Chelsea confirmed on Tuesday that the little-known Liam Rosenior will be their new head coach on a six-year deal, replacing Enzo Maresca.
The 41-year-old said earlier Tuesday during a farewell press conference at Ligue 1 club Strasbourg that he had “verbally agreed” on the move to Stamford Bridge.
The move was rubber-stamped shortly afterwards.
“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 said in a statement.
“My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. To be entrusted with this role means the world to me and I want to thank all involved for the opportunity and faith in undertaking this job. I will give everything to bring the success this club deserves.
“I believe deeply in teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for one another, and those values will be at the heart of everything we do. They will be the foundation of our success.”
Shortly before his move to Chelsea was announced, Rosenior gave a farewell news conference in France on Tuesday morning in which he said he was yet to sign a contract with the Premier League club.
“It looks like I’m going to be the next manager of [Chelsea],” he said.
“I haven’t signed yet, I have agreed verbally with Chelsea. It’s really important, this is different to anything anyone has ever done — nobody has made a statement before they have signed a contract.
“Everything is agreed and it will probably go through in the next few hours. I’m here because I care about this club and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically here today before I move on.”
Rosenior has also admitted that he had interest from other “Champions League clubs” but said he could not turn down the opportunity to manage Chelsea.
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“The last 18 months have been a joy and the best of my professional career. I have met some incredible people and created some incredible memories and made history,” Rosenior said.
“None of that happens without the investment of our ownership and hard work of our president.
“I have had interest from many clubs, including Champions League clubs, which I have always been open with to [our president] Marc [Keller] and our ownership.
“I will love this club for the rest of my life but I cannot turn down Chelsea.”
Rosenior has just three years’ experience as a manager and has never coached in the Premier League.
He had been widely touted as the frontrunner to succeed Maresca since the Italian was sacked on Thursday.
Strasbourg and Chelsea are owned by the same consortium, BlueCo.
The former Hull City manager will become Chelsea’s fourth permanent boss since BlueCo took control of the Londoners in 2022.
Rosenior, whose father Leroy was also a player and then a manager, has never faced the kind of media glare that will await him in west London.
Despite his relative inexperience at the highest level, Rosenior is confident that he is ready for the challenge that awaits him at Chelsea.
“Outside of PSG in France, if Chelsea want a coach, that coach will probably take the Chelsea job,” he said.
“I would not have accepted the Chelsea job if I was not ready.
“There are clubs you just cannot turn down. I hope the Strasbourg fans can see that and be proud of that.”
Rosenior ’emotional’ at Strasbourg exit
It is a rarity to see a manager front up for a news conference just as they are about to leave a club, but Rosenior did just that on Tuesday and was sure to speak of his fondness for his soon-to-be former club Strasbourg.
Rosenior said he had wanted to announce the news himself in Strasbourg because of his deep feelings for the club.
“I am so excited about the future. I have worked my whole life to be a coach and manage a world-class football club,” he said.
“That does bring sadness for what I am leaving behind. This is emotional as it is my last day and time I wake up as a Strasbourg manager. This is football.”
Rosenior also confirmed that his backroom staff, including Kalifa Cisse and Justin Walker would be making the move to west London alongside him.
“I would not be in this position without my unbelievable staff,” he added.
“I am leaving a lot of really good people behind. What I do know is that a good group of people are coming in.
“I have never met a person with such emotional intelligence as I have with Kalifa [Cisse]. Sadly for Strasbourg he is coming with me.”
Rosenior played in the Premier League and Championship. His clubs included Fulham, Reading and Hull City.
He worked as a coach at Derby under Phillip Cocu and Wayne Rooney.
He briefly replaced Rooney on an interim basis in 2022 and later that year took over as manager of Hull in the Championship, England’s second flight.
He was sacked after 18 months and in July 2024 was appointed by Strasbourg, who he guided to seventh place in Ligue 1 last season.
Maresca won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup during his first season at Stamford Bridge.
But tensions emerged in recent weeks and his reign came to an abrupt end on New Year’s Day.
Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane took charge of Chelsea for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City.
They travel to London rivals Fulham on Wednesday.