Chelsea have appointed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach on a five-and-a-half year contract following the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.
Chelsea had a clear choice in mind when it came to replacing Enzo Maresca. After the Blues’ dramatic split with their former head coach was revealed on New Year’s Day, the west London club had already begun making plans for the future.
Several names were mentioned, but Liam Rosenior always seemed to be the standout candidate.
Rosenior, who spent just under 18 months at Strasbourg, a club owned by Bruco, is no stranger to Chelsea’s sporting director or ownership group. The 41-year-old boss has close relationships with Chelsea’s two sporting directors, Paul Winstanley and Lawrence Stewart, which played a key role in his appointment.
Rosenior is currently on a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, with an option for another year, and is seen as a charismatic leader of a young team.
The former Hull City manager shares a similar footballing philosophy with Maresca. Chelsea’s possession-based game and defensive solidity are what Chelsea’s big men believe will ease the transition. Rosenior encourages his players to build strong bonds on and off the pitch, and is keen to develop similar relationships with fans.
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The former England Under-21 star aims to use the frenetic atmosphere at Stamford Bridge as a secret weapon to rally Chelsea fans.
One of the key factors in Enzo Maresca’s fall from grace at Chelsea was his poor relationship with the club’s medical team, which was exacerbated by the Italian’s disregard for professional guidance on player management.
Stamford Bridge bosses are confident that Rosenior has an excellent operational track record within a comparable framework and are optimistic that he can maximize the team’s potential in this area.
Chelsea caretaker manager Callum Macfarlane, who will oversee tonight’s Premier League game against Fulham, is hopeful that Rosenior’s arrival will go smoothly and the Under-21 manager is looking forward to working closely with him.
“I think it’s going to be a smooth transition,” MacFarlane said Tuesday. “I think they’re in a really good position. I’ve mentioned many times the level they’ve shown this year and it’s important that we achieve that on as consistent a basis as possible.”
“I think Liam is really excited to take this job and I think he has full confidence and we have to give him our full backing that it’s going to be a really smooth transition.”
Rosenior will be watching from the stands at Craven Cottage tonight and will take the reins for his Chelsea debut when the Blues take on Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round on Saturday night.
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