Liam Rosenior, the 41-year-old English coach, has verbally agreed to become the next manager of Chelsea, replacing Enzo Maresca, who left the club on New Year’s Day.
Rosenior, currently Strasbourg’s manager, described the move as an opportunity he could not turn down, citing Chelsea as an “incredible club” and “Club World Cup champions.” He emphasized that while he has not yet signed the official contract, all agreements are in place and formalities are expected to conclude within hours.
Joining Rosenior at Chelsea will be key members of his Strasbourg coaching staff, including first-team coach Kalifa Cisse, assistant head coach Justin Walker, and head of analysis Ben Warner.
Rosenior was appointed at Strasbourg in July 2024 and led the club to seventh place in Ligue 1 last season, securing European football for the first time in eight years. His final match for Strasbourg ended in a 1-1 draw at Nice, marking their fifth league game without a win.
The coach, who previously played for Fulham and Hull City, admitted he has never managed in the Premier League but said he feels ready for the challenge. He took the unusual step of personally addressing Strasbourg supporters in a farewell press conference, thanking them and explaining his decision to leave mid-season.
Chelsea, currently fifth in the Premier League, will next face Fulham at Craven Cottage. The clubs share ownership under the BlueCo multi-club group, a factor that may influence the transition.
Rosenior’s move highlights a significant step up in his managerial career, moving from Ligue 1 to one of the biggest football clubs in the world.
