has emerged as the leading candidate, with the club believed to be set to announce a replacement imminently.
Boris Gartner promoted to CEO at Relevent
Sports marketing and media rights firm Relevent has promoted Boris Gartner to CEO following a period of record commercial deals tied to UEFA men’s club competitions.
Gartner, who joined Relevent in 2018 and most recently served as President and Partner, enters the role as Co-founder Danny Sillman transitions from CEO to Executive Chairman. The leadership change was announced on December 22, with a LinkedIn announcement revealing the pair will continue to work closely.
The promotion comes after the creation of Relevent Football Partners, the London-based subsidiary created to manage the global commercial rights for UEFA men’s club competitions.
As founding CEO of the division, Gartner led the recruitment of its executive team and oversaw the sales process for the 2027–33 cycle, which delivered record broadcast and sponsorship agreements.
Relevent secured UEFA’s largest-ever cycle-over-cycle increase in media rights across Europe’s five major markets, alongside the biggest sponsorship deals in the competitions’ history.
“His incredible work as President of Relevent and CEO of Relevent Football Partners — including standing up offices around the world, hiring a best-in-class executive team, and driving the negotiations that led to this fall’s record-breaking global commercial deals — further underscores that he is the right person to lead Relevent into this next chapter,” said Silman.
“I’m proud to call him my partner and friend, and I look forward to supporting him as he leads this company into the future.”
Naomi Osaka parts ways with agency Evolve
Tennis star Naomi Osaka is leaving Evolve, the sports agency she co-founded in 2022, and is set to return to IMG following the end of her initial contract.
Osaka confirmed the move in a social media post, saying she would be “parting ways with Evolve” at the start of the new year after a three-year run. The decision follows earlier reporting that she would reunite with IMG, where she was previously represented between 2016 and 2021.
“When I make my decision on where I’ll go next, you’ll hear it from me. Thank you for supporting me always and I’m so excited for the year ahead!”
The social media post cited by publications such as Tennis.com appears to have been taken down by Osaka.
Evolve was launched by Osaka with her agent Stuart Duguid after her fourth Grand Slam title at the 2021 Australian Open, during a time when she was also stepping back from competition to prioritise her mental health. The agency described itself as a selective operation focused on athlete empowerment and commercial strategy.
In addition to Osaka, Evolve’s client list has grown to include Nick Kyrgios, Ons Jabeur and Aryna Sabalenka, as well as several emerging players. The agency has also expanded into event promotion, staging exhibition matches and one-night tennis showcases in the US.
Fanatics names Sarah Flynn ANZ general manager
Fanatics has appointed Sarah Flynn as its first general manager for Australia and New Zealand.
Announced on December 22, Flynn will lead Fanatics’ Commerce operations across the region and will be responsible for local strategy, market expansion and partner relationships. Based in Melbourne, she will report to Stephen Dowling, President of International at Fanatics Commerce.
Flynn brings more than 20 years of experience across retail, wholesale and commercial leadership roles in the region. Most recently, she served as group general manager of wholesale at Brand Collective, overseeing multiple brand portfolios and leading operational and commercial performance.
She has also held the role of general manager for Champion in Australia and New Zealand, with responsibility for both wholesale and retail channels and has held senior sales leadership roles across brands including Bonds, Berlei, Jockey, Mossimo and Superdry.
“Australia and New Zealand live and breathe sport, so appointing our first general manager in the region is a huge milestone for Fanatics,” Dowling said.
“Sarah brings real experience and insight from years working in this market, and we’re excited to have her leading our team in Melbourne and our growth in ANZ. She will play a big role in how we show up for fans across the region.”
Nathan Shi becomes interim executive chairman at Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers has appointed Nathan Shi as interim executive chairman as the club continues its search for a permanent leadership replacement.
The appointment, announced on December 19, will see Shi assume the role once the completion of all legal, regulatory and Premier League processes are approved.
In the position, Shi will work alongside technical director Matt Jackson, Head Coach Rob Edwards and the club’s senior management team, providing strategic oversight. He joins from parent company Fosun, where he has worked since 2016 across several of its core business areas, with experience in operations, project delivery and organisational management.
The move follows Jeff Shi’s decision to step down from his executive role at Wolves after more than a decade in charge. Jeff Shi will remain chairman and chief executive of Fosun Sports Group but will no longer hold any operational responsibilities at the Premier League club.
His departure comes at a challenging time for Wolves on the pitch, with the club sitting bottom of the table with just three points from 19 matches.
Snapshot Moves
- Julius Joseph and Sarah Hopkins-Chery have been named Head Coaches of England’s men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball teams for Glasgow 2026.
- Eder Maestre has been appointed Head Coach of London City Lionesses on a two-and-a-half-year deal, succeeding Jocelyn Prêcheur.
- Marcel Brands has signed a two-year extension as PSV’s General Manager, keeping him in charge until 2029.
- Fernando Lovo has been named Athletic Director at the University of Colorado Boulder, succeeding Rick George.
- Lexus Ramsey has joined the Minnesota Vikings as Senior Manager of Partnership Marketing, after three years with the Timberwolves.
- Jill Dortheimer has been appointed VP of Communications at Tennis Channel, joining from Netflix where she was director of original series publicity.
We’re spotlighting the movers and shakers shaping the sports business every Friday.
Submit your people moves to Insider Sport’s Business Journalist, Kieran O’Connor, at [email protected] to be featured in Sideline Moves.
Catch up on last week’s Sideline Moves to find out about Salford City’s new majority owners.
