tag

Liam Rosenior was confirmed Tuesday as Chelsea’s new head coach on a six-and-a-half-year deal, saying the opportunity to succeed Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge was too good to turn down. The 41-year-old Strasbourg boss told a press conference earlier in the day at the Ligue 1 club that he had “verbally agreed” on the move. Chelsea officially announced that Rosenior, who will take charge of his first match in the FA Cup at the weekend, had signed a deal until 2032. “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” he said in a statement on the Premier League team’s website. “This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies. 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.” Rosenior has just three years’ experience as a manager, with Hull City and French club Strasbourg, and has never coached in the Premier League. But he had been widely touted as the frontrunner to succeed Maresca since the Italian left Chelsea last week. Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo multi-club ownership group that also controls Chelsea. Rosenior is Chelsea’s fourth permanent managerial appointment since BlueCo took control of the club previously owned by Roman Abramovich in 2022. The club said the Englishman had shown “he can build teams with a clear way of playing while setting the highest standards with players on and off the pitch”. “While there will continue to be a focus on player development, the club’s expectations and ambitions remain high,” Chelsea added. Rosenior said he had wanted to announce the news himself in Strasbourg because of his deep feelings for the French club. The former defender, whose father, Leroy Rosenior, was also a player and a manager, told reporters the chance to manage Chelsea was “an opportunity I cannot turn down”. “I’m so excited about the future. I cannot lie. My whole life I’ve worked to be a coach,” he said. “To be presented with this opportunity to manage a world-class football club is something I’ve always dreamed of. With that is a mixed emotion of sadness of what I’m leaving behind.” Chelsea interim manager Calum McFarlane told reporters that he would remain in charge for today’s Premier League match against Fulham. McFarlane said he had spoken briefly to the club’s new boss. “He’s obviously really excited about taking the role,” he said. “It’s a brief conversation, so my understanding is he’s going to be at Cobham (Chelsea’s training ground) later on today.” Rosenior played in the Premier League and the second-tier Championship in England. His clubs included Fulham, Reading and Hull. He had a variety of coaching roles at Derby, which included 12 matches as caretaker manager at the start of the 2022/23 season. Later in 2022 Rosenior took over as manager of Championship team Hull. He was sacked after 18 months and in July 2024 was appointed by Strasbourg, who he guided to seventh place in Ligue 1 last season. McFarlane said Rosenior’s teams played “aggressive, front-foot football” and that his appointment would inspire English managers. Since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, not a single English manager has won the title. 

Liam Rosenior is a little-known English coach who looks certain to be thrust into a fierce spotlight as Chelsea’s new manager. If Rosenior becomes the latest coach on the Chelsea carousel to replace the departed Enzo Maresca, he will have benefited from the Blues’ owners’ multi-club model to earn promotion from Ligue 1’s Strasbourg to the upper echelons of the Premier League. And while he may never have coached in the Premier League, he comes with a glowing reference from former Manchester United and England great Wayne Rooney. After a short spell in charge of Brighton’s under-23s, Rosenior, 41, began his senior coaching career in 2019 at Derby County, first under Philiip Cocu and then as assistant to Rooney. “He’s taken chances, and hopefully that pays off because I think Liam is as good a coach as I’ve ever worked with,” Rooney said on his BBC podcast. “He was incredible in his coaching ability,” added Rooney, highlighting Rosenior’s attention to detail. Rosenior briefly replaced Rooney on an interim basis in 2022 and later that year took over as manager of Hull City in the Championship. After just over 18 months in charge, he was sacked and in July 2024 was appointed by Strasbourg, the French club who are owned by Chelsea’s parent company BlueCo, That link appears to be the main reason the west Londoners are considering Rosenior, given his relative dearth of top-flight experience. Strasbourg are currently seventh in Ligue 1. But according to Rooney, “he’s done his apprenticeship... so he’ll have no doubts in his mind that he’s capable of doing that job.” He would become only the fourth English manager in the current Premier League. In an interview with AFP last year, Rosenior spelled out his coaching philosophy. “For me, regardless of style of play, tactics, systems, how fit your team is, I think football is played by people,” he said. “People have emotions and are complex. They have good days and bad. My job is actually to get the best out of people.” 

Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is relishing the prospect of knocking former club Chelsea out of the League Cup following his key role in a penalty shootout win over Crystal Palace. The Gunners went through to the semi-finals on Tuesday after Kepa saved Maxence Lacroix’s spot-kick in a dramatic 8-7 shootout success following a 1-1 draw with Palace at the Emirates Stadium. Kepa spent seven years with the Blues before moving to north London in pre-season and he could now deny his old side a spot in the first major final of the current campaign. It was a cathartic moment for the Spanish goalkeeper, who infamously refused to be substituted before Chelsea’s League Cup final penalty shoot-out defeat against Manchester City in 2019. Kepa also missed a spot-kick in the Blues’ 2022 League Cup final shoot-out loss to Liverpool. Kepa, who has made all three of his Arsenal appearances so far in the League Cup, said: “Right now, if you want a trophy, and that’s something that we want, we have to fight against good teams. Both semi-finals are big games, and it’s going to be tough, but we’ll prepare well for the game, and we’ll be ready and we’ll go for it.” Arsenal will take on Chelsea for a place at Wembley with the first of two legs to be played at Stamford Bridge on January 14 before the return match at the Emirates on February 3.The Gunners were on course to reach the semi-finals in regulation time before Marc Guehi’s late equaliser – the third time in Arsenal’s last five fixtures the Premier League leaders’ defence has been breached in or beyond the 90th minute. “We’ve conceded in a couple of games in the last minute so it’s something that we have to look at,” said Kepa, deputising for Arsenal first-choice keeper David Raya. The 31-year-old Spaniard added: “But we are in the next round and we’re happy. We made a huge effort. We should have scored a couple in the first half. We played so well. Then the second half was more like 50-50.” “Credit to the guys, they took amazing penalties. They kept us in the game, and they gave me an opportunity to make a save. Emotionally, you have to be focused, be strong, because obviously when you concede in the last minute and then you have to go to penalties, you need to 100 percent be focused on your penalty takers, you need to save. So it was a change of mindset, and it worked.” Arsenal are into the League Cup semi-finals for a second successive year as they chase their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020. The north Londoners have only won the League Cup twice, with their last triumph coming in 1992-93, before any of their current squad were born. After celebrating Christmas on Thursday, Arteta’s men will turn their attention back to the title race with home games against Brighton and third-placed Aston Villa to close out 2025.Winning their first English title since 2004 is clearly Arsenal’s main aim this season, but lifting the League Cup in March would be a significant boost to a club starved of silverware in recent years. Arteta made eight changes to the side that won at Everton on Saturday. 

Ange Postecoglou’s reign as Nottingham Forest manager was ended after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday as Arsenal remained on top thanks to Leandro Trossard’s winner at Fulham.Postecoglou was sacked after just eight games and 40 days in charge at the City Ground, making his the shortest ever managerial stint in Premier League history. Forest picked up just one point from the Australian’s five league games and were also dumped out of the League Cup by second-tier Swansea.Club owner Evangelos Marinakis left his seat during the match as Chelsea took control in the second half and Postecoglou’s fate was confirmed shortly after full-time. Forest are already looking for their third manager of the season after Nuno Espirito Santo was dismissed last month.“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect,” the club posted on X. “The club will make no further comment at this time.”Forest finished seventh in the Premier League last season under Nuno, having looked likely for a long spell to seal a Champions League spot. Fulham manager Marco Silva has been linked with the job at the two-time European champions while former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche is also reportedly a candidate.Postecoglou, sacked by Tottenham in June, was defiant at his pre-match press conference on Friday, saying if he is given time at a club it always ends “with me and a trophy”. Last season he won the Europa League with Tottenham, in his second season in charge, though a terrible league campaign cost him his job.Former England captain Alan Shearer believes Marinakis must take his share of the blame for Postecoglou’s demise. “Ultimately the results haven’t been good enough and that is on Ange. But the owner has to take some responsibility too. He chose Ange, it was his appointment,” Shearer told BBC Sport. “How can you go from a manager in Nuno with one style of play to someone like Ange who everyone knows wants his teams to play in a completely different way?”Chelsea had to survive an early onslaught before two goals in three minutes early in the second period swung the game in the Blues’ favour. Teenager Josh Acheampong headed in his first senior goal from Pedro Neto’s corner. Neto curled in a free-kick to double Chelsea’s lead before Reece James added a third late on to lift the visitors up to sixth in the table. Defeat saw Forest fall into the relegation zone.Arsenal retook top spot from Manchester City thanks to another set-piece goal to edge out Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage. Trossard flicked in from a corner just before the hour mark and the Gunners’ rock solid defence did the rest with an eighth clean sheet in all competitions already this season. “It was a tough game for us, especially first half the quality on our side wasn’t there,” said Trossard. “We picked it up in the second half.”Arsenal were installed as the bookmakers’ favourites to win the Premier League after Liverpool’s two successive defeats knocked the champions out of pole position. “It is a really tough place to come. We have experienced that in the last few years. We put a lot into it. We had some giveaways in the first half, but we became more dominant throughout the game,” Arteta said. “They have been together for many years, so they know how to adapt.”Arsenal have won six of their eight league matches this season as they chase a first English title since 2004.City remain three points behind the leaders but moved up to second thanks to another double from Erling Haaland to beat Everton 2-0. After two defeats in their opening three Premier League matches, Pep Guardiola’s men are now unbeaten in eight games in all competitions. Haaland proved the match-winner once more with two clinical finishes in five minutes either side of the hour at the Etihad.He used all of his 1.95-metre (6ft 5in) frame to power in a header from Nico O’Riley’s cross to break the deadlock. Haaland then had a helping hand from Jordan Pickford for his second as the England goalkeeper failed to keep out a low shot to his left.Bournemouth missed out on going top for a few hours after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 97th-minute penalty to complete his hat-trick salvaged a 3-3 draw for Crystal Palace. Two goals from Eli Junior Kroupi put the Cherries 2-0 up at Selhurst Park at half-time.Palace lost for the first time in 20 matches in their last outing at Everton. The Eagles avoided another defeat thanks to the in-form Mateta, who was fresh from scoring his first international goal for France. Mateta struck twice to level before Ryan Christie turned in Marcus Tavernier’s cross in the 89th minute to restore Bournemouth’s lead.However, Andoni Iraola’s men were denied another huge win when Mateta stroked home from the spot after want-away Palace captain Marc Guehi was fouled inside the box.Newcastle’s struggles on the road continued with a 2-1 defeat at Brighton as Danny Welbeck struck twice.The Magpies have yet to win away in the Premier League this season and slipped to 12th, behind local rivals Sunderland. The Black Cats climbed up to seventh with a 2-0 victory over Wolves, which left the visitors five points off safety at the bottom of the table. Burnley climbed out of the bottom three thanks to goals from Lesley Ugochukwu and Loum Tchaouna to beat Leeds 2-0.

Brazilian wonderkid Estevao’s first Chelsea goal inflicted a third consecutive defeat on Liverpool Saturday, allowing Arsenal to go top of the Premier League after beating West Ham 2-0.After winning their opening seven games of the season in all competitions, Liverpool have suffered a nightmare week to leave Arne Slot plenty to ponder over the international break.Injury-hit Chelsea were well worthy of a dramatic 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge to end their three-game winless run in the Premier League.One-time Liverpool target Moises Caicedo blasted the Blues into a half-time lead with a blistering strike into the top corner on 14 minutes.Alexander Isak’s £125mn ($168mn) move to Liverpool last month broke Caicedo’s record as the most expensive Premier League player of all-time.The Swedish striker is still yet to score a league goal but his deft touch teed up Cody Gakpo to equalise just after the hour mark.However, Chelsea were not to be denied as Estevao slid in at the far post to meet Marc Cucurella’s cross deep into stoppage time, sparking wild celebrations from manager Enzo Maresca who was shown a red card for sprinting down the touchline.Liverpool now trail Arsenal by one point, while Chelsea edge up to sixth.Arsenal lose Odegaard In Mikel Arteta’s 300th match in charge, Arsenal proved far too strong for the struggling Hammers to further their ambitions of a first Premier League title for 22 years.Victory came at a cost for Arsenal as captain Martin Odegaard was forced off injured before half-time for the third time this season.However, the strength in depth now on offer to Arteta has made light of Arsenal’s injury troubles.“We dominated and fully deserved to win this,” said Arteta. “To go top of the table after some big fixtures over the last week and some injuries... we were able to respond.”Declan Rice, who left West Ham for £105 million in 2023, ended the visitors’ resistence by blasting high into the net on the rebound after Alphonse Areola parried Eberechi Eze’s drive.Bukayo Saka made the points safe midway through the second half from the penalty spot on his 200th Arsenal appearance after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf.Breathing spacefor Amorim Manchester United handed Ruben Amorim some relief with a 2-0 win over Sunderland Saturday.The Portuguese had taken just 34 points from his previous 33 Premier League games in charge, but enjoyed a rare convincing win to give him some breathing space over the international break.“We were a competitive and adult team today,” said Amorim. “We need to do this kind of performance away as well - it’s our responsibility to play like this,” he added.Before kick-off Old Trafford fell silent to honour the victims of a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue this week.Amorim’s bold calls with his team selection paid off as goalkeeper Senne Lammens kept a clean sheet on his debut, while Mason Mount justified his place over Matheus Cunha with the opening goal.Mount eased the home fans’ tension with a fine finish from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross on eight minutes. Benjamin Sesko doubled the Red Devils’ advantage with a predatory finish from a long throw-in for his first Old Trafford goal since a £74mn move from RB Leipzig.Nearly a twistThere was nearly a twist at the end of the half as Sunderland were initially awarded a penalty, only for VAR to intervene due to insufficent contact by Sesko on Trai Hume.Tottenham showed their newfound defensive resolve under Thomas Frank to end Leeds’ year-long unbeaten league run at Elland Road with a 2-1 victory.Mohammed Kudus’ first goal for Spurs secured all three points after Noah Okafor cancelled out Mathys Tel’s opener for the visitors.“That feeling to get over the line, to get three points, was big,” said Frank after his side moved up to third.