London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Chelsea Football Club has appointed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach on a five-and-a-half-year deal following Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day.
As reported by the BBC, Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior as head coach after the exit of Enzo Maresca.
What did Liam Rosenior say after being appointed Chelsea head coach?
The 41-year-old Englishman has signed a five-and-a-half-year agreement, with an option for an additional season, to succeed Enzo Maresca following his departure on 1 January.
The new Chelsea head coach will be in the stands for Wednesday’s Premier League visit to Fulham, ahead of taking charge of training on Thursday before the FA Cup tie with Charlton.
Commenting on his new appointment, Liam Rosenior said,
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club.”
He stated,
“To be entrusted with this role means the world to me and I want to thank all involved for the opportunity and faith in undertaking this job. I will give everything to bring the success this club deserves.”
Rosenior added,
“I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal.”
In his final media appearance as Strasbourg boss on Tuesday, 5 January, Rosenior confirmed he had a verbal agreement to take over at Chelsea.
He said,
“I cannot turn down this opportunity to join an incredible club, incredible squad who are Club World Cup champions.”
Strasbourg, part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo group that also controls Chelsea, will see Rosenior join at Stamford Bridge by first-team coach Kalifa Cisse, assistant Justin Walker, and head of analysis Ben Warner.
Since his appointment in July 2024, Rosenior has led Strasbourg to seventh in Ligue 1, securing European qualification for the first time in eight years.
He added,
“The last 18 months have been a joy and the best of my professional career. 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. I will love this club for the rest of my life, but I cannot turn down Chelsea.”
Rosenior, who previously played for Fulham and Hull City, has no prior experience managing in England’s top flight.
He continued,
“I would not have accepted the Chelsea job if I was not ready. There are clubs you just cannot turn down. I hope the Strasbourg fans can see that and be proud of that. I have had interest from many clubs, including Champions League clubs, which I have always been open with to [Strasbourg president] Marc [Keller] and our ownership.”
How did Chelsea decide to part ways with Enzo Maresca?
Enzo Maresca has stepped down as Chelsea manager, with the club sitting fifth in the Premier League. The 45-year-old Italian leaves less than six months after winning the Club World Cup.
Chelsea said,
“With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track.”
Maresca, under contract until 2029, earned the admiration of Stamford Bridge officials, including sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart and co-owner Behdad Eghbali, by guiding Chelsea to a top-four finish and winning both the Conference League and Club World Cup last year.
After Chelsea’s sole Premier League win in December, a 2-0 triumph over Everton, Maresca said “many people” had made it his “worst 48 hours” at the club.
His remarks were made without warning to senior management, who had hoped the matter would remain private. Tensions between the owners and Maresca had been building for months and became irreparable after the comments.
How many Premier League games did Chelsea win under Enzo Maresca?
Chelsea have won a total of 28 Premier League games under Enzo Maresca, with the Italian manager overseeing a season that included a top-four finish and victories in both the Conference League and Club World Cup.
During his final partial season, Maresca led Chelsea to 8 wins in 19 Premier League games, achieving a 42% win rate in his tenure.
Across his entire tenure, Maresca won 28 of 57 Premier League matches, giving him an overall win rate of 49.1%.
When is Chelsea’s next Premier League game?
Chelsea will face Fulham in their next Premier League match on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, with the game taking place at Craven Cottage. The game will kick off at 2:30 PM ET / 7:30 PM GMT, with live coverage available on Peacock in the United States.
As part of Matchweek 21, Chelsea’s midweek game follows the recent holiday fixtures, with most clubs taking to the field around this time.