Chelsea Football Club are poised to officially confirm the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new first-team manager, following the departure of Enzo Maresca. The club moved swiftly to secure the 41-year-old English coach, who has agreed terms on a deal announced on Tuesday, 6th January 2026.
From Strasbourg to Stamford Bridge: A Swift Transition
Rosenior's arrival at Chelsea comes after a period of turbulence under former boss Enzo Maresca. The Italian's relationship with the club's hierarchy deteriorated significantly, culminating in public expressions of dissatisfaction during a poor run of form that saw just one win in seven Premier League matches. This prompted the Blues to act decisively in the search for a successor.
Rosenior emerged as a leading candidate due to his impressive work at French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, a club that, like Chelsea, is owned by the BlueCo consortium. He took charge at the Stade de la Meinau ahead of the 2024/25 season and immediately made an impact, guiding the team to qualification for the UEFA Conference League in his debut campaign.
However, his tenure in France was not without controversy. A section of Strasbourg supporters consistently protested against BlueCo's multi-club ownership model. Rosenior himself became embroiled in a dispute with fans after they displayed a banner criticising club captain Emanuel Emegha, who is scheduled to join Chelsea in the upcoming summer transfer window. In Rosenior's final match in charge—a 1-1 draw with Nice—fans again voiced their opposition with a banner reading "no to multi-ownership."
Building a Reputation in the Championship
Prior to his move to France, Rosenior cut his managerial teeth in the English Football Championship. His most notable role was with Hull City, where he took over in November 2022 with the club hovering just above the relegation zone. He successfully steered them to safety in his first season and mounted a serious push for the play-offs in his second.
Despite having a squad enriched with Premier League loan talent like Liam Delap, Fabio Carvalho, and Tyler Morton, Hull narrowly missed out on a top-six finish on the final day of the 2023/24 season. This near-miss resulted in his dismissal from the Tigers.
Rosenior's coaching journey began following his retirement as a player, starting as a youth coach at Brighton & Hove Albion. He then joined Derby County, initially as a specialist first-team coach under Phillip Cocu before being promoted to assistant manager under Wayne Rooney in January 2021. Following Rooney's resignation in June 2022, Rosenior served as Derby's interim manager during the summer before the permanent appointment of Paul Warne.
Rooney's Endorsement and Rosenior's Pedigree
Wayne Rooney, his former colleague at Derby, offered a glowing endorsement of Rosenior's capabilities upon hearing the news of the Chelsea move. Speaking on the BBC's Wayne Rooney Show, he said: "If he goes in there, he won't disappoint. He's been waiting for an opportunity like this... I think he's done his apprenticeship. He's as good a coach as I've ever worked with. His detail, how he approaches the day-to-day, he's as good as I've worked with."
Rosenior's new role at one of England's biggest clubs marks a significant step up after a playing career that spanned 16 years. He represented clubs including Fulham, Brighton, Hull City, and Reading. His closest brush with major silverware came in the 2014 FA Cup final, where his Hull City side led Arsenal 2-0 before eventually losing 3-2.
Beyond management, Rosenior has also worked as a pundit for Sky Sports and is the son of former professional footballer Leroy Rosenior, who played for Fulham and West Ham United.
