Why Chelsea have turned to ‘innovator’ Rosenior

Rosenior has spent 18 months at Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg, earning a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young managers since leaving Hull.

The 41-year-old has impressed the Chelsea hierarchy by working in the same organizational structure that caused friction between them and his predecessor Enzo Maresca, who has been referred to as an “innovator” and someone who “goes straight to the top.”

They have chosen a man who is well-known to prominent Stamford Bridge figures in light of that backdrop.

More than 15 years ago, Rosenior, who played for Brighton, first met Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

And Rosenior and Sam Jewell, Chelsea’s director of global recruitment, co-founded the Brighton Under-23s after he retired.

Stewart was also known to Rosenior during his time working as an analyst at Hull, where he later served as manager.

Owners Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly regularly visit the French club, and he made a trip to the United States with Strasbourg president Marc Keller last summer during the Club World Cup.

Although he has always been viewed as a potential replacement for Maresca, it was not planned to switch during the middle of the season. Rosenior had hoped Rosenior would continue to develop skills at Strasbourg, but Maresca’s comments at the end of last year led to a change for the owners.

They think their new partner, who adopts a similar possession-based lifestyle, is the most straightforward choice.

Rosenior’s family has a more sympathetic tone of communication, according to sources close to him, citing lessons from his social worker mother Karen.

Chelsea will point out that he has more experience than Maresca when the Italian was appointed in 2024, despite the fact that his perceived rawness will be scrutinized.

Rosenior has yet to win a trophy while Maresca had won the Championship, but the incoming coach has played 153 senior games at Hull and Strasbourg, up from 67 before him. During Manchester City’s 2022-23 season, Maresca served as Pep Guardiola’s assistant.

Rosenior, who has only won two of his previous five Ligue 1 games and has lost 13 points from winning positions this season, also has a bad run of form.

Julien Laurens, a French football expert, claimed on BBC Radio 5 Live that “I really believe the owners put him in the Strasbourg job to get ready for the Chelsea job one day.”

I believe he could have shown that he could be capable at Strasbourg, which is essentially bringing a team that was almost heading for Europe to a position where they could only qualify for Champions League play.

Maresca has chosen the Premier League’s youngest starting XI this season, which is 24 years and 198 days old. His youngest line-up of the season, who lasted 23 years and 157 days, made his final appearance in charge.

And his desire to sign some more experienced players may have contributed to some of his dissatisfaction, according to the club.

Rosenior, who was Strasbourg’s youngest team in Europe’s top five leagues, has an average age of just 21.47, and the Blues are confident that history will not hold back.

They think he comprehends the brief, which places a lot of emphasis on developing young players either to sell or to advance the club.

Rosenior has improved Emmanuel Emegha’s form enough to make him eligible for Chelsea’s starting lineup next season.

He also helped his young squad achieve a seventh-place finish last year, earning them a spot in the Europa Conference League, a feat only achieved twice since 1981. They nearly qualified for Champions League qualification during his first season.

Rosenior will likely face accusations that Chelsea are hiring a “yes man.”

Prior to the appointment, former Blues winger Pat Nevin stated to BBC Sport that he believed the club would “get someone in who is young and easy to manipulate.”

He said, “Chelsea needs someone who will accept the methodology.” Another way to put it is, you need a puppet. Someone who fulfills their highest expectations.

Rosenior has established himself as a rising star in the field of coaching.

Marc Keller, president of Strasbourg, praised his ability to grasp their vision and carry it out right away, calling him an “innovator.”

Meanwhile, Rosenior is going “straight to the top,” according to defender Ben Chilwell, who added, “He is the reason I joined the club.”

Former Manchester United defender Phil Jones described Rosenior’s hands-on training sessions at Strasbourg as “absolutely impressive.”

He “is passionate and unfazed by difficult choices.”

“They traveled to Paris St-Germain, went man-to-man all over the pitch, and the result was a 3-3 draw at Parc des Princes.” Although Chelsea fans may want a more seductive name, he has done a good job and has an opportunity that is too good to pass up.

Rosenior’s father Leroy had played football before becoming a coach, both in the Premier League and the EFL.

Both Roseniors failed to win any awards at Chelsea, but Liam, who was born in Wandsworth, has since become the first black British head coach at a club that was racial until the late 1990s.

Paul Canoville, a reputable coach who is “knowing the game inside out,” said that’s what counts most.

“But I would be lying if I said that this moment doesn’t move me because Chelsea’s first black player.”