Chelsea have moved swiftly to identify a successor to Enzo Maresca, with Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior emerging as the leading candidate to take charge at Stamford Bridge following the Italian’s sudden departure.
Maresca, 45, left his position as Chelsea head coach on Thursday after internal disagreements with the club’s management and ownership, triggering another major managerial search at the west London club. His exit has intensified scrutiny on Chelsea’s long-term project under the BlueCo ownership.
Rosenior, 41, currently manages Strasbourg, a club also owned by BlueCo, a link that has strengthened his position as the preferred choice within Chelsea’s hierarchy. The former Hull City manager is understood to enjoy strong backing at Stamford Bridge, with discussions already underway about possible replacements at Strasbourg should he be appointed Chelsea manager.
While Rosenior is the front-runner, Chelsea are still weighing other options. Porto coach Francesco Farioli has been mentioned as a possible alternative as the club assesses candidates who fit its preferred playing style and long-term vision.
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Before appointing Maresca in 2024, Chelsea had held talks with several high-profile managers, including Marseille’s Roberto De Zerbi, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna and Thomas Frank, who has since left Brentford for Tottenham. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola and Fulham manager Marco Silva have also been linked with the role in the past, though their current standing in the latest search remains unclear.
Sources close to the club indicate that Chelsea intend to maintain their current football philosophy, making a move for Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner unlikely at this stage.
In the short term, Chelsea Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane will take charge of the first team for their upcoming Premier League clash against Manchester City. McFarlane is expected to address the media on Friday ahead of the high-profile fixture.
Meanwhile, speculation about a wider clear-out has grown after a social media post by goalkeeper Robert Sanchez hinted that Maresca’s backroom staff have also left the club.
Rosenior’s rising reputation continues to attract attention across Europe. After being dismissed by Hull City in 2024, he guided Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1, securing European qualification and earning praise for his tactical discipline, player development and strong man-management. His work had previously drawn interest from clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
Former Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell had earlier backed Rosenior to reach the highest level of football management, a prediction that now appears closer to reality as Chelsea consider another bold appointment in their ongoing rebuild.
