Chelsea are poised to turn to Liam Rosenior as their next head coach following the sudden departure of Enzo Maresca, a move that has prompted his current club, Strasbourg, to begin their own search for a replacement.
Maresca's Sudden Exit Sparks Managerial Hunt
The managerial merry-go-round at Stamford Bridge was set in motion on New Year's Day when the club announced it had parted company with head coach Enzo Maresca. The decision came just days after a 2-2 Premier League draw with AFC Bournemouth.
In a statement, Chelsea thanked Maresca for his contributions, which included guiding the team to UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup success. However, the club indicated that with key objectives still in play across four competitions, including Champions League qualification, a change was deemed necessary to get the season back on track.
Rosenior Emerges as Front-Runner for Chelsea Role
According to reports from French media, the 41-year-old Liam Rosenior has emerged as the leading candidate to fill the vacancy at Chelsea. Rosenior's impressive work at Strasbourg, who are also owned by Chelsea's parent company BlueCo, has won him significant admirers within the group.
In his tenure at Stade de la Meinau, Rosenior guided the club to the Conference League and secured notable victories over European heavyweights like Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, and Crystal Palace. Strasbourg currently sit seventh in Ligue 1 and are top of their Conference League group, having won five of their six league phase fixtures last season.
Speculation linking Chelsea with moves for other high-profile names such as Marseille's Roberto De Zerbi, Cesc Fabregas, or Crystal Palace's Oliver Glasner has been dismissed, solidifying Rosenior's position as the primary target.
Strasbourg's Contingency Plans Take Shape
Anticipating Rosenior's potential move to West London, Strasbourg are already making contingency plans. French publication L'Equipe reports that the club has identified several candidates to take over.
The shortlist is understood to include Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy, who has impressed by leading the Bluebirds to the top of League One and pushing Chelsea close in an EFL Cup quarter-final before Christmas. The 47-year-old Irishman previously worked as Ruud van Nistelrooy's assistant at Leicester City.
Other names in the frame are Chelsea's own Under-21s manager Callum McFarlane, who is set to lead the youth side against Manchester City this weekend, and former Chelsea academy coach Eric Ramsay, now in charge of Minnesota FC. Kjetil Knutsen of Bodo/Glimt and Porto's Francesco Farioli have also been mentioned as possibilities.
With a busy January schedule featuring matches against OGC Nice, Metz, Lille, and PSG, Strasbourg are expected to act swiftly should Rosenior depart for Chelsea.
