Liam Rosenior Set to Become Chelsea Manager
Liam Rosenior appears set to take over as Chelsea’s next head coach after reportedly traveling to London to conclude final contract discussions. The Strasbourg manager has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca, who was recently dismissed by the Premier League side, with Chelsea moving swiftly to appoint a successor.
Liam Rosenior is on the brink of being appointed Chelsea’s new head coach after flying to London for final contract negotiations, with a possible debut against former club Fulham.
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The 41-year-old former Brighton defender has been identified as the club’s preferred choice, and there is growing belief that he could be in charge for Chelsea’s upcoming midweek league match away at Fulham. That fixture would see Rosenior face his former club almost immediately after taking the role.
Following Maresca’s departure, Rosenior was quickly linked with the Stamford Bridge vacancy. The connection between Chelsea and Strasbourg, both owned by BlueCo, has fueled speculation. When questioned about the rumors, Rosenior initially downplayed the situation, describing the links as speculation and insisting his focus remained on Strasbourg’s Ligue 1 encounter with Nice.
Speaking to the media, Rosenior emphasized his commitment to his current responsibilities, explaining that distractions and rumors can derail a coach’s work. He stressed that his priority was Strasbourg, noting that he had not discussed the speculation with his players and that the squad remained focused on their objectives. While acknowledging that football offers no guarantees, he reiterated that his role at the time was to manage Strasbourg and concentrate fully on his duties there.
However, a day later, Rosenior appeared less definitive about his long-term future in France. Amid increasing reports of Chelsea’s interest, the former Derby County coach admitted that he could not predict what might happen next, despite expressing deep affection for Strasbourg, its players, and the city. He highlighted the strong bond he shares with the squad and praised the club’s environment, while maintaining that no concrete discussions had taken place.
After Strasbourg secured a draw away to Nice on Saturday, Rosenior again addressed the speculation, conceding there “may be interest” but insisting there was still “nothing concrete.” Despite his public stance, French outlet L’Equipe reported that talks between Chelsea and Rosenior’s representatives were far more advanced than suggested. The report claimed that Rosenior was expected to arrive at Chelsea within hours.
On Sunday afternoon, Rosenior reportedly flew from Strasbourg to London alongside club president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir to hold talks. While he has yet to formally sign a contract, there is a strong possibility he could be on the touchline for Chelsea’s trip to in-form Fulham on Wednesday.
Looking ahead, Rosenior is expected to bring assistant coaches Khalifa Cissé and Justin Walker with him to Chelsea. In his absence, Strasbourg’s training session on Monday is likely to be overseen by staff members Filipe Coelho and Jean-Marc Kuentz. Meanwhile, Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay, who previously spent two years coaching in Chelsea’s academy, is reportedly being considered as a potential replacement for Rosenior at Strasbourg.
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