Chelsea have confirmed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, handing the former Hull City and Derby County boss a six-and-a-half-year contract running until the summer of 2032 following the departure of Enzo Maresca.
The 42-year-old arrives at Stamford Bridge from Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg, both owned by the BlueCo investment group, marking a significant step up in his managerial career.
Why Chelsea chose Rosenior
In an official club statement, Chelsea outlined the key reasons behind their decision to appoint Rosenior, pointing to his tactical clarity, leadership style and ability to maximise squad potential.
“Liam has shown that he can build teams with a clear way of playing while setting the highest standards with players on and off the pitch,” Chelsea said. “While there will continue to be a focus on player development, the Club’s expectations and ambitions remain high.
“Liam has the ability to get the best out of this squad quickly and joins us with the responsibility and the backing to ensure Chelsea continues to compete at the top level in all competitions this season and in seasons to come.”
Track record at Strasbourg
Rosenior leaves Strasbourg after an 18-month spell in charge, during which he guided the Ligue 1 side to a seventh-place finish last season after replacing Patrick Vieira.
Despite signing a new three-year contract with Strasbourg in April, Rosenior departs with the club once again sitting seventh after 17 league games, following Saturday’s 1-1 draw away at Nice. In Europe, Strasbourg are top of their Conference League group, boasting an unbeaten record this season.
Those performances played a major role in Chelsea’s internal assessment, with the club viewing Rosenior as a coach capable of balancing development with immediate competitiveness.
From Championship to Stamford Bridge
Before his move to France, Rosenior spent 18 months in charge of Hull City, where he narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs before being dismissed in May 2024. He also had a brief spell as interim manager at Derby County in 2022.
As a player, Rosenior represented Reading, Fulham, Hull City and Brighton, building a reputation for professionalism that has carried into his coaching career.
A long-term commitment from Chelsea
The length of Rosenior’s contract underlines Chelsea’s commitment to long-term stability after another managerial change. Having parted ways with Maresca on 1 January 2026, the club appear keen to align their first-team direction closely with their wider multi-club model.
However, it remains too early to judge how quickly Rosenior can translate his Strasbourg success to the Premier League, where expectations and scrutiny are far greater.
Key insights
- Liam Rosenior has signed a deal until summer 2032
- Chelsea highlighted tactical clarity and leadership as key factors
- Rosenior leaves Strasbourg seventh in Ligue 1 and unbeaten in Europe
- Appointment follows Enzo Maresca’s exit on New Year’s Day
- Signals Chelsea’s desire for long-term managerial stability
What’s next?
Rosenior is expected to take charge immediately, with Chelsea’s upcoming fixtures offering an early test of how quickly his ideas can be implemented. Attention will now turn to backroom appointments and whether Chelsea reinforce the squad in upcoming windows to support their new head coach.
Is Liam Rosenior the right long-term appointment for Chelsea — or a gamble at the highest level?
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