Liam Rosenior has coached in the Championship with Derby County and Hull City
Emily SalleyBBC Sport journalist
- 6 January 2026, 08:49 GMT
- 535 Comments
Updated 13 minutes ago
Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior says he has “agreed verbally” to take over at Chelsea.
The 41-year-old Englishman is set to replace Enzo Maresca, who left on New Year’s Day.
“I cannot turn down this opportunity to join an incredible club, incredible squad who are Club World Cup champions,” Rosenior said.
Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo multi-club ownership group that also controls Chelsea.
“I haven’t signed yet. Everything is agreed and it will probably go through in the next few hours,” Rosenior added.
“I’m here because I care about this club [Strasbourg] and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically here today before I move on.”
Rosenior said Strasbourg first-team coach Kalifa Cisse, assistant head coach Justin Walker and head of analysis Ben Warner will join him at Chelsea.
Ronseior joined Strasbourg in July 2024 and guided the French club to seventh in Ligue 1 last season, securing European football for the first time in eight years.
His final match was a 1-1 draw at Nice on Saturday, their fifth league game without a win.
They are seventh in Ligue 1 and top of the Conference League.
“The last 18 months have been a joy and the best of my professional career,” Rosenior said.
“I will love this club for the rest of my life but I cannot turn down Chelsea.”
The former Fulham and Hull full-back has never managed in the Premier League but previously coached in the Championship with Derby County and the Tigers.
“I would not have accepted the Chelsea job if I was not ready,” Rosenior said.
“There are clubs you just cannot turn down. I hope the Strasbourg fans can see that and be proud of that.”
He added: “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.”
Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League before their game against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday (19:30 GMT).
Caretaker manager Calum McFarlane was in place for Chelsea‘s 1-1 draw at Manchester City.
‘Rosenior wanted to look people in the eye’ – analysis
Nizaar KinsellaFootball reporter
It is highly unusual for any outgoing manager to explain their departure in a news conference, but that’s exactly what Liam Rosenior did on Tuesday morning.
After flying into London to seal a verbal agreement with Chelsea to become their next manager, Rosenior returned to France and Strasbourg to say goodbye.
And in a remarkable news conference at Stade de la Meinau, the stadium he has called home for 18 months, the former Derby and Hull boss looked emotional and allowed local reporters to ask difficult questions.
Rosenior spoke warmly about his favourite moments and said he wanted to look people in the eye and explain his reasons for leaving the club mid-season to join Chelsea.
What complicates matters is that both clubs are owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s holding company – BlueCo – which could become a flashpoint if this does not go well.
But Rosenior appeared simply motivated by doing the right thing and explaining himself to supporters after a role that has propelled him to what he called “one of the biggest clubs in the world”.
