Son of Former Leone Stars Player Emerges Frontrunner to Become New Chelsea Manager

Liam Rosenior, the son of former Sierra Leone international Leroy Rosenior, has emerged as the clear frontrunner to take over as the new head coach of Chelsea Football Club.

The 41-year-old tactician arrived in London on Sunday afternoon for formal talks with the Premier League giants following the departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year’s Day.

While Rosenior represented England at the Under-21 level during his playing career, he holds a strong connection to Sierra Leonean football heritage through his father. Leroy Rosenior, a striker who played for Fulham and West Ham United, famously switched international allegiance to represent the Leone Stars, earning a cap in a 1994 African Nations Cup qualifier against Togo.

The elder Rosenior also briefly took charge of the Sierra Leone national team as coach in 2007 for a friendly against Leyton Orient.

Now, his son is poised to take one of the most high-profile jobs in world football.

Rosenior is currently the head coach of French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. His potential move to Stamford Bridge is facilitated by the fact that Strasbourg is owned by BlueCo, the same consortium that owns Chelsea.

According to reports from Standard Sport, Rosenior flew to the UK alongside Strasbourg president Marc Keller and sporting director David Weir. Negotiations are expected to accelerate over the next 24 hours. However, sources indicate that Rosenior will not officially sign a contract until the French club has secured a suitable replacement to ensure a smooth transition.

Rosenior’s managerial stock has risen quickly. After retiring from a playing career that included stints at Fulham, Hull City, and Brighton, he moved into coaching with Derby County and later Hull City. Despite a surprising dismissal from Hull after guiding them to a 7th-place finish in the Championship, his work at Strasbourg has impressed the Chelsea hierarchy.

The Blues are currently in a transition period following Maresca’s exit due to a deterioration in relations with the club’s board. Under-21s boss Calum McFarlane took interim charge for Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City.

If appointed, Rosenior would become one of the few managers of African heritage to lead a “Big Six” Premier League club, continuing the footballing legacy established by his father with the Leone Stars.