Wayne Rooney has publicly thrown his support behind Liam Rosenior as a leading candidate for the role of Chelsea’s next manager, praising the English coach’s tactical intelligence, work ethic, and leadership qualities while insisting he has what it takes to succeed at Stamford Bridge.
Rosenior, 41, has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Enzo Maresca and is understood to be in advanced discussions with Chelsea after arriving in London on Sunday night, as the club looks to move quickly in appointing a new head coach.
Chelsea and Strasbourg operate under the same ownership structure, a factor believed to have strengthened Rosenior’s candidacy given his current role with the Ligue 1 side.
Rooney and Rosenior previously worked closely together at Derby County between 2021 and 2022, during a turbulent period for the club, with Rosenior serving as Rooney’s assistant before later stepping up as interim manager following Rooney’s exit.
Rooney praises coaching quality
Speaking on the BBC’s Wayne Rooney Show, the former England captain was emphatic in his endorsement of Rosenior, describing him as one of the most impressive coaches he has encountered in his football career.
“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 attention to detail, his preparation, and how he approaches the day-to-day work — he’s right up there with the very best I’ve worked with.”
Rooney went on to credit Rosenior with playing a significant role in shaping his own development during his early managerial career.
“Liam was so important for me,” Rooney explained. “He was incredible in his coaching ability. I was more of the manager, dealing with players and the wider picture, so I learned a lot from him from that point of view.”
Career path and readiness
Following their time at Derby, Rosenior moved on to take charge of Hull City, where he guided the club to a strong Championship campaign and narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs before eventually being dismissed.
In 2024, he accepted the challenge of managing Strasbourg and has since rebuilt his reputation in Ligue 1, earning plaudits for his tactical approach and man-management while re-establishing himself as a highly rated young coach.
Rooney believes Rosenior’s varied journey has fully prepared him for the demands of managing a club of Chelsea’s stature.
“He’s done his apprenticeship, he’s put the work in to get to that level,” Rooney said. “If you don’t take that opportunity now, then you’re never going to take it.”
Maresca departed Chelsea after 18 months in charge following a breakdown in relations with the club’s ownership, prompting another managerial search at Stamford Bridge.
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 to take charge of a traditional 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 to see someone get that chance.”