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Wayne Rooney has publicly endorsed Liam Rosenior as a strong candidate to become Chelsea’s next manager, describing the Strasbourg coach as one of the best he has worked with and backing him to succeed if handed the opportunity.
Rosenior, 41, is currently the leading contender to replace Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge and arrived in London on Sunday night for talks with Chelsea, with negotiations understood to be at an advanced stage.
Chelsea and Strasbourg operate under the same ownership structure.
Rooney and Rosenior worked closely together at Derby County between 2021 and 2022, when Rosenior served as Rooney’s assistant before later stepping in as interim manager following Rooney’s departure.
Rooney praises coaching quality
Speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain was unequivocal in his assessment of Rosenior’s coaching credentials.
“He’s taken chances, and hopefully that pays off because I think Liam is as good a coach as I’ve ever worked with,” Rooney said. “His detail, how he approaches the day-to-day, he’s as good as I’ve worked with.”
Rooney credited Rosenior with playing a key role in his own development as a manager.
“Liam was so important for me,” he said. “He was incredible in his coaching ability. I was more of the manager and dealing with players and everything. So I learned a lot from him from that point of view.”
Career path and readiness
After Derby, Rosenior went on to manage Hull City, where he narrowly missed out on the Championship play-offs before being dismissed.
He took over at Strasbourg in 2024 and has since rebuilt his reputation in Ligue 1, putting himself in contention for a return to English football at the highest level.
Rooney said Rosenior’s journey has prepared him for the challenge at Chelsea. “He’s done his apprenticeship, he’s done his work to try and get to that job,” he said. “If you don’t take it now, then you’re never going to take it.”
Maresca left Chelsea after 18 months in charge following a breakdown in relations with the club’s ownership.
Rosenior has not worked in the Premier League since his playing days with Brighton in 2017 but would become one of the few English managers at a top-six club if appointed.
Rooney added: “He’ll have no doubts in his mind that he’s capable of doing that job. And for young English coaches, I think it’s massive.”