Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, handing the 41-year-old a six-and-a-half-year contract that runs until 2032.
Rosenior joins the Premier League club from French side Strasbourg, replacing Enzo Maresca, who departed Chelsea on New Year’s Day following a breakdown in relations with the club’s hierarchy.
The former Hull City boss will officially take charge at Stamford Bridge this weekend, with his first match set to be an FA Cup third-round tie against Championship side Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
Chelsea said Rosenior’s appointment reflects the club’s long-term vision, with the coach signing one of the longest contracts in the club’s recent history.
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” Rosenior said. “This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies.”
Chelsea confirmed that Callum McFarlane, who oversaw Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw away to Manchester City, will remain in temporary charge for Wednesday’s league match against Fulham before Rosenior fully assumes duties.
Rosenior had earlier confirmed his impending move during a Strasbourg press conference, saying he was “ready” to take on the challenge.
“I was given permission to speak to one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “It’s an honour to be associated with a club like Chelsea, and now it looks like I will be the next manager of that football club.”
A former defender, Rosenior enjoyed a 16-year playing career with clubs including Bristol City, Fulham, Reading, Hull City and Brighton before retiring in 2018.
In management, he narrowly missed out on guiding Hull City to the Championship play-offs in 2024 before taking charge of Strasbourg, a club owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo. Strasbourg finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season.
Despite having limited experience at elite level and having managed fewer than 100 senior matches, Rosenior insisted he is ready for the role.
“My whole life has worked towards becoming a coach, and to now be given this opportunity at a world-class football club is something I’ve always dreamed of,” he said. “If I didn’t think I was ready, I wouldn’t have accepted it.”
Rosenior also acknowledged his emotional departure from Strasbourg but said the opportunity was impossible to turn down.
“There are certain clubs you simply can’t say no to,” he added.
Maresca’s exit on January 1 came after the Italian coach reportedly felt his position had become untenable, with Chelsea already considering a managerial change.
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