Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior has ‘verbally agreed’ to join Chelsea after Enzo Maresca left the club on New Year’s Day.
Strasbourg is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo multiownership group that also controls Chelsea.
‘Everything is agreed’
“I cannot turn down this opportunity to join an incredible club, incredible squad who are Club World Cup champions,” Rosenior said to the media.
“I haven’t signed yet. Everything is agreed and it will probably go through in the next few hours.
Out of respect for the French club, Rosenior held a media briefing on the morning of Tuesday, January 6, in which he announced that he is set to leave Strasbourg for Chelsea.
“I’m here because I care about this club [Strasbourg] and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically here today before I move on,” he explained.
His final match was a 1-1 draw at Nice on Saturday, January 3, their fifth league game without a win, leaving them seventh in Ligue 1. However, he leaves them top of the Conference League.
A new chapter
Joining the 41-year-old at Chelsea will be Strasbourg first-team coach Kalifa Cisse, assistant head coach Justin Walker and head of analysis Ben Warner.
Rosenior will be leaving Strasbourg after a successful stint since joining the club in July 2024.
In his tenure, he guided them to seventh in Ligue 1, securing European football for the first time in eight years.
“The last 18 months have been a joy and the best of my professional career,” Ronseior said. “I will love this club for the rest of my life but I cannot turn down Chelsea.
“I would not have accepted the Chelsea job if I was not ready.
“There are clubs you just cannot turn down. I hope the Strasbourg fans can see that and be proud of that.
“I have had interest from many clubs, including Champions League clubs, which I have always been open with to [our president] Marc [Keller] and our ownership.”
Rosenior joins a fifth-placed Chelsea side that are facing Fulham on Wednesday, January 7.
Having played as a full-back for Fulham, can Rosenior start off with a win against his former club?
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