By Peter Omopo
Chelsea Football Club have appointed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, with the 41-year-old signing a six-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
Rosenior joins the Premier League side from French club Strasbourg, which is owned by Chelsea’s parent company, BlueCo. His appointment follows the departure of Enzo Maresca, who stepped down on January 1 amid mounting pressure.
In his first reaction after the announcement, Rosenior said he was honoured to take charge of the London club, describing Chelsea as a team with a rich history and a strong culture of success.
“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,” he said.
Rosenior will officially take charge ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup third-round clash away to Championship side Charlton Athletic on Saturday. However, caretaker manager Callum McFarlane will oversee Wednesday’s Premier League fixture against Fulham, with Rosenior set to watch the match from the stands.
Speaking ahead of the Fulham encounter, McFarlane described Rosenior as an exciting appointment and promised fans an attacking style of play under the new manager.
“I really enjoy watching his sides. Aggressive, front-foot football, really good on the ball, with strong positional-play concepts. I’m excited to see the work he’s going to do at this club,” McFarlane said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Rosenior had confirmed he was close to completing his move to Chelsea while speaking at a Strasbourg press conference, noting that the opportunity to manage one of the world’s biggest clubs was impossible to turn down.
The former defender enjoyed a 16-year playing career with clubs including Bristol City, Fulham, Reading, Hull City and Brighton before retiring in 2018. He later moved into coaching, narrowly missing out on a Championship play-off spot with Hull City in 2024 before taking charge at Strasbourg.
At the French club, Rosenior led Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, securing qualification for European competition.
Despite his relatively limited experience at the top level, Rosenior insisted he was ready for the challenge of managing Chelsea.
“I am so excited for the future. My whole life has worked towards becoming a coach, and to be given this opportunity at a world-class football club is something I have always dreamed of,” he said.
Rosenior also acknowledged the emotional nature of his departure from Strasbourg but stressed his readiness to embrace the challenge at Chelsea, describing the move as a rare opportunity that could not be declined.
