Chelsea have identified Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior as the leading candidate to become their next head coach following the abrupt departure of Enzo Maresca. The Blues hierarchy are moving quickly to install a successor, with an internal appointment set to take charge for Sunday’s daunting trip to Manchester City.
Maresca’s exit was confirmed on Thursday after just 18 months in charge, a tenure marred by persistent tensions with the club’s ownership. The process to replace him is already underway, and while multiple names are in the frame, it is the 41 year old Englishman Rosenior who has significant backing within the Stamford Bridge boardroom. Sources indicate candidates to succeed him in France are already being eyed, a sign of how advanced the talks could be.
Rosenior’s connection to the Chelsea ownership group, BlueCo, who also own Strasbourg makes this a compelling and somewhat controversial move. He is highly regarded for his progressive style, player development, and man management, having guided Strasbourg to a European finish last season and currently having them in the mix in Ligue 1 again. “He’ll go right to the top,” former Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell, who played under him in France, told the BBC last year.
However, the move is not without its complications or rivals. Porto’s Francesco Farioli, unbeaten at the top of the Portuguese league, is a serious contender with a reported £13m release clause. Marseille’s Roberto De Zerbi, previously interviewed by Chelsea, remains an admired figure but would be a difficult pull mid season. Kieran McKenna at Ipswich retains admirers at the club, while a romantic but unlikely return for legend Frank Lampard, now flying high with Coventry, cannot be entirely ruled out.
The club’s commitment to a possession based style makes a move for someone like Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner improbable. For now, Under 21s coach Calum McFarlane will steer the ship, starting with this weekend’s daunting trip to the Etihad. A social media post from keeper Robert Sanchez confirmed Maresca’s backroom staff have also been cleared out, underscoring the scale of the fresh start.
This appointment is a critical one for a restless fanbase and a directionless squad. Opting for Rosenior represents a bold, data driven bet on a rising coach within their own multi club system, but it risks fury in Strasbourg, where fans already feel like a feeder club. After the failed Maresca experiment, Chelsea’s owners cannot afford another misstep. The next few days will define their season and perhaps the credibility of their entire project.