Need to know
As Liam Rosenior looks to be frontrunner to take over Chelsea, Mirror Football explains everything you need to know about the Strasbourg boss off the back of Enzo Maresca's exit at Stamford Bridge
10:19, 02 Jan 2026
Liam Rosenior is one of the favourites to takeover at Chelsea(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Everything you need to know about Liam Rosenior with Chelsea considering him as potentially their next head coach following Enzo Maresca's exit on New Year's Day...
- Since joining RC Strasbourg in July 2024, Rosenior has transformed the side from mid-table finishers into genuine European contenders in Ligue 1. He achieved a remarkable feat by fielding the youngest starting XI in the history of the French top flight, with every outfield player under the age of 23.
- The Chelsea hierarchy views Rosenior as a "progressive" and "media-savvy" leader who fits their multi-club model perfectly. Having worked under the same owners at Strasbourg, he is already well-versed in the board’s vision of developing elite young talent rather than relying on expensive, established stars.
- Before moving to France, Rosenior cut his teeth in the EFL, first as an assistant to Wayne Rooney at Derby County before taking the top job on an interim basis. He later managed Hull City, where he was nominated for Championship Manager of the Season after guiding the "Tigers" to a seventh-place finish.
- A reliable defender during his playing days, Rosenior made over 400 senior appearances, including 141 in the Premier League. He represented clubs such as Fulham, Reading and Hull City, and notably started for Hull in the 2014 FA Cup Final against Arsenal.
- On the international stage, he earned 11 caps for England at Under-20 and Under-21 levels. His early career also included silverware, as he scored in the 2003 Football League Trophy final to help Bristol City secure the title.
- Rosenior cites Sir Alex Ferguson as his "hero" and credits Wayne Rooney for teaching him vital lessons in man-management and handling elite-level pressure. He has also surprisingly noted NFL legend Bill Belichick as an influence, particularly regarding his disciplined and meticulous approach to match preparation.
- His style is built on "dominating possession" and implementing a high-intensity press to win the ball back quickly. He is known for being tactically flexible, often shifting between a 3-4-2-1 and a 4-3-3 depending on the opposition's strengths.
- When his teams have the ball, he prefers a 3-2-5 attacking shape designed to create numerical advantages across the pitch. This approach encourages "bravery" from his players, requiring them to play out from the back even under heavy pressure from the opponent.
- Rosenior is a big believer in sports psychology, famously using "personality profiling" to determine whether a player responds better to "the carrot or the stick." He aims to remove the "fear factor" from his squad, often taking public responsibility for players' mistakes to protect their confidence.
- Football is "in his blood," as he is the son of former professional player and manager Leroy Rosenior. He spent his childhood in dressing rooms and dugouts, gaining a unique education in the game that saw him earn his coaching Pro Licence at the remarkably young age of 32.