Obscure Rosenior has verbally consented to take over as Chelsea boss
Relatively unknown Liam Rosenior faces his most demanding role yet after stating on Tuesday that he has verbally consented to step in as the new head coach of Premier League heavyweights Chelsea.
The 41 year old described it as an offer too good to refuse.
With just three years under his belt in management and no prior experience in the Premier League, Rosenior stands on the brink of one of the most challenging positions in football.
It seems I am poised to lead that team Chelsea the Englishman remarked during a media briefing at his current outfit, the Ligue 1 team Strasbourg.
Rosenior emerged as the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca following the Italians dismissal on Thursday, partly due to the shared ownership between Strasbourg and Chelsea under the BlueCo group.
The ex Hull City head coach will mark Chelseas fourth full time manager since BlueCo assumed ownership of the capital club in 2022.
While Chelsea has not yet made an official statement on the hire, discussions took place with Rosenior in London on Monday.
He expressed a desire to share the update personally in Strasbourg owing to his strong attachment to the team.
All terms are settled and the deal should finalise shortly he informed the press.
I am present because this team means a lot to me and I believed it proper to address your inquiries in person here prior to my departure.
Rosenior whose father Leroy also played and later managed has yet to encounter the intense scrutiny that awaits in west London.
I feel tremendous enthusiasm for what lies ahead. I wont deny it. Coaching has been my lifelong pursuit he added.
Being granted the chance to lead a top tier football side is a vision I have long held.
Yet that brings a blend of joy and sorrow for what I am stepping away from.
Background in Englands second tier
His professional playing days were split evenly between the Premier League and the Championship where he featured for sides including Fulham, Reading, Hull and Brighton.
Transitioning to coaching he briefly led Brightons under 23 squad before launching his senior role in 2019 at Derby County initially assisting Phillip Cocu and later Wayne Rooney.
In 2022 Rosenior stepped in temporarily for Rooney and that same year assumed control at Hull in the Championship, Englands second division.
After a stint of more than 18 months he was relieved of duties and in July 2024 joined Strasbourg whom he steered to seventh in Ligue 1 during the previous campaign.
On Monday Rosenior conferred with Chelseas sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart after which an insider from Strasbourg indicated the Ligue 1 side was promptly seeking a successor.
Potential options for Strasbourg include former Bournemouth and Wolverhampton manager Gary ONeil, ex Southampton coach Will Still and Eric Ramsay a Welsh coach with past youth experience at Chelsea and assistant role at Manchester United.
Maresca enjoyed an 18 month tenure at Chelsea securing the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup before his sudden exit on New Years Day amid emerging conflicts.
Chelsea took issue with claims that Maresca had discussions with Manchester City regarding a possible replacement for Pep Guardiola at seasons end with hints he leveraged it in contract extension talks.
Under 21s coach Calum McFarlane handled Chelseas duties for Sundays 1 1 stalemate against Manchester City and led training the following day.
Chelsea faces a trip to west London opponents Fulham one of Roseniors former teams on Wednesday.