Wayne Rooney has delivered a stunning endorsement of Liam Rosenior, claiming the incoming Chelsea boss is among the finest coaches he has ever encountered in football.
Rooney's Glowing Endorsement
The Manchester United and England legend worked closely with Rosenior during their time together at Derby County, where Rosenior served as Rooney's assistant manager from January 2021 to June 2022. Rooney, who has played under iconic managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, did not hold back in his praise.
'He's as good a coach as I've ever worked with,' Rooney stated on his podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show. He elaborated on Rosenior's qualities, highlighting his meticulous approach: 'His detail, how he approaches the day-to-day, he's as good as I've worked with. Liam was so important for me. He was incredible in his coaching ability.'
The Path to Stamford Bridge
Rosenior is poised for a monumental career step, moving from managing Strasbourg in France's Ligue 1 to taking the helm at Premier League giants Chelsea. The 41-year-old is set to replace Enzo Maresca, who departed Stamford Bridge on New Year's Day 2026 after a breakdown in relations with the club's hierarchy.
The transition is facilitated by the shared ownership of both clubs under the BlueCo consortium, meaning Rosenior already has experience working with the key decision-makers. At Strasbourg, where he replaced Patrick Vieira in July 2024, he improved the team's league position from 13th to 7th in his first season, winning 49% of his 63 games in charge.
More Than Just a Coach: The Rosenior Edge
Rooney also revealed that Rosenior possesses a steely side crucial for managing a top dressing room. 'He's also got a side which you don't want to cross him as well,' Rooney warned. 'That's important as well. If he goes in there, he won't disappoint. He's been waiting for an opportunity like this.'
Rooney believes Rosenior's apprenticeship has been fully served, from coaching Brighton's U23s after his playing retirement in 2018, to his first managerial role at Hull City. There, he remarkably lifted the Tigers from 19th to 7th in the Championship before an unexpected sacking. 'He's done his work to try and get to that job,' Rooney added.
The former England captain framed the appointment as a significant moment for English coaches, who are rarely given the reins at elite clubs. 'For young English coaches I think it's massive,' Rooney said. 'We don't really see English managers at big clubs. So he'd be leading the way for us.' With Rooney's ringing endorsement, all eyes will now be on Rosenior to prove his former colleague right at one of football's most demanding clubs.
