Chelsea have confirmed the appointment of Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, handing the 41-year-old a long-term contract that runs until 2032.
Rosenior joins the Blues after an 18-month spell in charge of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, a club owned by BlueCo, the same consortium that controls Chelsea.
His arrival follows the dismissal of Enzo Maresca, who was relieved of his duties on New Year’s Day.
The former defender is now Chelsea’s fifth permanent head coach since 2021, following Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino and Maresca.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Rosenior expressed pride at taking over at Stamford Bridge.
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies,” Rosenior said.
“My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. 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.
“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.
“I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. They are the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club.
“I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started.”
Rosenior enjoyed a 17-year playing career before turning to coaching, featuring for clubs such as Brighton & Hove Albion, Hull City, Reading and Fulham in the Premier League. He retired at the end of the 2017/18 season and soon moved into coaching, becoming assistant manager of Brighton’s Under-23 side in August 2018.
He later held several roles at Derby County and briefly served as caretaker manager at the start of the 2022/23 season.
Rosenior was subsequently appointed Derby’s permanent manager, taking charge of 78 matches across a season and a half. During the 2023/24 campaign, he narrowly missed out on a Championship playoff spot, finishing seventh, three points behind Norwich City.
In the 2024/25 season, Rosenior moved to Strasbourg, guiding the French club to a seventh-place finish and qualification for the UEFA Conference League.
He departs with Strasbourg also reaching the knockout stages of the competition, having won five and drawn one match in the league phase. In Ligue 1, they sit seventh, six points behind sixth-placed Rennes.
Rosenior could make his Chelsea debut away to Fulham in the Premier League on Wednesday evening. That match begins a busy run of five consecutive London fixtures across four competitions.
The Blues will then face Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup before hosting Arsenal in the EFL Cup, Brentford in the Premier League, and Cypriot side Pafos in the UEFA Champions League at Stamford Bridge.
