Former Hull city defender and manager Liam Rosenior joins Chelsea on a six-year contract from Strasbourg, the French top-division club that he had been managing since 2024. He will take charge from the Blue’s FA Cup third-round tie against Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
Chelsea have announced Liam Rosenior as the new head coach on a six-year deal less than a week after Enzo Maresca’s resignation from the role. Former Hull City boss Rosenior arrives from Ligue 1 club Strasbourg on a contract that keeps him at Stamford Bridge until 2032.
“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,” the former Hull City and Fulham defender said on his appointed as Chelsea coach.
Rosenior had confirmed his move to England during a Strasbourg press conference on Tuesday morning, adding that he was ready for the job.
“I was given permission to speak to one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he told reporters at the presser. “It was an honour to be associated with a club like that and, now, it looks like I will be the next manager of that football club.”
Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Liam Rosenior as head coach of the men’s team.
Welcome to Chelsea, Liam! 🔵
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 6, 2026
The 41-year-old begins his tenure with Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Championship side Charlton Athletic at their backyard. U-21 coach Callum McFarlane had overseen their 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Italian manager Maresca had earlier tendered his resignation on 1 January after a turbulent end to 2025, bringing the curtains down on an 18-month spell in which he helped Chelsea win the UEFA Conference League as well as the FIFA Club World Cup in the span of a couple of months.
Rosenior admits ‘Strasbourg is not on the level as Chelsea’
Rosenior, meanwhile, isn’t feeling the pressure of managing the six-time English champions despite his lack of experience of managing a first-division club – barely managing 100 games with Strasbourg since joining the French club that is owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo in 2024.
“I am so excited for the future, my whole life has worked to be a coach and now to be presented this opportunity at a world-class football (club) is something I have always dreamed of,” the former full-back said.
“With that is a mixed emotion of sadness of what I am leaving behind. This is the last day I wake up as Strasbourg manager.
“I hope the fans here can understand that. I am looking forward to the challenge, if I didn’t think I was ready, I wouldn’t have accepted it.
“The reality is Strasbourg is not on the level as Chelsea. There are certain clubs you just cannot just turn down. I hope the fans can see that,” he added.
Strasbourg had finished seventh in the previous season of Ligue 1 and currently are at the same position at the time of Rosenior’s exit.
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