Chelsea confirm Liam Rosenior as new head coach
LONDON CALLING: Liam Rosenior who has been confirmed as Chelsea’s newest boss. Pic: Steve Welsh/PA Wire.
Chelsea have announced the appointment of Liam Rosenior as head coach, signing a contract until 2032.
"I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed Head Coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies," he says.
"My job is to protect that identity and create a team that reflects these values in every game we play as we continue winning trophies. 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.
"I believe deeply in teamwork, unity, togetherness and working for one another, and those values will be at the heart of everything we do. They will be the foundation of our success.
"I am excited to work with this extremely talented group of players and staff, to build strong connections on and off the pitch, and to create an environment where everyone feels united and driven by the same goal.
"There is a real hunger to win, and I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level to make everyone connected and proud to be a part of Chelsea Football Club.
"I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. They are the soul of this enormous, historic and huge football club.
"I cannot wait to meet you all. I cannot wait to get started.’
The then Strasbourg boss earlier revealed he would travel to London and complete a deal to replace Enzo Maresca "in the next few hours".
He said at a press conference at the Ligue 1 club on Tuesday morning: "I haven't signed yet, I have agreed verbally with Chelsea.
"Everything is agreed it will probably go through in the next few hours.
"I was given permission to talk to one of the biggest clubs in the world, Club World Cup champions, it is an honour for me to be associated with a club like that.
"Now, on this day, it looks like I am going to be the next manager of that football club.
"There are certain moments in your life where you have decisions that you can't say no to. This (Strasbourg) for me is a club I would love for the rest of my life.
"But this opportunity for me is something I cannot turn down for many reasons."
Rosenior, 41, will return to English football after spells at Derby and Hull, with a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in Europe.
He leaves Strasbourg seventh in Ligue 1 after 17 matches and knows it was an opportunity he could not turn down.
"I want to make this clear, I am here because I care about this club and I felt it was right to answer your questions physically before I move on with the next stage of my career," he added.
"I am so excited for the future, my whole life has worked to be a coach and now to be presented this opportunity at a world class football (club) is something I have always dreamed of.
"With that is a mixed emotion of sadness of what I am leaving behind. This is the last day I wake up as Strasbourg manager.
"I hope the fans here can understand that. I am looking forward to the challenge, if I didn't think I was ready, I wouldn't have accepted it.
"The reality is Strasbourg is not on the level as Chelsea. There are certain clubs you just cannot just turn down. I hope the fans can see that."
Rosenior confirmed his backroom staff Khalifa Cisse, Ben Warner and Justin Walker would also join Chelsea.
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