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 following the departure of Enzo Maresca.
Rosenior, who was in charge of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, revealed earlier on Tuesday that he had “verbally agreed” to the move before Chelsea formally announced he had signed a deal running until 2032.
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” Rosenior said in a statement released by the club. “Chelsea is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of success.
“My responsibility is to protect that identity and build a team that reflects those values in every performance as we continue to compete for trophies.”
Despite having just three years of managerial experience and no prior head-coaching role in the Premier League, Rosenior had been widely identified as the leading candidate since Maresca’s abrupt exit last week.
Strasbourg are part of the BlueCo multi-club ownership model, controlled by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, which also owns Chelsea. Rosenior becomes the fourth permanent managerial appointment at Stamford Bridge since BlueCo completed its takeover from Roman Abramovich in 2022.
The former Hull City and Strasbourg boss explained his desire to address the media in France before finalising the move, citing his strong emotional connection to the club.
“Everything is agreed and it will be finalised in the next few hours,” Rosenior said at a Strasbourg press conference. “I wanted to be here in person because I care deeply about this club and felt it was important to answer questions here before moving on.”
Rosenior, the son of former player and manager Leroy Rosenior, now faces a level of scrutiny he has not previously encountered, with the intense media spotlight that accompanies the Chelsea job.
“I’m incredibly excited about what lies ahead,” Rosenior said. “My whole life has been dedicated to becoming a coach, and the chance to manage a world-class football club is something I’ve always dreamed of.
“At the same time, there is real sadness in leaving behind what we’ve built.”
As a player, Rosenior featured in the Premier League and Championship for clubs including Fulham, Reading and Hull City. His early coaching career included roles at Derby County, where he served as caretaker manager for 12 matches at the start of the 2022-23 season.
He was appointed Hull manager later that year but was dismissed after 18 months. In July 2024, he took over at Strasbourg and guided the French side to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.
Maresca departed Chelsea on New Year’s Day following a breakdown in his relationship with senior club figures, despite having delivered the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup earlier in the year.
Chelsea’s Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane oversaw Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City and is expected to remain in interim charge for Wednesday’s Premier League fixture at Fulham.
Reports suggest Rosenior will take charge of his first match on Saturday, when Chelsea face Championship side Charlton in the third round of the FA Cup.
Chelsea currently sit fifth in the Premier League, 17 points adrift of leaders Arsenal, and have managed just one victory in their last eight league outings.
