Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has voiced his strong support for Liam Rosenior to take the helm at Chelsea, labeling the current Strasbourg boss as one of the most elite tactical minds he has encountered in his career.
Rosenior has rapidly ascended as the primary contender to succeed Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge, benefiting from the shared ownership structure between the West London giants and his current French side, Strasbourg. The 41-year-old Englishman moved to Ligue 1 in 2024 and has since garnered significant acclaim for his modern approach to the game.
Rooney and Rosenior previously formed a close professional partnership at Derby County between 2021 and 2022, a period during which Rosenior served as the primary assistant during the club’s well-documented financial struggles. According to a report by BBC Sport on Monday, Rosenior played a fundamental role in the day-to-day operations at Pride Park before serving as the interim manager and eventually securing a permanent position at Hull City.
During a recent appearance on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain offered a glowing testimonial regarding the qualities that Rosenior would bring to a high-pressure environment like Chelsea.
“He’s taken chances, and hopefully that pays off because I think Liam is as good a coach as I’ve ever worked with. His detail, how he approaches the day-to-day, he’s as good as I’ve worked with,” Rooney added.
The former striker specifically credited Rosenior with managing the complex tactical and coaching requirements during their time together in the East Midlands. Rooney explained that while he handled the broader managerial responsibilities and player relations, Rosenior’s technical expertise provided the backbone of their coaching strategy.
“Liam was so important for me. He was incredible in his coaching ability. I was more of the manager and dealing with players and everything,” he stressed.
Chelsea officials have officially initiated the recruitment process to find a successor for Enzo Maresca, who departed the club on New Year’s Day. While several names have surfaced in connection with the role, Rosenior’s familiarity with the BlueCo ownership model and his impressive track record in France position him as the frontrunner. If appointed, Rosenior would face the immediate challenge of stabilizing a squad that currently sits in a transitional phase of the Premier League season.
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