Liam Rosenior has been appointed as the new head coach of Chelsea Football Club, marking the beginning of a new era for the Premier League team. The 41-year-old Englishman takes over from Italian Enzo Maresca, whose departure last week paved the way for Rosenior's arrival. Rosenior has signed a contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
"I am extremely humbled and honored to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club," Rosenior said in a statement released by the club. "This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies". He added, "My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies".
Rosenior's appointment comes after a successful stint with French club Racing Strasbourg, where he led the team to European qualification for the first time in 19 years. Before Strasbourg, he held coaching positions at Derby County, where he served as assistant to Wayne Rooney, and Hull City. Rooney has praised Rosenior as "as good a coach as I've ever worked with".
The move to Chelsea represents a significant step up for Rosenior, but one he feels ready for. "Managing a 'world-class' club was 'something I have always dreamed of'," he said. "I am looking forward to the challenge. If I didn't think I was ready, I wouldn't have accepted it". He acknowledged that "the reality is Strasbourg is not on the level as Chelsea," and expressed his hope that the Strasbourg fans would understand his decision to accept the Chelsea job, stating, "There are certain clubs you just cannot just turn down".
Rosenior's appointment is particularly notable given the shared ownership structure between Chelsea and Strasbourg, both being part of the BlueCo consortium led by American Todd Boehly. This connection facilitated Rosenior's move, with Chelsea needing to be sensitive to the requirements of both clubs. To that end, Strasbourg have already finalized a deal for Gary O'Neil to become their new manager.
One of the key factors behind Rosenior's appointment is his commitment to developing young players. During his time at Strasbourg, he gave more minutes to U21 players than any other manager in Europe's top five leagues. This aligns with Chelsea's strategy of acquiring top young talents, making Rosenior a good fit for the club.
Rosenior's immediate task will be to improve Chelsea's form, after a run of only one win in eight Premier League games. While he is expected to watch from the stands, Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane will take charge of the team for their upcoming match against Fulham. Rosenior will be joined at Chelsea by his assistants Kalifa Cisse and Justin Walker.
Despite the excitement surrounding his appointment, Rosenior recently faced a minor legal issue. He was convicted of speeding after fog delayed his flight back to the UK, preventing him from attending a speed awareness course.
