Former Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior was confirmed as Chelsea's new head coach earlier in the week but it has left a sour taste for some supporters back in France
11:45, 08 Jan 2026Updated 11:52, 08 Jan 2026
Liam Rosenior
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Liam Rosenior left Strasbourg to join Chelsea earlier this week(Image: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC)
Liam Rosenior's appointment as Chelsea's new head coach seemed inevitable from the start. There has long been the feeling, particularly among Blues supporters, that whenever Enzo Maresca left the club, Rosenior would be the overwhelming favourite to replace the Italian.
That proved to be the case, though Chelsea supporters did not expect Maresca to depart so soon. The fact Rosenior already had a close working relationship with BlueCo chiefs because of the 18 months he spent managing Strasbourg, Chelsea's sister club, there was always a big chance the 41-year-old would one day become head coach at Stamford Bridge.
Around two-and-a-half years ago, BlueCo, the consortium led by Chelsea's co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital, purchased a majority stake in French club Strasbourg. While club president Marc Keller described it as an "important day" for the Ligue 1 outfit, not everyone was on board; with some supporters protesting the move from the very start.
Some Strasbourg fans did not want to be a 'feeder club' for Chelsea. Fast forward more than two years and the way the multi-club model is being run is still causing controversy. Strasbourg fan group, Federation Supporters RCS, released a statement earlier this week following the announcement that Rosenior would leave the club to become Chelsea's new head coach.
The statement read: "Liam Rosenior's transfer marks yet another humiliating step in Racing's subjugation to Chelsea. For two-and-a-half years, we and others have been trying to raise the alarm about this.
Liam Rosenior
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Liam Rosenior was a huge favourite among Strasbourg supporters(Image: Justin Setterfield)
"The problem goes far beyond the sporting impact mid-season and the ambitions of a young coach. It is structural; the future of French club football is at stake.
"Every additional contortion by Marc Keller, every minute he spends at the helm of the club, is an insult to the tremendous work done before 2023. What many saw as an exaggeration last September is looking more and more like sound advice: it's time to leave. Now."
Jonathan Johnson, a French football expert and Ligue 1 specialist, has been speaking exclusively to football.london about Rosenior's time at Strasbourg and the overall feeling in France following his departure.
"Rosenior's move has not caused widespread surprise in France," said Johnson. "There has long been an assumption outside Alsace that Strasbourg functions as a feeder club for Chelsea, largely because BlueCo has never constructed a convincing alternative narrative.
"Strasbourg fans are unhappy, but not simply because Rosenior has left. They feel there is a significant gap between what they are told and what they see in practice. Much of that anger is now directed at Marc Keller, with a growing sense that his credibility has been irreparably damaged.
"Given his role in rebuilding the club over nearly 15 years, that is particularly painful for those close to French football. BlueCo have had multiple opportunities to clarify and contextualise their multi-club strategy for the Alsace public, yet the absence of a clear and locally credible message has allowed frustration to turn into anger."
Johnson added: "Multi-club models can function in different ways. The issue here is less the model itself and more how it has been communicated. From the outset, BlueCo might have benefitted from a clearer and more honest positioning of Strasbourg’s role within their project.
"Instead, a fanbase that appears to have been underestimated from the start has repeatedly been asked to buy into a vision that does not align with observable reality. Keller was expected to act as a bridge, but his continued presence has arguably intensified feelings of betrayal rather than easing them. Ironically, had there been a cleaner break at the point of takeover, his legacy might have been better protected. At present, that outcome looks uncertain."
Rosenior watched on from the stands at Craven Cottage on Wednesday evening as his new Chelsea side were beaten at the hands of Fulham. Calum McFarlane took interim charge with Rosenior allowing the Under-21s head coach free rein of the side for one final time before his job officially starts.
The newly-appointed Chelsea boss is set to speak to the media for the first time on Friday ahead of his side's FA Cup third round trip to Charlton Athletic this weekend. Rosenior will begin his Chelsea chapter at The Valley as BlueCo oversee a fifth permanent head coach since buying the club in May 2022.
When asked by football.london whether Rosenior will be a success at Stamford Bridge, Johnson found it difficult to answer. He believes if the former Hull City boss fails to make a strong start in west London, then questions will immediately start to be asked.
"It is difficult to say," Johnson said. "Chelsea has tested many capable coaches, some overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge, others enjoying only short-term success.
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"Rosenior has the potential to succeed, but the pressure will be immediate and intense. Leaving a stable, upward-moving project is a calculated risk, particularly when Strasbourg were well placed for further European progress. If results do not improve quickly, questions will inevitably be asked about the timing and trade-offs of his choice."