Liam Rosenior appointed as new Chelsea boss

Liam Rosenior was confirmed on Tuesday as Chelsea’s new head coach on a six-and-a-half-year deal, saying the opportunity to succeed Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge was too good to turn down.

Chelsea officially announced that Liam Rosenior, who will take charge of his first match in the FA Cup at the weekend, had signed a contract running until 2032. The 41-year-old Strasbourg boss told a press conference earlier in the day at the Ligue 1 club that he had “verbally agreed” to the move.

“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” Rosenior stated in a statement released on the Premier League club’s website.

“This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies. My job is to protect that identity and build a team that reflects these values in every game we play, as we continue to compete for honours,” he emphasised.

Rosenior explained that he wanted to announce the news himself in Strasbourg due to his strong emotional connection with the French club.

Rosenior has just three years’ experience as a manager, having coached Hull City and French side Strasbourg, and has never worked in the Premier League.

Nevertheless, he had been widely regarded as the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca since the Italian departed Chelsea last week.