Chelsea Football Club have parted company with head coach Enzo Maresca in a surprise New Year's Day announcement, sparking an immediate search for his successor. Among the leading candidates to take the Stamford Bridge hotseat is Liam Rosenior, the current manager of French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.
Maresca's Departure and Chelsea's Struggles
The club confirmed the Italian's departure on 1st January 2026, citing a need for change to get their faltering season back on track. Maresca's 18-month tenure ended following a reported breakdown in his relationship with the Chelsea board and a significant dip in form. The Blues have won just one of their last seven Premier League games, leaving them fifth in the table and a substantial 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Despite the disappointing league campaign, Maresca's reign was not without success. A club statement acknowledged his role in securing victory in the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup. However, with Champions League qualification and other key objectives still at stake, both parties agreed a separation was necessary.
Why Liam Rosenior is a Leading Contender
Attention has swiftly turned to potential replacements, with 41-year-old Rosenior emerging as a strong favourite. The former Fulham and Hull City defender has impressed in his first managerial role abroad, guiding Strasbourg to seventh in Ligue 1 and the top of their Conference League group this season.
Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, which also controls Strasbourg, is reportedly a keen admirer of Rosenior's work and views him as a potential future Chelsea manager. His coaching philosophy, which he has described as possession-based, aligns with the style often sought at the London club.
Rosenior's Clear Premier League Ambition
Chelsea will be encouraged by Rosenior's own publicly stated career goals. In an article for Coaches' Voice in July 2024, written just before his move to France, he explicitly outlined his desire to manage in the Premier League.
"My ambition now is to manage in the Premier League, and I feel ready," Rosenior wrote. "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."
This declaration, coupled with his 141 appearances in the division as a player, makes him a compelling and potentially receptive candidate for the Chelsea hierarchy as they look to stabilise the club after Maresca's exit.
