By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.
Chelsea Football Club has officially confirmed the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, signing the 41-year-old Englishman to a contract that runs until June 2032.
The announcement brings an end to a swift search following the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day, after a breakdown in relations with the club’s hierarchy. Rosenior, who has been managing Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg since July 2024, moves to Stamford Bridge from within the BlueCo ownership group, which controls both clubs.
In a statement on the club’s website, Chelsea expressed delight at the appointment: “Liam has shown that he can build teams with a clear way of playing while setting the highest standards with players on and off the pitch.” The long-term deal – spanning six and a half years – underscores the club’s faith in Rosenior to provide stability amid recent managerial turnover.
Rosenior, a former defender who played for clubs including Fulham, Hull City, and Brighton & Hove Albion, transitions to his first Premier League managerial role. He previously managed Hull City, narrowly missing the Championship play-offs in the 2023-24 season before his dismissal, and achieved European qualification with Strasbourg in his debut campaign in France, finishing seventh in Ligue 1.
Speaking on the club’s official channels, Rosenior said: “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies. 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.
“There is a real hunger to win, and I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level to make everyone connected and proud to be a part of Chelsea Football Club. I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. They are the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club. I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started.”
Rosenior will bring key members of his Strasbourg backroom staff with him, including first-team coach Kalifa Cissé, assistant head coach Justin Walker, and head of analysis Ben Warner.
The new head coach’s first match in charge is expected to be the FA Cup third-round tie away at Charlton Athletic on Saturday. Interim boss Calum McFarlane, who oversaw a 1-1 draw at Manchester City last weekend, will handle the midweek Premier League fixture against Fulham.
Rosenior’s arrival marks a significant moment, as he becomes Chelsea’s first black British head coach and only the second black head coach in the club’s history after Ruud Gullit. His promotion from within the multi-club model has been praised for offering inspiration to young coaches, with Chelsea legend Paul Canoville noting it gives “hope” to aspiring black managers.
Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League table, and Rosenior inherits a talented squad fresh from Club World Cup success under Maresca. Fans will be eager to see how his possession-based, high-pressing style translates to the top flight as the Blues aim to challenge for silverware across multiple competitions this season.
Welcome to Chelsea, Liam Rosenior!
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