Rosenior Emerges as Leading Candidate After Chelsea Sack Maresca
Chelsea moved swiftly into a new chapter on New Year’s Day as Enzo Maresca was dismissed from his role, with Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior quickly emerging as the leading contender to take over at Stamford Bridge.
The decision brought an abrupt end to Maresca’s tenure despite recent silverware, and attention has now turned to Rosenior, who has impressed under the BlueCo umbrella in Ligue 1 and is understood to be high on Chelsea’s shortlist.
Chelsea confirmed the split in an official statement, thanking Maresca for delivering the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup but admitting the relationship between the board and head coach had deteriorated in recent weeks. With Champions League qualification still in play, the club opted for a change they believe can reset the season.
Rosenior’s rise has been one of the standout coaching stories in France. The 41 year old has been in charge at Strasbourg for over a year and guided the club into the Conference League in his first season while also keeping them competitive domestically. Ahead of the weekend, Strasbourg sits seventh in Ligue 1, underlining the progress made under his leadership.
The timing of the speculation has added to the intrigue. Chelsea’s announcement came just as Strasbourg prepared to return from the winter break, following a 2-1 Coupe de France win over Dunkerque before Christmas. Rosenior addressed the reports directly, insisting his focus remains firmly on his current role and the upcoming league fixture against Nice.
He made clear there had been no disruption inside the squad, describing the links as background noise and stressing that engaging with speculation only distracts from day-to-day work. Rosenior acknowledged the realities of modern football but reiterated that, at present, he is fully committed to Strasbourg.
Behind the scenes, Chelsea’s search has been wide-ranging but decisive. Names such as Cesc Fabregas, Oliver Glasner and Francesco Farioli have already been ruled out, while brief links to Zinedine Zidane and Jurgen Klopp were quickly dismissed as incompatible with the club’s current recruitment model.
In the short term, Chelsea will turn to their academy setup. Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane has been placed in temporary charge and will lead the team for Sunday’s trip to Manchester City, a challenging assignment at the Etihad Stadium.
For Chelsea, the coming days will shape the direction of their season and possibly their long-term project. For Rosenior, the attention reflects his growing reputation, even as he continues to insist that his immediate priority remains Strasbourg and the task in front of him.