Chelsea announce Liam Rosenior appointment as Enzo Maresca replacement confirmed

Liam Rosenior has been named as the new Chelsea head coach (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)

Chelsea have announced the appointment of Liam Rosenior as the club's new head coach. The 41-year-old has signed a contract until 2032 and replaces Enzo Maresca following the Italian's departure on New Year's Day .

Maresca left Stamford Bridge 18 months into his reign after his relationship with the club's hierarchy broke down , and his position was viewed as untenable. Rosenior joins from Strasbourg, where he had been since the summer of 2024, and was viewed as an appropriate replacement given his working relationship with Chelsea chiefs and BlueCo.

Calum McFarlane had taken charge of the senior group following Maresca's departure and led the west Londoners to a 1-1 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. The Chelsea Under-21 head coach will remain in charge of first-team duties when the Blues face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday .

Rosenior will then takeover and lead the Club World Champions out out against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third-round on Saturday afternoon. Speaking to club media following his appointment at Stamford Bridge, the former Hull City boss claimed he can't wait to get started.

He said: "I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies.

"My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. To be entrusted with this role means the world to me and I want to thank all involved for the opportunity and faith in undertaking this job.

Liam Rosenior has explained why he's taken the Chelsea job (Image: Photo by ROMEO BOETZLE / AFP via Getty Images)

"I will give everything to bring the success this club deserves. I believe deeply in teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for one another, and those values will be at the heart of everything we do. They will be the foundation of our success."

Rosenior continued: "I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal.

"There is a real hunger to win, and I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level to make everyone connected and proud to be a part of Chelsea Football Club.

Liam Rosenior has replaced Enzo Maresca as the new Chelsea boss (Image: Photo by FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP via Getty Images)

"I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. They are the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club.

"I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started."

Liam Rosenior during Strasbourg's clash against Marseille (Image: Photo by Neal Simpson/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

He then returned to France on Monday before announcing his departure on Tuesday. During a surprise press conference at the Stade de la Meinau, Rosenior defended his decision to join Chelsea .

"I've had interest from Champions League clubs last season, but I said no and saw out the season," said the former Hull City boss. "If PSG, Real Madrid or Barcelona came in for me, would it still be seen as disrespectful?

"That's the business of football; this is not the first time a manager has left a club mid-season, and it won't be the last," added Rosenior. Reflecting on a whirlwind weekend, the Englishman said: "I didn’t know what was going to happen on Saturday night.

"What's happened since, I was given the chance to speak to, for me, actually not for me, it's the truth that they're one of the biggest football clubs in the world. They were Club World Cup champions and it's an honour for me to be associated with a club like that.

"It will probably go through in the next few hours. I'm here because I care about this club. I felt it was right for me to answer your questions physically before I move on to the next step in my career."