Chelsea‘s search for a new head coach has really kicked into gear. Enzo Maresca got sacked on December 29, 2025, after a pretty rough 3-0 loss to Ipswich Town. That left the Blues sitting pretty low, 10th in the Premier League, with only 24 points from 19 games. Not good at all. Now, all eyes are on Liam Rosenior. Is bringing him in a good idea, or is Chelsea taking a massive chance here?
The club is clearly moving fast. Willy Caballero is the interim boss for now. But owner Todd Boehly is leading the charge for a permanent replacement. Apparently, he’s looking for managers with Premier League experience. And Rosenior, surprisingly for some, is right up there.
The Post-Maresca Mayhem at Stamford Bridge
Things haven’t been great at Chelsea. Maresca was only there for 19 Premier League games, and then he was out. It’s a tough league, for sure. The team’s record of 6 wins, 6 draws, and 7 losses just wasn’t cutting it. Fans were getting restless. The sacking really shook things up just before the new year.
So, who’s on the shortlist? Well, Sky Sports News reported on January 1, 2026, that Chelsea has actually held talks with Rosenior. He’s a leading candidate, standing alongside bigger names like Thomas Frank from Brentford and Eddie Howe from Newcastle. That’s pretty big company for the former Hull City man. Sky Sports sources say he’s a top contender. It seems like Boehly wants to get someone in quickly, before the upcoming game against Fulham on January 4, 2026, maybe.
Liam Rosenior’s Journey So Far
Okay, so who is Liam Rosenior? He’s 42 years old, not super experienced as a top manager. He was in charge at Hull City from November 2023 to May 2024. He led them to a 13th-place finish in the 2023-24 Championship season. And get this, he was actually sacked despite having a club-record 13-game unbeaten run! That’s a bit odd, isn’t it?
Before that, he spent time as an assistant coach. He worked at Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion, and even Strasbourg. That background, especially with youth development at Brighton, is something Chelsea seems to like. He’s been around the game for a while, just not always in the top job.
The Great Debate: Gamble or Genius Move?
This potential appointment has really split opinion. On one side, people are calling it a “good idea.” The BBC mentioned his tactical smarts and how he’s good with young players. Former Hull striker Aaron Connolly even said Rosenior has “Premier League quality.” BBC Sport highlighted these points. The Athletic also reported that Chelsea likes his data-driven approach and that he’s available right now. That kind of analytical thinking is pretty big in modern football, you know?
But then there’s the other side. Critics are saying it’s a “massive chance.” Pundits like Stephen Warnock are pretty vocal. He told BBC Sport that Rosenior is “untested at the top level.” Warnock believes it “would be a massive gamble for Chelsea, who need stability.” And he’s got a point. Chelsea really does need to settle down. There are also concerns about his time at Derby, apparently during their financial troubles, as reported by The Telegraph.
It’s a real dilemma for Todd Boehly, isn’t it? He’s looking for someone with Premier League experience, and Rosenior doesn’t have it as a manager. But maybe his overall knowledge and fresh ideas are what they’re after.
What Happens Next?
As of January 2, 2026, nothing is confirmed. Fabrizio Romano, a pretty reliable source, said via CaughtOffside that “Chelsea like Rosenior but decision expected next week. No agreement yet.” So, it’s still all up in the air.
The odds are also interesting. Oddschecker, on January 2, 2026, listed Rosenior at 4/1 to get the job. That’s behind Thomas Frank, who’s at 5/2. So, he’s a serious contender, but not the absolute favourite just yet. Chelsea has a game against Fulham coming up very soon, on January 4th. They really need to sort this out. The pressure is definitely on Boehly to make the right call.
Baishali Karmakar 
Govind Singh