Strasbourg manager and former Premier League defender Liam Rosenior is one of the names touted as a potential Enzo Maresca replacement at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea will already be aware that Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has ambitions to coach in the Premier League amid reports of a potential approach for the 41-year-old following the sacking of Enzo Maresca.
The Italian has left Stamford Bridge after 18 months in charge following a breakdown in relationship with the Chelsea board and a downturn in form. The Blues have won just one of their last seven top flight games and sit fifth in the Premier League, 15 points off leaders Arsenal.
A club statement issued on New Year’s Day read: “Chelsea Football Club and Head Coach Enzo Maresca have parted company.
Chelsea part ways with Enzo Maresca
“During his time at the Club, Enzo led the team to success in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Those achievements will remain an important part of the Club’s recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the Club.
“With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the Club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track. We wish Enzo well for the future.”
Several candidates have been linked with replacing Maresca and one of those is Rosenior. The Mirror believes the former Fulham and Hull City defender is the ‘leading candidate’ for the job.
The 41-year-old has impressed with French outfit Strasbourg with the BlueCo network previously reported to view the coach as a potential future Chelsea manager. Rosenior’s Strasbourg side are seventh in Ligue 1 and top of the Conference League this season.
Liam Rosenior stance on Premier League job
Rosenior began working as a coach at Derby County before eventually taking charge of the side on an interim basis. He then spent a year and a half in charge of Hull City before moving to Strasbourg in July 2024.
Writing for Coaches’ Voice in July 2024, Rosenior explicitly laid out his desire to be in the top flight. He said: “My ambition now is to manage in the Premier League, and I feel ready – not least because the games where I have been at my best as a coach have been possession-based. Maybe it’s not going to be my next step, but the next step has to be to give myself, my staff and my club the best opportunity to be a Premier League team next season.”
Those words came before Rosenior took the job in France but would give Chelsea belief that an approach could be successful. Rosenior made 141 appearances in the Premier League during his playing career.