Chelsea are on the hunt for a new head coach following the sacking of Enzo Maresca this week
Hannah Pinnock
10:55, 03 Jan 2026
Strasbourg Head Coach Liam Rosenior thanks supporters following their Ligue 1 match against Le Havre
View 2 Images
Strasbourg Head Coach Liam Rosenior has been linked with the vacant Chelsea job(Image: Photo by Sathire Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Ex-Liverpool ace John Barnes has advised Chelsea to bypass Liam Rosenior and instead target Como's Cesc Fabregas as the successor to Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge.
The London side are on the hunt for a new manager following their split with Maresca this week. The decision was made in the wake of a disappointing 2-2 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday evening, but it was the climax of months of strained relations between the Italian and the Chelsea board.
Numerous potential replacements have been suggested, including Strasbourg's Rosenior. The French Ligue 1 club is also under the ownership of the BlueCo consortium, spearheaded by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Rosenior, aged 41, started his managerial career with stints at Brighton and Derby County before making a significant impact at his former club, Hull City. He was dismissed by the Tigers in May 2024, but was promptly recruited by Strasbourg, who are seen as one of the most ambitious projects in France.
However, Liverpool great Barnes feels that Rosenior isn't quite ready for a role as demanding as Chelsea's. Despite his close ties with the club's owners, Barnes suggests that ex-Chelsea player Fabregas should be considered the prime candidate to take over from Maresca, reports the Mirror.
"I'm surprised that Enzo Maresca has been sacked, because I thought he was doing a good job at Chelsea and I believed he was going to be the one that got it right there," the former Liverpool striker remarked during a chat with Covers. "There's always been a question of whether the players they signed over the summer were his choices or not, so I think whoever becomes the next manager needs to accept that approach and just get results.
"There's talk of Liam Rosenior coming in, who's doing a very good job at Strasbourg, but it's going to be very difficult for him to come into a club like Chelsea, even though he'll likely accept the status quo and not have much power. That's not a good thing for a young manager, and I believe he needs more time before taking on a job like that.
Chelsea have been urged to appoint former player Cesc Fabregas
View 2 Images
Chelsea have been urged to appoint former player Cesc Fabregas(Image: Photo by Fabrizio Carabelli/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
"Another option is Cesc Fabregas. Despite the fact he's a young manager, he has a history with Chelsea - which is very important. The fans loved him and he's done very well at Como, so I think he would be the right fit to come in at the club.
"I don't think any big-name manager - who prefer to have more control - will want to take a chance by going to Stamford Bridge, so Fabregas fits the bill in that respect too. I believe Fabregas will be the favourite to come in.
"Whether he needs more time at Como or not I'm not sure, but I think he'll be the one Chelsea end up selecting."
Fabregas, during his playing career, made just under 200 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions and also represented Arsenal over 300 times. Following his retirement in 2023, he embarked on a coaching career with Como, initially working with the club's academy teams.
Article continues below
Within six months, he was promoted to oversee Como's first team on an interim basis following the dismissal of Moreno Longo in November that year. However, as he did not possess a UEFA Pro coaching licence at the time of his appointment, he could only lead the team for a month before another caretaker manager took over until the season's end, with Fabregas remaining as an assistant.
In July 2024, after gaining admission to the UEFA Pro coaching course, Fabregas was officially appointed as Como's head coach, signing a four-year contract. He has since emerged as one of the most promising young managers in football.
football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel
Want to keep up to date with the breaking and important Chelsea stories whilst on the move? Well now you can!
Click this link to follow the football.london Chelsea WhatsApp channel, where you'll be kept up to date on the latest Blues news wherever you are.
Just remember to turn on the notifications once you've followed, and you won't miss a beat!