Liam Rosenior is on the brink of being appointed the new manager of Chelsea after confirming he has reached a verbal agreement with the Premier League side.
The 41-year-old English coach disclosed the development on Tuesday while addressing the media at his current club, Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg, describing the move as an opportunity he could not decline.
Speaking during a press briefing, Rosenior said negotiations with Chelsea had been concluded in principle following talks held in London on Monday, and that the final formalities were expected to be completed within hours.
“It looks like I am going to be the next manager of that football club,” he stated, noting that he chose to speak publicly in Strasbourg out of respect for the French side and their supporters.
Chelsea are yet to issue an official statement confirming the appointment, but Rosenior has emerged as the leading candidate since the dismissal of Enzo Maresca last Thursday. His candidacy has been strengthened by the ownership link between Chelsea and Strasbourg, both of which are controlled by the BlueCo consortium.
If confirmed, Rosenior will become Chelsea’s fourth permanent manager since the takeover of the club by BlueCo in 2022, continuing a period of managerial instability at Stamford Bridge.
Despite his limited profile at elite level, Rosenior has gradually built his coaching résumé over the past five years. After a brief stint overseeing Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-23 side, he joined Derby County in 2019 as part of the backroom staff under Phillip Cocu and later served as assistant to Wayne Rooney. He was appointed interim manager in 2022 before being handed his first full managerial role at Hull City in the Championship later that year.
His tenure at Hull lasted just over 18 months before he was relieved of his duties, but he quickly returned to management, taking charge of Strasbourg in July 2024. He went on to guide the club to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, a performance that brought him to the attention of Chelsea’s hierarchy.
Rosenior acknowledged that the move to west London would expose him to unprecedented scrutiny but reiterated his gratitude to Strasbourg, saying he felt it was important to face the media in person before departing.
“All terms are in place,” he added. “It will probably go through in the next few hours.”
