Liam Rosenior emerges as leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca at Chelsea

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has emerged as the leading contender to take over as Chelsea head coach after Enzo Maresca left the club on Thursday amid internal tensions. The 41-year-old Englishman — appointed by Strasbourg in the summer of 2024 and formerly Hull manager — is reported to have strong internal backing at Chelsea and may be considered for the role ahead of Sunday’s Premier League fixture. Chelsea’s ownership, linked to the BlueCo investment vehicle that also holds ties to Rosenior’s current employers, is understood to be moving through a shortlisting process while other candidates remain under consideration. Interim duties for the weekend’s match will fall to Chelsea Under-21s coach Calum McFarlane, and sources say Maresca’s backroom staff have also departed.

Key Takeaways

• Liam Rosenior, 41, is reported as the frontrunner to succeed Enzo Maresca after the Italian left Chelsea on Thursday; Rosenior currently manages Strasbourg.
• Strasbourg finished seventh in Ligue 1 under Rosenior in his first season and reached the top spot in the 36-team Conference League league phase earlier this campaign.
• BlueCo, the investment group tied to Chelsea’s owners, has existing connections to Strasbourg, which may ease internal support for Rosenior’s move.
• Other managers linked to the vacancy include Roberto de Zerbi (46, Marseille), Kieran McKenna (39, Ipswich), Francesco Farioli (36, Porto) and Frank Lampard (47, Coventry).
• Porto’s Francesco Farioli has a reported £13m buyout clause and has won 15 and drawn one of Porto’s first 16 league matches this season.
• Chelsea will be led by Calum McFarlane for Sunday’s match against Manchester City while the managerial search continues.
• Social-media posts indicate Maresca’s backroom team have left the club, though club officials have not published a comprehensive staffing statement.

Background

Chelsea appointed Enzo Maresca as head coach in 2024 amid a period of transition under the club’s current ownership structure. Maresca, 45, departed after reported friction between his coaching staff and the hierarchy; the exit was confirmed on Thursday and followed a season in which the club sought a steady tactical identity. The team’s leadership has repeatedly cited a desire to maintain a particular playing style, which has shaped prior interview shortlists and scouting priorities.

BlueCo, the investment vehicle established to complete the 2022 purchase of Chelsea, also holds ownership interests connected to other clubs in its network. Those affiliations have made managers with existing ties to BlueCo-owned teams — or who have impressed within similar systems — obvious candidates for internal support. Historically, Chelsea’s managerial recruitment has mixed high-profile external names with younger, emerging coaches; in 2024 the club interviewed Roberto de Zerbi, Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank before appointing Maresca.

Main Event

The immediate sequence began when Chelsea announced Maresca’s departure on Thursday; the club confirmed the parting while media outlets reported internal disagreements as a key factor. With Sunday’s fixture at Stamford Bridge against Manchester City imminent, the club named Under-21s head coach Calum McFarlane to oversee the first-team for the match and to conduct the pre-match press conference on Friday. That short-term step buys the recruitment team a few days to assess candidates while the squad prepares for a high-profile opponent.

Reports indicate Liam Rosenior is a leading internal choice. Rosenior joined Strasbourg in 2024 and led the side to a seventh-place finish last season, securing European qualification. This season Strasbourg topped the 36-team Conference League league phase and remain competitive domestically, though they have lost three of their past four Ligue 1 matches with one draw — a run that has drawn scrutiny even as Rosenior’s profile has risen.

The club’s list of potential successors includes managers with varied profiles. Roberto de Zerbi, 46, has recent Champions League involvement with Marseille but was previously linked with Premier League roles. Kieran McKenna, 39, has impressed at Ipswich and in prior academy roles at Tottenham and Manchester United. Francesco Farioli has enjoyed a near-perfect start with Porto, while Frank Lampard remains a fan-familiar name after success at Coventry and past spells at Chelsea.

Analysis & Implications

A move for Rosenior would signal Chelsea’s continued interest in coaches who have demonstrated player development, a modern tactical outlook and the ability to manage dressing-room dynamics at smaller clubs before stepping up. Rosenior’s reputation for promoting younger talents and adapting tactical plans to his squad’s strengths has made him attractive to clubs seeking both short-term improvement and longer-term asset growth. BlueCo’s familiarity with Rosenior through ownership overlaps may reduce negotiation friction and increase internal support compared with an entirely external appointment.

Selecting an external proven top-level coach, such as De Zerbi or Farioli, carries contrasting trade-offs: immediate tactical pedigree and continental experience versus potential cultural fit and willingness to adapt to Chelsea’s specified style of play. Farioli’s success at Porto, underlined by 15 wins and one draw in 16 league matches, suggests a ready-made option for instant results, but would likely require paying a reported £13m buyout. De Zerbi’s Champions League engagement with Marseille complicates any swift switch.

Domestically, the choice will affect Chelsea’s transfer planning and youth pathway. A manager like Rosenior, known for developing talent, might accelerate the integration of academy players and lower-cost signings; a high-profile external hire could shift emphasis toward experienced signings and immediate impact. Fan reaction and stability at Strasbourg are also relevant: allowing Rosenior to depart could trigger unrest among supporters who view the French club as a competitive project in its own right.

Comparison & Data

The table highlights relative profiles: Rosenior and McKenna bring youth development and upward trajectories, while De Zerbi and Farioli offer established continental records. Any appointment will be judged on short-term results and alignment with Chelsea’s stated playing philosophy.

Reactions & Quotes

Former Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell, who played under Rosenior at Strasbourg, offered a succinct endorsement of Rosenior’s potential trajectory and management qualities.

“He will go right to the top,”

Ben Chilwell (former Strasbourg player)

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez posted on social media indicating movement among Maresca’s staff, a signal of rapid change in the first-team setup; the club has not released a detailed staffing statement. Supporters and pundits alike have responded quickly to reports of Rosenior’s name being linked to the post.

“His backroom team have also departed,”

Robert Sanchez (goalkeeper)

Club insiders and media analysts stress that the process remains active and that additional names are under review, reflecting a cautious approach from the ownership ahead of a high-stakes fixture list.

“Multiple candidates are being considered and the decision will balance style, short-term results and long-term strategy,”

Club source (anonymous)

Unconfirmed

• That Rosenior has formally accepted an offer — reports describe him as the frontrunner but no official agreement has been published.
• Any precise compensation package or timeline for Strasbourg to identify a replacement; clubs are reported to be considering candidates but no confirmations have been released.
• Whether other linked managers (Iraola, Silva, Glasner) remain active contenders for the role; media links do not equal formal interviews.

Bottom Line

Liam Rosenior is widely reported to be the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, supported by his recent success at Strasbourg and connections through BlueCo. The club has moved quickly to interim arrangements for the upcoming match while the recruitment process continues, underscoring the need for a considered appointment that satisfies playing-style requirements and fan expectations.

Any final decision will weigh short-term competitiveness against long-term strategy: a younger coach with player-development credentials would signal continuity in building talent, while an established continental name would indicate a priority on immediate results. Supporters and stakeholders should expect formal confirmations or denials in the coming days as clubs and agents conclude negotiations.

Sources

• BBC Sport (news)