Liam Rosenior deserves the chance to become Chelsea manager and is one of the best coaches Wayne Rooney has worked with, according to the former England captain.
Talks with Chelsea progress
Rosenior, currently in charge of Strasbourg, is the leading candidate to replace Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. The 41-year-old arrived in London on Sunday night for talks, with negotiations understood to be at an advanced stage. Chelsea and Strasbourg share the same ownership group.
Strong Derby County connection
Rosenior worked as Rooney’s assistant at Derby County between 2021 and 2022 before stepping up as interim manager following Rooney’s departure. He later managed Hull City and narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs before moving to Strasbourg in 2024.
High praise from Rooney
“He’s taken chances, and hopefully that pays off because I think Liam is as good a coach as I’ve ever worked with,” Rooney said on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show. He highlighted Rosenior’s attention to detail and day-to-day coaching methods as outstanding.
Learning and growth as a coach
Rooney credited Rosenior with playing a key role in his own development as a manager, describing him as “incredible in his coaching ability” and praising the overall job he has done since leaving Derby.
Ready for the big step
Rooney said he has “no doubts” Rosenior could succeed at Chelsea, adding that he has completed his apprenticeship and earned the right to take such an opportunity. He also stressed the importance of Rosenior’s strong personality alongside his tactical knowledge.
Opportunity for English managers
Rooney believes Rosenior’s potential appointment would be significant for English coaches, noting the lack of homegrown managers at elite Premier League clubs. Currently, Eddie Howe, Scott Parker and Sean Dyche are the only English managers in the division.
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