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Chelsea appoint Rosenior as head coach
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Chelsea have appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior as their new head coach.
The 41-year-old Englishman joins the club on a six-and-a-half-year deal until 2032 and replaces Enzo Maresca, who left on New Year’s Day.
“I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” Rosenior said.
“To be entrusted with this role means the world to me and I want to thank all involved for the opportunity and faith in undertaking this job. I will give everything to bring the success this club deserves.”
Earlier on Tuesday, in his last press conference as Strasbourg manager, Rosenior confirmed he had “agreed verbally” to take over at Chelsea.
“I cannot turn down this opportunity to join an incredible club, incredible squad who are Club World Cup champions,” Rosenior said.
Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo multi-club ownership group that also controls Chelsea.
Rosenior said Strasbourg first-team coach Kalifa Cisse, assistant head coach Justin Walker and head of analysis Ben Warner will join him at Stamford Bridge.
Rosenior was appointed by Strasbourg in July 2024 and guided the French club to seventh in Ligue 1 last season, securing European football for the first time in eight years.
His final match was a 1-1 draw at Nice on Saturday, their fifth league game without a win.
They are seventh in Ligue 1 and top of the Conference League.
“The last 18 months have been a joy and the best of my professional career,” Rosenior said.
“I’m here because I care about this club [Strasbourg] and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically here today before I move on.
“I will love this club for the rest of my life, but I cannot turn down Chelsea.”
Former Fulham and Hull City defender Rosenior has never managed in the Premier League.
“I would not have accepted the Chelsea job if I was not ready,” he said.
“There are clubs you just cannot turn down. I hope the Strasbourg fans can see that and be proud of that.
“I have had interest from many clubs, including Champions League clubs, which I have always been open with to [Strasbourg president] Marc [Keller] and our ownership.”
Chelsea are fifth in the Premier League and face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.
Caretaker manager Calum McFarlane took charge for Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Manchester City.
It is highly unusual for any outgoing manager to explain their departure in a news conference, but that is exactly what Rosenior did on Tuesday morning.
After flying into London to seal a verbal agreement with Chelsea to become their next manager, Rosenior returned to France and Strasbourg to say goodbye.
In a remarkable news conference at Stade de la Meinau, the stadium he has called home for 18 months, he looked emotional and allowed local reporters to ask difficult questions.
He spoke warmly about his favourite moments and said he wanted to look people in the eye and explain his reasons for leaving mid-season.
What complicates matters is that both clubs are owned by BlueCo, which could become a flashpoint if this does not go well.
But Rosenior appeared simply motivated by doing the right thing and explaining himself to supporters after a role that has propelled him to what he called “one of the biggest clubs in the world”.
Manchester City have named Ruben Dias as their new captain, with Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma also included in the club’s leadership group.
Dias takes over from Bernardo Silva, who left City during the summer. The Portugal defender will lead the team, while Haaland, Guehi and Donnarumma will take on additional leadership responsibilities as City continue life under new manager, Enzo Maresca.
The announcement was made by coach Maresca earlier today, September 4, with the four players chosen for their experience and influence within the squad. Maresca previously named Enzo Fernandez as captain during their time together at Chelsea, but Dias will now wear the armband at the Etihad Stadium.
Maresca also spoke about Fernandez’s arrival at City after the Argentina international completed a joint-British record £125 million move from Chelsea on deadline day. He said several City players were keen to see the midfielder join the club because of his winning mentality and experience.
“I know Enzo quite well and I know what he can bring to the team,” Maresca said. “He is a winner, a winner’s mentality and knows how to win [after] the World Cup, Club World Cup.”
The manager added: “I can promise you that in the last four or five days four or five players from the squad were asking if he is coming or not because they want him to be with us.”
Fernandez could make his City debut against newly promoted Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. His transfer formed part of City’s record £458 million spending spree, which also included Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said the club had handled Fernandez’s departure respectfully and was now focused on moving forward.
“In football many things happen. With Enzo we have had conversations and always with respect. What he has done for the club has been great, but now it’s time to move forward,” Alonso said.
Galatasaray manager, Okan Buruk, has provided the latest injury update on two of his players, Victor Osimhen and Mario Lemina.
Speaking to beIN Sports after Galatasaray defeated Başakşehir 3-2 in the Turkish Super Lig encounter on Friday, Buruk said Lemina and Osimhen sustained a groin injury.
According to him, both players will need to do MRIs, and hopefully, they can be ready for the upcoming Champions League match.
“Lemina had a slight groin pain in training yesterday. Osimhen also felt it today,” Buruk said.
Ex- Sierra Leone international Michael Lahoud has placed Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen among the best three forwards currently playing in Europe.
Lahoud made the assessment while discussing Galatasaray’s prospects in the UEFA Champions League, expressing confidence that the Turkish giants have enough attacking quality to make a strong impression in the competition.
According to the former midfielder, Osimhen’s goalscoring ability, combined with the arrival of Portuguese star Rafael Leao, gives Galatasaray a major attacking advantage as they prepare for their Champions League campaign.
Lahoud argued that Osimhen belongs in the same conversation as some of the biggest names in world football, including England captain Harry Kane and France superstar Kylian Mbappe.
“Galatasaray has arguably the best striker in Europe right now alongside Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Victor Osimhen,” Lahoud said on the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
Lahoud Backs Galatasaray for Champions League Success
The former Sierra Leone international believes Galatasaray’s attacking options could make them one of the teams to watch during the Champions League league phase.
He particularly highlighted the combination of Osimhen and Leao, describing the Portuguese winger as a potential game-changer for the Turkish club.
Lahoud said the presence of Leao could provide Galatasaray with an additional attacking dimension, particularly in matches against some of Europe’s established clubs.
“I stand on business when I say that the numbers don’t lie when it comes to the Champions League. But the fact that Galatasaray have Rafael Leao, I think that becomes a real X factor,” he stated.
Lahoud went as far as predicting that Galatasaray would finish among the top eight teams at the end of the Champions League league phase.
“Galatasaray will finish the Champions League league phase in the top eight this season,” he added.
Osimhen Remains Key to Galatasaray’s Ambitions
Osimhen is expected to play a central role in Galatasaray’s ambitions both domestically and in Europe, with the Nigerian forward having established himself as one of the most dangerous strikers in European football.
His pace, physical strength, movement and ability to score from different situations have made him a major attacking threat, while his Champions League experience is also expected to be valuable to the Turkish champions.
With Leao now providing another major attacking option, Galatasaray will hope their star-studded forward line can help them compete against Europe’s elite.
Lahoud’s prediction will also raise expectations around Osimhen, particularly among Nigerian football fans who will be hoping the Super Eagles striker can continue to deliver at the highest level on the European stage.
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