Liam Rosenior is the frontrunner to become Chelsea’s next manager after Enzo Maresca was sacked due to poor relations with the club’s leadership. Maresca’s 18-month tenure at Chelsea came to an abrupt end after just 17 days when he said he had experienced the “worst 48 hours” at the club and then failed to attend the post-match press conference following Tuesday’s draw with Bournemouth.
The former Leicester boss had disagreements with Chelsea’s medical team over the fitness of his players, and the change was prompted by a poor performance with just one win in seven Premier League games. This opens the door for Rosenior, who is currently the manager of Strasbourg, a club owned by Chelsea’s parent company Blueco.
Bookmakers list him as favorite to win at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior, 41, is highly regarded within Chelsea for his football philosophy, personality and talent management skills.
The former Fulham defender has previously managed Derby and Hull, but it was his work at Strasbourg that caught Chelsea’s attention.
Although he is not well known, I am confident that his excellent communication skills, charisma, and track record of developing young players will captivate fans.
Chelsea are keen to appoint Maresca’s replacement as soon as possible, with assistant Willy Caballero likely to take charge against Manchester City on Sunday.
Other potential candidates include Como manager Cesc Fabregas, a former Chelsea midfielder who enjoyed success winning two titles with Stamford Bridge. However, it is believed that he will not be included in the shortlist.
Former Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi, who currently manages Marseille, is also not in contention. Given that Maresca’s turmoil at Chelsea was marked by public disagreements, it is unlikely that the club’s higher-ups would opt for someone as similar as De Zerbi.
Rosenior’s appointment could be seen as a risky move, especially when compared to notable predecessors such as Jose Mourinho, Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte.
However, under co-owners Todd Boley and Behada Egbali, and sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, Chelsea have always prioritized developing young talent and developing future stars. This approach is consistent with Rosenior’s philosophy, making him a strong candidate for the role despite other candidates being shortlisted.
