Liam Rosenior has emerged as a leading candidate for the Chelsea hotseat after Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day.
The 41-year-old English coach is “highly rated internally” at Stamford Bridge, according to multiple reports, confirmsing Rosenior’s position among the frontrunners for the position.
It’s a fascinating development for the current Strasbourg boss, whose name has quickly risen to prominence in what promises to be one of the most closely watched managerial searches in English football.
The Blues are keeping their options open as they look for Maresca’s successor, with Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi also among the coaches being looked at.
Chelsea have identified Liam Rosenior as their top target to replace Enzo Maresca
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Rosenior currently manages the French club Strasbourg, which falls under the same ownership umbrella as Chelsea.
And as his name continues to garner traction in the press, his thoughts on USA President Donald Trump have resurfaced.
The letter, penned for The Guardian during widespread unrest in the United States, saw Rosenior adopt a sarcastic tone as he addressed the president.
Donald Trump came under fire from Liam Rosenior in 2020
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“Thank you for shining a spotlight to people around the world who have been sadly unaware of your country and the state it has been in for hundreds of years, and for outing the racist, hateful, bigoted and violent people who not only voted for you but have held the cultural key to an unjust, corrupt and fundamentally prejudiced society and system from the conception of the USA, built on the genocide of Native Americans and the slavery and incarceration of millions of black people,” he wrote.
“You truly mirror the views and ideology of a group of people we must and will overcome. For that Mr President, I sincerely thank you.”
Rosenior was managing Derby County when he wrote that letter, and later that year joined the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board to continue challenging prejudices and creating opportunities.
Liam Rosenior started his coaching career under Wayne Rooney’s guidance
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His playing days ended in 2018 at Brighton, following spells at Fulham, Reading and Ipswich Town.
After being surprisingly sacked by Hull despite pushing them into Championship play-off contention, he took charge at Strasbourg in July and guided them to seventh in Ligue 1 last season.
He’s previously expressed his ambition to manage in the Premier League, and with Chelsea competing in the Champions League, it seems highly unlikely he’d turn down such an opportunity if the call comes.
