Chelsea: Liam Rosenior emerges as early frontrunner to replace Enzo Maresca ahead of Man City clash

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·1 Januari 2026

Chelsea: Liam Rosenior emerges as early frontrunner to replace Enzo Maresca ahead of Man City clash

Blues’ Under-21s boss tipped to stand in at the Etihad

Liam Rosenior is the leading candidate to take over from Enzo Maresca as Chelsea manager.

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Maresca made a shock exit from the Blues on New Year’s Day and the club are looking to move quickly to name a replacement, with Strasbourg manager Rosenior the frontrunner to take the job.

Standard Sport understands there are a small number of other candidates under consideration, while Chelsea’s Under-21s manager Calum McFarlane will take tomorrow’s pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s game against Manchester City.

He is expected to lead the Blues at the Etihad on Sunday, too, though the club are yet to confirm their interim coaching staff.

Maresca’s future had been in doubt for a number of weeks following comments made by the Italian after Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Everton, which suggested a rift with the club’s hierarchy.

The decision was taken to mutually part ways after crisis talks on Thursday morning.

Rosenior has impressed as manager of the Blues’ sister club Strasbourg, and has strong working relationships with a number of key personnel at Chelsea.

The 41-year-old has significant backing internally at Chelsea, with Strasbourg said to be in the process of identifying his replacement should he leave for west London.

Strasbourg currently sit seventh in Ligue 1, 14 points adrift of runaway league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Rosenior has worked with a number of Chelsea loanees in his time with the club, including Andrey Santos, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez. Striker Emmanuel Emegha has signed a pre-contract agreement to move to Chelsea next season after being named Rosenior’s captain.