Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior is being heavily linked with taking charge as Chelsea manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca from Stamford Bridge this week
20:34, 02 Jan 2026Updated 20:46, 02 Jan 2026
Liam Rosenior is the early favourite to be the next Chelsea manager(Image: Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Liam Rosenior reportedly risks seeing the Strasbourg team “implode” if he were to swap the Ligue 1 club for Chelsea. The former Hull City boss has been heavily linked with being the next Blues manager to replace Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea parted company with Maresca on New Year’s Day, with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy now beginning their search for a replacement. Rosenior has already emerged as the early favourite to potentially replace Maresca, with the 41-year-old currently in charge of Strasbourg in the French top flight.
Strasbourg appointed Rosenior in the summer of 2024 and guided the club to seventh place in the Ligue 1 table, which saw the club qualify for the UEFA Conference League. French news outlet L’Equipe have claimed to have spoken to sources within the Strasbourg dressing room who have provided insight into what could happen with Rosenior’s future.
READ MORE: Zinedine Zidane has already told Chelsea why he won’t replace Enzo Maresca after sackingREAD MORE: Liam Rosenior showed true colours after Chelsea star’s ‘unacceptable’ incident
The report claims that, should Rosenior decide to leave Strasbourg in favour of a move to Chelsea, it would cause major issues for the French club. “Rosenior would really leave like a thief,” a source close to Strasbourg’s team is quoted as saying to L’Equipe. “It’s incomprehensible. The team will implode; I see no other way out.”
Friday saw Rosenior address the rumours linking him with the Chelsea manager’s job for the first time, where he outlined his determination to remain focused on his job at Strasbourg. “I’m going to talk about Nice because that’s my job,” Rosenior said when asked about the link connecting him with the Chelsea vacancy.
“There’s a lot of noise, a lot of speculation, but as a coach, if you get involved, you fail. My job is here, I love this club.”
Enzo Maresca left Chelsea this week(Image: Francesco Scaccianoce/UEFA via Getty Images)
“In life, there are zero guarantees. You never know what tomorrow will bring,” Rosenior added.
“I’m just doing my job. There’s already been speculation. I don’t want to guarantee how long I’ll be here, but I enjoy myself here every day. I intend to continue doing so as long as I’m here. I love this club, but I can’t guarantee anything. Nobody can.
“I want to do my job here, it’s simple. The reality today is that I am the manager of Strasbourg and I am focused on my position.”
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£49
£35
Sky
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.