Chelsea: Liam Rosenior ready to transcend 'head coach' title despite Enzo Maresca problem

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·09 de janeiro de 2026

Chelsea: Liam Rosenior ready to transcend 'head coach' title despite Enzo Maresca problem

Previous Blues boss frustrated by lack of off-pitch influence

Liam Rosenior says he would not have accepted the Chelsea job if he did not believe he was becoming ‘manager’ as well as ‘head coach’.

The recent departures of Enzo Maresca and Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim from their posts have raised questions about the dilution of a head coach’s influence in a club, particularly in off-pitch issues and transfer dealings.

Maresca’s relationship with the Chelsea hierarchy soured after he began to want more influence in club decisions following two trophy wins.

Amorim, meanwhile, used a United press conference to send a reminder to his bosses that he had been hired as “manager, not just head coach.”

But Rosenior has worked with the Chelsea hierarchy before, as the BlueCo consortium that owns the club also runs Strasbourg, whose head coach position he left in order to arrive at Stamford Bridge.

Vídeos OneFootball

“We’ll see,” he said, when asked whether he can manage. “I wouldn’t be sat here if I did think I am [a manager], if I didn’t think I could deal with those things.”

Rosenior was referring to managing upwards and helping with club decisions.

“Being a head coach, you talk about football systems and tactics. That’s ten per cent of the job. The job is to create spirit, energy, a culture. It doesn’t matter if you’re called a head coach, manager or anything else. The job is the same.

“My job is to have a team that runs, fights for each other, that plays with spirit and quality. That’s what I’m going to focus on.”

Rosenior has also offered assurances that he will have a say in choosing future Chelsea transfer targets, despite the fact Maresca once publicly said the club needed to sign a centre-back but was never backed in that request by the sporting directors.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with these guys and be collaborative so I have an understanding of the process,” Rosenior said.

“The process is as it should be at every football club — that you collaborate, give your opinion, every single person who collaborates who is part of that group wants the very best for the club. That’s how we worked at Strasbourg with recruitment.

“I did not get one player brought in who I did not want to come to Strasbourg. Not one. For me, it’s not about what’s been said on the outside – I’ve had experience of dealing with the guys. They've been magnificent for me.”