Chelsea are on the verge of appointing Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, with the Strasbourg manager confirming that he has reached a verbal agreement with the Premier League club following the departure of Enzo Maresca. Rosenior made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press conference in France, stating that although formal paperwork has not yet been completed, all terms have been agreed and the move is expected to be finalised within hours.
The 41-year-old said he would not have accepted the opportunity if he did not believe he was ready for the challenge, describing the approach from Chelsea as an honour. He confirmed that he had been granted permission to hold talks with the London club and acknowledged that the decision to leave Strasbourg was an emotional one, as it marked the end of his tenure with the Ligue 1 side.
Chelsea are aiming for Rosenior to take charge in time for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Charlton Athletic. However, assistant coach Callum McFarlane will oversee Wednesday’s Premier League fixture at Fulham. Rosenior’s imminent arrival follows Maresca’s exit on January 1, after the Italian stepped down amid strained relations with the club’s hierarchy and declining results.
Rosenior joined Strasbourg in 2024 and led the French side to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season. The club is owned by BlueCo, Chelsea’s parent company, a relationship that is understood to have played a role in facilitating negotiations. His coaching philosophy, centred on controlled possession and an aggressive high press, closely mirrors the tactical approach Chelsea have adopted in recent months.
A former professional defender, Rosenior enjoyed a 16-year playing career with clubs including Fulham, Hull City, Brighton, Reading and Bristol City before retiring in 2018. He has since built a coaching résumé spanning more than 150 matches across his managerial roles, including a near play-off push with Hull City and his recent spell in France.
The prospective appointment has drawn mixed reactions from pundits, with some questioning whether Rosenior’s relative inexperience at elite level aligns with Chelsea’s ambitions. Others have raised concerns about pairing a young manager with an already youthful squad. Despite the criticism, Chelsea appear committed to a long-term project built around development, with Rosenior now set to take the reins at Stamford Bridge.
