Liam Rosenior Named Chelsea Head Coach on Deal Until 2032

Chelsea have appointed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach, with the 41-year-old Englishman signing a contract that runs through to 2032.

The former Premier League defender joins the Blues from RC Strasbourg, where he enjoyed a successful first season in French football, guiding the club to seventh place and securing European qualification for the first time in 19 years.

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Rosenior’s appointment comes at a crucial juncture in Chelsea’s season, with the club competing across four competitions and looking to build momentum under new leadership.

After hanging up his boots in 2018 following a 17-year playing career that included Premier League stints with Brighton, Hull City, Reading and Fulham, Rosenior quickly transitioned into coaching.

His first role came at Brighton as assistant manager of the Under-23s in August 2018, before moving to Derby County where he held various positions, including a 12-match spell as caretaker manager at the start of the 2022/23 season.

Rosenior’s permanent managerial breakthrough came at Derby, where he took charge of 78 matches over one-and-a-half seasons. In 2023/24, he came agonizingly close to securing a Championship playoff spot, finishing seventh—just three points behind sixth-placed Norwich City.

His stock rose significantly during his time at Strasbourg in the 2024/25 season. The French club finished seventh in Ligue 1 under his guidance, earning Conference League qualification and impressing in the competition itself with five wins and one draw in the league phase to reach the knockout rounds.

Rosenior departs with Strasbourg currently sitting seventh in Ligue 1, six points off the European places.

‘This Means the World to Me’

Speaking about his appointment, Rosenior expressed his pride at joining one of English football’s most prestigious clubs.

“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club,” he said. “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.”

The new head coach emphasized his philosophy centered on collective values. “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 also paid tribute to Chelsea’s supporters, calling them “the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club.”

“I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play,” he added. “I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started.”

Rosenior could be thrown straight into action on Wednesday evening when Chelsea travel to face Fulham in the Premier League—a venue he knows well from his playing days.

The fixture kicks off a demanding run of five consecutive London matches across four competitions. Following the Fulham trip, Chelsea face an FA Cup tie at Charlton Athletic before returning to Stamford Bridge for three successive home games: an EFL Cup semi-final against Arsenal, a Premier League clash with Brentford, and a Champions League encounter with Cypriot side Pafos.

The appointment of Rosenior on a seven-year deal signals Chelsea’s belief in long-term planning and their confidence in the former defender’s ability to deliver success at the highest level.