Chelsea Seeks New Manager as Enzo Maresca Departs, Liam Rosenior Emerges as Top Candidate

Chelsea Football Club is actively seeking a new manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca. Liam Rosenior, currently managing Strasbourg, is seen as the frontrunner for the position. While fans have mixed reactions to his potential appointment, Rosenior's coaching journey has shown promise. Chelsea's recent struggles in the league have raised concerns about their Champions League qualification. The club aims to make a swift decision to stabilize their season across multiple competitions. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 2, 2026, 14:23 IST

Chelsea's Managerial Search Begins

Chelsea Football Club is on the lookout for a new manager following the announcement of Enzo Maresca's departure. Liam Rosenior, currently managing Strasbourg, is reportedly the leading candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge.

The club released a brief statement on Thursday, confirming Maresca's exit just hours after rumors circulated on New Year’s Eve regarding his potential departure due to a challenging conclusion to the 2025 season. Chelsea acknowledged Maresca's contributions, including leading the team to the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, but both parties agreed that a change was necessary to rejuvenate the team's performance.

Liam Rosenior: The Frontrunner

Attention has swiftly shifted to Liam Rosenior, a 41-year-old former defender for Hull City and Brighton, who is currently at the helm of Strasbourg in Ligue 1. Sources suggest he is the frontrunner to replace Maresca, although Chelsea would need to find a replacement for him in France.

Fans eager to understand Rosenior's coaching style discovered a passionate team talk he delivered at Strasbourg. The video, shared on social media in September 2024, showcased Rosenior motivating his players to enhance their effort and defend as a unit, with his words translated into French by an interpreter. He emphasized the need for energy from substitutes and confidence from the squad, urging them to display courage to secure victories.

Mixed Reactions from Chelsea Fans

Reactions from Chelsea supporters have been varied. Some fans dismissed the video, questioning Rosenior's charisma and experience, while others expressed skepticism about his ability to motivate players at the elite level. Comments ranged from amusement to critiques regarding his talent assessment.

Rosenior's coaching career began at Brighton with the U23 team before he joined Derby County in 2019 as a first-team coach. He briefly served as interim manager following Wayne Rooney's resignation in 2022. Later that year, he became the head coach at Hull City, earning a nomination for EFL Championship Manager of the Season in 2023-24. Despite narrowly missing the playoffs, he was let go the following season, a decision that surprised many.

Rosenior's Tenure at Strasbourg

In July 2024, Rosenior took over at Strasbourg, leading them to a seventh-place finish and qualification for the Conference League. His time in France has been viewed positively, although he is still relatively young for a Premier League managerial role.

Chelsea's future steps remain unclear, particularly regarding whether Maresca's backroom staff, including assistant Willy Caballero, will remain. The team has struggled recently, winning only one of their last seven league matches, putting their Champions League qualification hopes at risk. The club aims to appoint a successor quickly to stabilize their performance across all competitions.

Fan Reactions on Social Media

Yo Matisse is finished if they appoint that guy

— Leo✨ (@barcamilitia) January 1, 2026

Its gonna be a long season for Chelsea fans

— SIR CHUCHO ️ (@ChuchoMaine) January 1, 2026

Rosenior's progressive style could shake things up at Chelsea, but Strasbourg might not be thrilled. Let's see if it materializes.

— Ẓ̌eeza §enpaii (@ZeezaSenpai) January 1, 2026

No way Chelsea is hiring a PE teacher

— (@fcbharrison) January 1, 2026

I’d stop watching Chelsea if we hire Liam Rosenior. We need someone serious.

— Dubois (@CFC_Dubois) January 1, 2026

Liam Rosenior has 3 wins since September in the league, but he’s a yes man so they’re not gonna look at that part him having 3 wins

— 95 (@SPIDACFC) January 1, 2026

“Liam Rosenior” You would think they’re sacking Enzo Maresca for Zidane or Luis Enrique I’m actually fucking crying, they want to run this club to the ground. Definitely a social experiment.

— Mod (@CFCMods) January 1, 2026

Sacking Enzo Maresca for Liam Rosenior is the exact same as sacking Tuchel for Graham Potter. @ebehdad you are a clown and you are destroying Chelsea FC.

— CfcSheikh (@CfcSheikh) January 1, 2026