Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has expressed significant skepticism regarding Chelsea’s expected appointment of Liam Rosenior as the successor to Enzo Maresca. Following Maresca’s abrupt departure on New Year’s Day, Rosenior has emerged as the frontrunner for the vacancy at Stamford Bridge.
The 41-year-old Englishman presently manages French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg—a club also under the ownership of the BlueCo consortium—and he traveled to London on Monday for decisive, face-to-face negotiations with the Chelsea leadership.
The club aims to finalize the appointment quickly, with the hope that Rosenior can oversee the first-team squad before Wednesday’s high-stakes West London derby against Fulham. In anticipation of this transition, Strasbourg president Marc Keller has already initiated a search for a replacement, reportedly narrowing his shortlist to three primary candidates: former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, Minnesota United head coach Eric Ramsay, and Strasbourg assistant Filipe Coelho.
During the interim period, Under-21 coach Calum McFarlane led Chelsea to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, thanks to a late equalizer from Enzo Fernández.
Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, voiced concerns that the jump from managing Derby County, Hull City, and Strasbourg to a club of Chelsea’s magnitude may be premature for Rosenior. He highlighted the disparity between the club’s historical preference for elite, trophy-winning managers and the relatively modest resume of the current frontrunner.
“I’ve been pretty harsh about the way [Chelsea owners] have handled things over the past three and a half years. If you look at the timeline of managers: Thomas Tuchel, a manager who won the Champions League. It seems they’re going to take over Liam Rosenior, who has coached Derby, Hull, and Strasbourg. It’s a good chance for him, but Chelsea Football Club and their fans aren’t used to making such choices. The players are used to having famous managers like Jose Mourinho, Guus Hiddink, and Antonio Conte come in and make a big difference for their club,” Carragher stated.
While acknowledging that Rosenior possesses the tactical capability to secure a top-five finish and Champions League qualification, Carragher argued that the appointment lacks the pedigree required to challenge for the game’s most prestigious trophies. He emphasized that the expectations of the Chelsea fanbase remain tied to the club’s era of sustained silverware, which he believes this appointment might not fulfill.
“I don’t see Rosenior doing that. His goal is to ensure they qualify for the Champions League next season, and they are definitely able to achieve that. We think about five Premier League teams making it to the Champions League, just like last year. But I don’t think this appointment will help Chelsea win a Premier League title or a Champions League trophy, and that’s what Chelsea should be aiming for, which is what the fans have become used to over the past 20 years,” Carragher added.
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