Liam Rosenior Set to Become Chelsea's New Head Coach
Liam Rosenior has arrived in London to finalize his anticipated appointment as head coach of Chelsea.
As reported by BBC Sport on Thursday, Rosenior, currently the manager of Strasbourg, is the frontrunner to succeed Enzo Maresca, who has departed from Stamford Bridge.
Discussions regarding Rosenior's appointment are at an advanced stage, and the 41-year-old is in the capital to complete the necessary formalities before being officially named as Maresca's successor.
BlueCo, the investment group that acquired Chelsea in 2022, has begun the process of identifying candidates to replace Rosenior at Strasbourg.
Chelsea's caretaker manager, Calum McFarlane, indicated that there is a possibility the new head coach will be in place by Monday.
McFarlane stepped in after Maresca's departure from Chelsea, which followed disagreements with club leadership.
Under McFarlane's guidance, Chelsea managed a 1-1 draw against title contenders Manchester City on Sunday, with midfielder Enzo Fernandez scoring a late equalizer.
After the match, McFarlane remarked, "When I first took the job, I was informed that I would be in charge for the Manchester City game. So, that was just three days with the team. There’s a chance the new manager will arrive on Monday, which is what I was originally told. Obviously, it’s Sunday now. We have been completely focused on the game. I expect to receive more information once I leave this press conference. As far as I know, the new manager will be here soon, and I will continue to lead the team until he arrives."
Rosenior was in charge for Strasbourg's 1-1 draw against Nice on Saturday, and on Sunday, he was spotted at Strasbourg airport alongside the club's sporting director, David Weir, as reported by French football publication L'Équipe.
The appointment is complicated by the need for Strasbourg—who shares the same American ownership group as Chelsea—to find a replacement, with ongoing discussions with several candidates.
Former Wolves manager Gary O'Neil is believed to have held talks with Strasbourg regarding the position.
Weir, along with Strasbourg president Marc Keller, is overseeing the search for Rosenior's successor amid concerns from some sections of the French club's fanbase regarding the managerial transition across the multi-club structure.
There are currently no anticipated issues on the Chelsea side regarding the appointment.