Wayne Rooney Backs Liam Rosenior for Chelsea Managerial Role

Legendary former England captain and Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has thrown his full support behind Liam Rosenior as the leading candidate to become Chelsea's next head coach.

Speaking on the BBC's *Wayne Rooney Show*, the former Derby County manager praised Rosenior – who served as his assistant at Pride Park in 2021-2022 – as one of the finest coaches he has ever worked with. The endorsement comes amid reports that Rosenior, currently in charge of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, is in advanced talks to replace Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge following the Italian's departure on New Year's Day.

"Liam was so important for me. He was incredible in his coaching ability," Rooney said. "His detail, how he approaches the day-to-day – he's as good as I've ever worked with. So I learned a lot from him from that point of view and then I think he's done a great job as a whole."

Rooney, who worked closely with Rosenior during a challenging period at Derby, highlighted the 41-year-old's tactical acumen, work ethic, and readiness for a big club challenge. "He's taken chances, and hopefully that pays off because I think Liam is as good a coach as I've ever worked with," he added. "If he goes in there [Chelsea], he won’t disappoint. He’s been waiting for an opportunity like this. If you don’t take it now, then you’re never going to take it. He’s done his apprenticeship, he’s done his work to get to that job."

Rosenior, who previously managed Hull City and guided Strasbourg to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1, has strong ties to Chelsea's ownership group BlueCo, which also controls the French club. The Englishman arrived in London on Sunday for talks, with negotiations reportedly at an advanced stage. An announcement could come as early as Monday, potentially in time for Chelsea's Premier League trip to Fulham on Wednesday.

Rooney also emphasized the significance of the appointment for English coaches. "For young English coaches I think it's massive. We don't really see English managers at big clubs. So he'd be leading the way for us."

The former England striker's glowing reference underscores Rosenior's growing reputation as a progressive, detail-oriented coach capable of thriving in high-pressure environments. As Chelsea seek stability after a turbulent period, Rooney's backing adds significant weight to Rosenior's candidacy.

Chelsea have yet to confirm any appointment, but sources indicate Rosenior is the clear frontrunner.