Chelsea Football Club's newly appointed head coach, Liam Rosenior, has been handed a criminal conviction and a financial penalty for a speeding offence, just as he takes the helm at the Premier League giant.
Magistrates' Court Conviction and Fine
Liam Rosenior was convicted at a single justice procedure hearing at Derby Magistrates' Court on 2 January 2026. The magistrate ordered him to pay a total of £1,052, which comprises a fine, court costs, and victim surcharge. The conviction relates to a speeding incident that occurred months earlier.
The offence took place at 11.41am on 7 July, when Rosenior was caught driving at 36mph in a 30mph zone on Rykneld Road in Littleover, Derbyshire. He admitted to being behind the wheel of the vehicle at the time.
Missed Course Due to Travel Disruption
Initially, Rosenior was offered the opportunity to avoid prosecution by completing a speed awareness course. However, he failed to attend the arranged session. In a note submitted to the court, the 41-year-old manager explained that "unforeseen circumstances" involving fog had delayed his flight back to the UK.
"I had to stay another night and be on a plane the next day during the time of the course," Rosenior wrote. He added that he understood he had to accept the situation, leading directly to the conviction.
A Dream Job Amidst Turmoil at Stamford Bridge
The legal news comes as Rosenior begins one of the most high-pressure jobs in football. He was officially appointed as Chelsea's head coach on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, signing a substantial six-and-a-half-year contract that runs until 2032.
His appointment follows the abrupt departure of Enzo Maresca on New Year's Day. Maresca's exit came after a reported deterioration in his relationship with club bosses and a poor run of form that saw Chelsea win just once in seven league games, leaving them 15 points behind leaders Arsenal.
Rosenior moves to west London from French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, which is also owned by Chelsea's parent company, BlueCo. At a press conference, the London-born coach acknowledged the scale of the step up. "The reality is Strasbourg is not on the level as Chelsea," he stated. "There are certain clubs you just cannot turn down."
He described managing a "world-class" club like Chelsea as a lifelong dream and said he would not have accepted the role if he did not believe he was ready for the challenge.
Rosenior's first task will be to prepare the team for their FA Cup third-round tie against Championship side Charlton Athletic on Saturday. He becomes Chelsea's fourth permanent manager since the BlueCo takeover in 2022, taking over a squad that has seen significant investment but inconsistent results.
