Chelsea Set to Unveil Liam Rosenior as New Manager in Imminent Announcement—Report
Chelsea have acted swiftly following their separation from head coach Enzo Maresca, with Liam Rosenior anticipated to be formally confirmed as his successor within days, according to numerous sources.
Rosenior has delivered outstanding results at Chelsea's affiliated club Strasbourg in France's top division, guiding them from relegation contention to European qualification spots during his maiden complete campaign in 2024–25.
Since Maresca's exit was announced on January 1st, Rosenior quickly became the frontrunner to succeed the Italian tactician. The Athletic indicates Rosenior made the trip to England on Sunday with Strasbourg's president and sporting director to hammer out the final terms of his Chelsea deal.
Rosenior has prior experience working alongside several key figures in Chelsea's leadership structure, including joint sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, plus global recruitment chief Sam Jewell.
While Rosenior's appointment as Chelsea's new manager appears inevitable, there remains one critical step that must be completed before the ex-Hull City boss officially takes charge at Stamford Bridge.
The Key Factor Stalling Rosenior's Announcement As New Chelsea Boss
Based on The Athletic's coverage, Chelsea will not officially name Rosenior as their new manager until the BlueCo ownership structure identifies his successor at Strasbourg.
Following a short visit to London, Rosenior allegedly returned to France, where he's scheduled to hold a media briefing on Tuesday morning—likely to announce his departure from the club.
Several managers have already been mentioned as possible candidates to replace Rosenior at Strasbourg. The shortlist features ex-Wolves boss Gary O'Neil and current Minnesota United MLS coach Eric Ramsay as leading options for the position, according to sources.
BlueCo are working efficiently, but considering the present circumstances, Rosenior isn't anticipated to join Chelsea until the latter part of this week, with the Blues' FA Cup third round fixture against Charlton Athletic on Saturday appearing as the earliest possible debut opportunity for the 41-year-old English manager.
Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane supervised Chelsea's battling stalemate with Manchester City over the weekend and is set to continue in charge when the Blues meet Fulham in the Premier League on Wednesday. McFarlane will maintain his caretaker duties until a new permanent appointment is made.
Everything suggests Rosenior will fill that position, and there's good reason to expect he could oversee Chelsea's upcoming home fixture when they host Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in the opening leg of the Carabao Cup semifinal on January 14th.