Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, handing the 41 year old a long term contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
The club announced the decision on Tuesday, bringing an end to speculation following the departure of Enzo Maresca, who left his role on New Year’s Day after a breakdown in relations with the club hierarchy.
Rosenior arrives from French side Strasbourg, a club owned by Chelsea’s parent company, BlueCo.
Speaking after his appointment, Rosenior described the role as both an honour and a lifelong dream.
He said he was humbled to be entrusted with leading a club renowned for its history and trophy winning tradition, adding that the opportunity was one he could not turn down.
Rosenior will officially take charge this weekend when Chelsea face Championship side Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round.
However, he will not be on the touchline for Wednesday’s Premier League clash at Fulham. That match will be overseen by Callum McFarlane, who also took charge of the team during the recent 1 1 draw away at Manchester City, while the new head coach watches from the stands.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rosenior had hinted strongly at the move during a press conference in France, where he confirmed he had been granted permission to speak with Chelsea.
He admitted it was an emotional decision to leave Strasbourg but insisted he felt ready to step into the role at Stamford Bridge.
The former Hull City manager enjoyed a promising spell in France, guiding Strasbourg to a seventh place finish in Ligue 1 last season. Before that, he narrowly missed out on leading Hull into the Championship play offs in 2024.
His coaching career has been closely watched, particularly given his relatively short time in management at senior level.
As a player, Rosenior enjoyed a 16 year career featuring spells at Bristol City, Fulham, Reading, Hull City and Brighton before retiring in 2018.
His transition into coaching has been marked by a possession based style of play, combined with a growing emphasis on high pressing, traits that align closely with Chelsea’s recent tactical approach.
Chelsea’s decision to appoint Rosenior continues the club’s recent trend of backing young managers alongside a youthful squad.
While some pundits have questioned whether his limited experience at the highest level is a risk, Rosenior has maintained that he would not have accepted the role if he did not believe he was ready.
