Chelsea Football Club have appointed Liam Rosengior as their new head coach, handing him a six-year contract despite his limited coaching experience. At 41, Rosengior has never previously managed a team in the Premier League, making this an unusually bold decision by the London club. He replaces Enzo Maresca, who departed suddenly at the start of the year amid internal tensions.
Before the agreement was formalised, Rosengior held a farewell press conference at Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, where he had been manager. Speaking to the media, he confirmed he had given his verbal consent to join Chelsea, with the move officially ratified shortly afterwards.
In a statement on the club’s website, Rosengior said:
“Being appointed head coach of Chelsea is an enormous honour. This is a club with its own identity and a proud history of winning trophies. My responsibility will be to preserve that identity and ensure our values are reflected in every match.”
Chelsea and Strasbourg are both owned by the investment group BlueCo. Since BlueCo took control of Chelsea in 2022, Rosengior becomes the club’s fourth permanent manager under the new ownership. He expressed deep affection for Strasbourg, emphasising that he wished to announce his departure personally.
Rosengior enjoyed a professional playing career in both the Premier League and the Championship, representing Fulham, Reading, and Hull City. As a coach, he worked under Philip Cocu and Wayne Rooney at Derby County, and briefly served as interim manager in 2022 when Rooney departed. He subsequently took charge of Hull City as manager, but was dismissed after 18 months. In July 2024, he took over Strasbourg, guiding them to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
Maresca, in contrast, had won both the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup in his debut season with Chelsea. However, disagreements with the board and staff led to his abrupt exit on New Year’s Day. Following Maresca’s departure, Chelsea’s U21 coach Callum McFarland oversaw a 1–1 draw against Manchester City on Sunday. The Blues will face Fulham in the London derby on Wednesday.
Recent Chelsea Managers Overview :
| Manager | Tenure | Major Achievements | Departure Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enzo Maresca | 2024–25 Season | UEFA Conference League, Club World Cup | Internal conflicts |
| Liam Rosengior | 2026–Present | Strasbourg – Ligue 1 7th place last season | New Chelsea appointment |
Rosengior’s appointment represents a strategic gamble by Chelsea, reflecting the club’s willingness to invest in a coach with a strong developmental vision but limited top-flight experience. Fans and analysts will now be watching closely to see how he transitions from Ligue 1 to the pressures and scrutiny of the Premier League.