Why Chelsea have turned to 'innovator' Rosenior

What’s Happening

Okay so After Chelsea give Liam Rosenior his first Premier League managerial job, BBC Sport looks at why they have appointed him.

Why Chelsea have turned to innovator Rosenior Image source, Image caption, Liam Rosenior played for Bristol City, Fulham, Torquay United, Reading, Ipswich, Hull and Brighton By Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter Published 6 January 2026, 12:01 GMT Updated 15 minutes ago Less than two years after being sacked , Liam Rosenior has been named Chelsea head coach. Since leaving Hull, Rosenior has built a reputation as one of Europes brightest young managers during an 18-month spell at Chelsea s sister club Strasbourg. (plot twist fr)

Described as an “innovator” and someone going “straight to the top”, the 41-year-old has impressed the Chelsea hierarchy working in the same structure that led to friction between them and his predecessor Enzo Maresca.

The Details

But why have they opted for another relatively inexperienced manager, and is Rosenior ready for the Premier League? The most smooth option There is pressure on Chelsea to get this appointment right, with some stans chanting the name of former owner Roman Abramovich during Sundays draw at Manchester City and a fringe group of the fandom planning a protest against the owners before the next home Premier League match against Brentford .

It is against that backdrop they have turned to a man who is well known to key figures at Stamford Bridge. Rosenior first met Chelsea s co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart more than 15 years ago while playing for Brighton .

Why This Matters

And Sam Jewell - Chelsea s director of global recruitment - worked closely with Rosenior when he began coaching Brighton Under-23s after retiring. Rosenior also knew Stewart during his time as an analyst at Hull, where he played and later managed. Last summer, during the Club World Cup, he travelled to the United States with Strasbourg president Marc Keller to meet Chelsea s leadership, and owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly have made regular visits to the French club.

This is the kind of move that can define a season.

The Bottom Line

Last summer, during the Club World Cup, he travelled to the United States with Strasbourg president Marc Keller to meet Chelsea s leadership, and owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly have made regular visits to the French club.

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