The ex-City head coach has landed himself the big job at Stamford Bridge
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
16:24, 06 Jan 2026
Acun Ilicali has sent his best wishes to Liam Rosenior after taking over at the Bridge
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Acun Ilicali has sent his best wishes to Liam Rosenior after taking over at the Bridge(Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire)
Liam Rosenior is the new Chelsea manager after it was confirmed he would replace Enzo Maresca, who was sacked by the Blues on New Year's Day.
Rosenior spent 18 months as manager of Hull City before he was sacked by Acun Ilicali after the Tigers missed out on the Championship play-offs at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Despite parting company with Rosenior, Ilicali's relationship remains positive with the ex-Tigers defender, with the pair exchanging messages following his appointment at Stamford Bridge, and that could bode well for City moving forward.
The Premier League club have a famously strong academy with a host of high-profile players that have come through the system, and that could benefit the Tigers moving forward when it comes to signing players.
In recent times, City have struck up good relationships with top-flight clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool and Leeds United and have benefited from some terrific players like Liam Delap, Tyler Morton and Fabio Carvalho.
They've also done plenty of business with the Blues in recent seasons, bringing in the likes of Harvey Vale, Nathan Baxter, Xavier Simons and Mason Burstow.
Given their transfer restrictions, those relationships are even more important and could be again with the conveyor belt of talent coming through at Chelsea, coupled with Rosenior's affection for Hull City, which could see the Tigers benefit over the coming months, once he's got his feet under the table.
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