Former Arsenal and England stalwart Sol Campbell has expressed skepticism regarding the long-term future of Liam Rosenior at Chelsea, despite the manager’s impressive debut. Chelsea recently appointed Rosenior to succeed Enzo Maresca, who departed the club on New Year’s Day amid internal friction and a dip in Premier League form. Rosenior effectively climbed the ladder within the BlueCo multi-club network, moving directly from French side Strasbourg—also owned by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital—to the Stamford Bridge dugout.
While Campbell celebrated the inclusion of a young English tactician in the top flight, he suggested that the hierarchy might view the 41-year-old as a transitional figure rather than a permanent solution.
Campbell shared these views during a recent media appearance, highlighting the unique internal recruitment strategy that brought Rosenior to London. The appointment raised eyebrows across the league, given Rosenior’s lack of previous Premier League managerial experience, but his successful stint in Ligue 1 earned him the trust of the Chelsea board. He hit the ground running on Sunday, overseeing a dominant 5-1 thrashing of Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup Third Round, a victory that saw summer signing Jorrel Hato and captain Enzo Fernández both find the net. Despite this strong start, Campbell maintains that the volatile nature of the Chelsea job often makes “short-termism” an unavoidable reality for new arrivals.
“It’s good to have Liam Rosenior as the new Chelsea manager. That’s because Todd Boehly owns Strasbourg. They said he’s done a great job and sent him to Chelsea. So it all worked out for him. It’s nice to have a young manager in the league. I don’t think they’re going to keep him around long, he’s probably just there for a short time. But it’s a great experience. He can play some games and get a feel for what the top league is like. That will be great for him. I hope he keeps doing well in the future,” Sol Campbell remarked.
The new head coach now faces a grueling baptism of fire as he prepares for a midweek London derby against Arsenal. Chelsea hosts the Gunners at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday for the opening leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals, a fixture that carries immense weight as Rosenior hunts for his first major trophy in English football. Arsenal, currently leading the Premier League table, will offer a significantly sterner test than Charlton, challenging Rosenior to prove he can outmaneuver the league’s elite tacticians.
The BlueCo leadership has reportedly handed Rosenior a long-term contract running until 2032, signaling a desire for stability after a period of frequent coaching changes. However, the pressure of maintaining a top-four position while competing for silverware in three cup competitions remains a daunting task. As the team transitions away from the Maresca era, Rosenior must quickly integrate his philosophy and maintain the “winning mentality” he emphasized in his first team meeting. Whether he can defy Campbell’s prediction and establish a lasting legacy depends heavily on his performance in high-stakes encounters like the upcoming clash with Mikel Arteta’s side.
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