Sports

Chelsea appoint Rosenior as head coach

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6 months ago

January 6, 2026

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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”.

Sports

2026 World Cup: 12 teams qualify for Round of 16

Published

10 hours ago

July 3, 2026

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Spain are the latest team to confirm their place in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The European champions thrashed Austria 3-0 in their Round of 32 clash on Thursday evening.

It was a display of complete dominance by Luis de la Fuente’s men, as they lived up to their pre-tournament billing as favourites.

Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain in the first half, before Pedro Porro doubled their advantage in the 66th minute.

Oyarzabal continued his fine scoring form with a second late on.

They will now face the winner of Portugal.

Other teams confirmed in the last 16 are: USA, England, Belgium, France, Brazil, Norway, Morocco, Paraguay, Canada and Mexico.

Sports

World Cup 2026: Spain cruise into last 16 with win over Austria

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10 hours ago

July 3, 2026

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Spain coasted past Austria and into the World Cup last-16 on Thursday, thoroughly outclassing their opponents in a 3-0 knockout win with a brace from Mikel Oyarzabal and a Pedro Porro header.

The European champions controlled possession and sliced through the Austrian defense in a typically dominant performance in Los Angeles, as Hollywood stars Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem and singer Rosalia cheered on.

The win — which could have been by a greater margin, with a disallowed goal and a free kick off the woodwork — sets up a tantalizing round-of-16 clash with either Portugal or Croatia.

The SoFi Stadium was a sea of red and excitement was sky-high over the first visit by a bona fide World Cup favorite to America’s second city.

Spain ratcheted up the pressure gradually through the first half, creating a string of chances after the first hydration break.

Marc Cucurella thought he had scored from a Lamine Yamal corner, but Pau Cubarsi was judged to have encroached on Austria’s goalkeeper.

Alexander Schlager then made a superb diving save, pushing Oyarzabal’s low shot around the post.

Austria’s defense finally buckled in the 36th minute. Pedri pinged a ball wide left to Cucurella, whose cross to Oyarzabal was calmly side-footed past the ‘keeper.

Spain’s dominance grew further, with Yamal tormenting the Austrians, mainly from the right flank.

An Alex Baena free kick hit the crossbar, and Yamal’s close-range follow-up shot was well saved.

Austria spurned a rare chance at the other end. Romano Schmid played in a late-arriving and unmarked Stefan Posch, but a terrible first touch meant he lost the ball before even attempting a shot.

‘Ole’

After the break Spain continued knocking on the door without quite putting the game to rest.

Austria sent on two giant strikers — Sasa Kalajdzic and Marko Arnautovic — and immediately went long, with Kalajdzic putting a header over the bar.

But in the 66th minute, Spain struck again. Baena lifted a cross onto the head of Pedro Porro, who nodded in his first goal for Spain.

Some dogged defending kept the scoreline respectable, including a goalline clearance by David Alaba from Yamal, who was substituted off to rest moments later.

Spain sprayed passes around the pitch as the final minutes ticked down, eliciting “Oles” from the crowd, as attention turned to a sterner test on Monday in Dallas.

In the 89th minute, a pinpoint Cucurella cross found a completely unmarked Oyarzabal in the penalty area, who slotted the ball home.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)