Chelsea have officially named Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, handing the 41-year-old a six-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior had confirmed earlier on Tuesday that he reached a verbal agreement to leave French side Strasbourg, describing the chance to manage the reigning Club World Cup champions as an opportunity he could not turn down.
The appointment marks the end of a highly successful spell in Ligue 1, where Rosenior rebuilt his managerial reputation following his dismissal by Hull City after narrowly missing out on the Championship play-offs in the 2023–24 season.
Since arriving in France, Rosenior has overseen a remarkable transformation at Strasbourg. He guided the club to a seventh-place finish in the 2024–25 campaign, securing UEFA Conference League qualification, and has them on track for another European spot this season. Strasbourg also topped their Conference League group with 16 points from six matches, including a notable win over Crystal Palace, cementing Rosenior’s reputation as one of Europe’s rising managerial talents.
Following Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day, Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo — which also controls Strasbourg — moved swiftly to install Rosenior as their preferred candidate.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Rosenior said he was “extremely humbled and honoured” to take charge of a club he described as having a “unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies.”
Rosenior will not take charge of Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Fulham, with his first match set to be Saturday’s FA Cup clash against Charlton Athletic.
During his time at Strasbourg, Rosenior averaged 1.59 points per Ligue 1 match, making him one of the most effective coaches in the club’s history and highlighting the potential impact he could have at Stamford Bridge.
