The ex-City boss has landed one of European football's plum jobs
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
12:54, 06 Jan 2026
Acun Ilicali with Liam Rosenior and Tan Kesler
View Image
Acun Ilicali with Liam Rosenior and Tan Kesler(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Former Hull City vice-chairman Tan Kesler says Liam Rosenior's drive to manage at the top level was apparent from their first meeting prior to his appointment as Tigers manager in November 2022.
Rosenior has gone from being at City to Strasbourg in France and now Chelsea, after it was confirmed the former Tigers player and manager will succeeded Enzo Maresca following his sacking on New Year's Day.
Kesler, along with owner Acun Ilicali, appointed Rosenior to his first time management job in the months after his departure from Derby County, and having stabilised the Tigers following his arrival, the 41-year-old guided the Tigers to within three points of the top six in his one full season at the MKM Stadium.
Since leaving City, Rosenior has gone on to impress in France with Strasbourg, getting them into Europe, but he will now face his biggest challenge at Chelsea and all that goes with managing the Blues.
"He's so demanding, but at the same time, he planned all this," Kesler told talkSPORT. "When we were interviewing him, I still remember - it's a beautiful moment, when he applied for the job, we were looking for a lot of different candidates.
"He had a very rough spell at Derby County, but when I looked at his methodology and football philosophy, I've really seen something special there and then wanted to meet with him.
"When we met, he said he wanted to be a coach of a Champions League club at one point, and maybe for many executives at the time being in the Championship and trying to find a way to promote, it could be too ambitious, but for me it was very significant for a coach to be determined from that moment in his career.
"Since then, I've been privileged to follow his development, and he's getting there, and I think he deserves it. He's for me as a coach, he's a student of the game, and he has a personality to do that.
"His communication is exceptional with the players, so what I've seen is not surprising for me from someone who has actually given him a chance to showcase his ability and talent in the past."
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service.
Article continues below
Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.