Chelsea will have Liam Rosenior as their new head coach for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea began 2026 in the most turbulent way possible after the club’s board decided to dismiss Italian manager Enzo Maresca, the same coach who had guided the London side to the UEFA Conference League title in May and the FIFA Club World Cup in July. Two trophies that had firmly established him as one of the standout coaches in his role. However, a run of poor results and a growing lack of alignment with the club’s hierarchy brought his time with the Blues to an end. Now, the leading name to take over the job is Liam Rosenior, seen as one of the club’s boldest managerial bets in recent years.

Who is Liam Rosenior?

Liam Rosenior is a 41-year-old former English footballer with extensive experience across the first and second tiers of English football, having played for clubs such as Brighton, Hull City, Reading, Ipswich Town and Fulham, among others. After retiring in 2018, he moved into coaching, working with teams like Derby County and Hull City before taking charge of RC Strasbourg. There, he has emerged as one of the most promising coaches in European football after leading the French side to qualify for the UEFA Conference League for the first time in their history.

Rosenior has also been credited with elevating the level of several players, including Valentín Barco, Joaquín Panichelli and Julio Enciso, while competing at a high level against elite French teams such as Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and Lyon. His work has been widely praised in England, where there is growing confidence in what he could bring to a club like Chelsea.

According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Rosenior is now the chosen candidate to become Chelsea’s new head coach. The English tactician is expected to travel to London to finalize his contract, taking charge of a squad filled with young, highly talented players as he begins a new chapter at Stamford Bridge.

What Liam Rosenior would face at Chelsea

The English coach would arrive at Chelsea to find a very young but highly talented squad, considering that the oldest player in the team, Tosin Adarabioyo, is just 28 years old. Despite their youth, the London side remains in the Premier League title race, even though Chelsea currently sit fifth with 31 points, 17 behind leaders Arsenal. It represents a significant opportunity for Rosenior, although he has so far been reluctant to speak openly about a potential move to Stamford Bridge.

“My job is here, I love this club. No, I haven’t spoken to the players about that. There’s no need — they’re connected, and we’ve shared a few light jokes. But we’ve been focused on our work. The goal is to keep building great things here. In life, there are no guarantees. You never know what tomorrow will bring. I’m just doing my job. There has already been speculation. I don’t want to guarantee how long I’ll be here, but I enjoy every day here and intend to keep doing so while I’m here. I love this club, but I can’t guarantee anything — nobody can. I want to do my job here, it’s simple. The reality today is that I’m Strasbourg’s manager and I’m focused on my role. There are exchanges because we’re part of the same group. I’m being honest: you can never control everything in life. I could say I’ll stay here for years and then be sacked,” Rosenior said at a press conference.

If Liam Rosenior ends up joining Chelsea, he could make his debut next Wednesday, January 7, when the London side face Fulham. However, if his arrival is delayed, his first match on the touchline could come at Stamford Bridge against Brentford on Saturday, January 17.