Liam Rosenior confirms he will become new Chelsea manager

Cameron Smith

• 6 Jan 2026 02:59 CST
• 4 min read

News

Liam Rosenior has officially confirmed that he is set to be appointed as the new permanent Chelsea manager.

The 41-year-old has been in charge of Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg since the summer of 2024 and he is now on the verge of being promoted to the Stamford Bridge job following the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.

Chelsea U21 head coach Calum McFarlane was in the dugout for the Blues’ 1-1 draw versus Manchester City on Sunday evening, but his temporary spell as interim boss is now set to come to an end.

Rosenior quickly emerged as the leading candidate to replace Maresca at the west London giants and he has now officially confirmed that he will become the new Chelsea head coach.

When asked if he will join Chelsea during a press conference with the French media, Rosenior admitted (via BBC Sport): "I was given permission to speak to one of the biggest sporting clubs in the world. It looks like I'm going to be the next manager of that football club.

"The last 18 months have been a joy and the best of my professional career. I have met some incredible people and created some incredible memories and made history.

"None of that happens without the investment of our ownership and hard work of our president. I have had interest from many clubs, including Champions League clubs, which I have always been open with to [our president] Marc [Keller] and our ownership.

"I will love this club for the rest of my life but I cannot turn down Chelsea."

He added: "I haven't signed yet, I have agreed verbally with Chelsea. It's really important, this is different to anything anyone has ever done - nobody has made a statement before they have signed a contract.

"Everything is agreed and it will probably go through in the next few hours. I'm here because I care about this club and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically here today before I move on."

Rosenior continued: "I am so excited about the future. I have worked my whole life to be a coach and manage a world-class football club.

"That does bring sadness for what I am leaving behind. This is emotional as it is my last day and time I wake up as a Strasbourg manager. This is football."

Liam Rosenior to join Chelsea

It remains to be seen whether Rosenior will be in charge for Chelsea's short away trip to Fulham on Wednesday or if McFarlane will be given a second game in the dugout before returning to U21 duties.

Regardless of when his first game at Chelsea takes place, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes Rosenior will be a success in west London.

He told The Wayne Rooney show: "If he goes in there [Chelsea], he won't disappoint. He's been waiting for an opportunity like this.

"If you don't take it now, then you're never going to take it. And I think he's done his apprenticeship, he's done his work to try and get to that job.

"So he'll have no doubts in his mind that he's capable of doing that job. And hopefully, very soon, hopefully we hear that he is the manager, because for young English coaches I think it's massive.

"We don't really see English managers at big clubs. So he'd be leading the way for for us."

The FootballTransfers app

Check out FootballTransfers' new app for all of football's big storylines, transfer rumours and exclusive news in one convenient place directly on your mobile device.

The FootballTransfers app is available in the Apple App Store. Download here:

•App Store