Liam Rosenior appointed new Chelsea head coach

Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach on a six-and-a-half-year deal.

Rosenior arrives from Strasbourg on a contract that runs until 2032.

He said: “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies.”

Rosenior will take charge of Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie at Championship side Charlton Athletic.

Callum McFarlane, who presided over a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Sunday, will oversee Wednesday’s Premier League game at Fulham, though Rosenior will watch on from the stands.

Rosenior had confirmed his imminent move to Stamford Bridge at a Strasbourg press conference on Tuesday morning – and said he was “ready” for the job.

The ex-Hull boss said: “I was given permission to speak to one of the biggest clubs in the world.

“It was an honour to be associated with a club like that and, now, it looks like I will be the next manager of that football club,” the 41-year-old said.

Rosenior played for Bristol City, Fulham, Reading, Hull City and Brighton during a 16-year playing career.

After hanging up his boots in 2018, Rosenior almost guided Hull to the Championship play-offs in 2024 and then became head coach of Strasbourg, who are owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo. The French club finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season.

Despite his lack of experience at a top-level club – and having managed barely 100 matches altogether – the incoming head coach insisted his new role was not too big a job to take on.

“I am so excited for the future, my whole life has worked to be a coach and now to be presented this opportunity at a world-class football (club) is something I have always dreamed of,” he said.

“With that is a mixed emotion of sadness about what I am leaving behind. This is the last day I wake up as Strasbourg manager.

“I hope the fans here can understand that. I am looking forward to the challenge; if I didn’t think I was ready, I wouldn’t have accepted it.

“The reality is, Strasbourg is not on the level of Chelsea. There are certain clubs you just cannot turn down. I hope the fans can see that.”

Former boss Enzo Maresca left his role on January 1 and is understood to have stepped down because he felt his position was untenable, while Chelsea were already considering sacking the head coach.

Photo caption

Liam Rosenior, the new Chelsea coach.

Sky Sports