RC Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior was the immediate frontrunner to replace Enzo Maresca, making the jump up from our BlueCo sister club, and it sounds like the expected outcome will be reached sooner
than later … perhaps quite a lot sooner than later.
This of course always seemed like it might be the long-term plan for BlueCo, but Maresca’s sudden departure has apparently accelerated those plans, even if that now might have a massively negative impact on Strasbourg. Destabilize two clubs for the price one? Deal!
Reports in both England and France are all convinced that it’s now only a matter of days, if not hours, before Rosenior is announced at Chelsea, with the 41-year-old expected to still be in charge of RCSA for today’s match against OGC Nice, but then heading up to England to relieve Calum McFarland, who will be the interim in charge for Sunday’s game against Manchester City.
L’Equipe says that the move “seems increasingly imminent” after intensifying internal discussions while The Telegraph claims that “Chelsea players expect” the same outcome already as well.
Rosenior himself tried to play down the speculation in his pre-match press conference yesterday, but certainly left the door open for a swift exit after 18 months at Strasbourg.
“Of course I am aware there is speculation. I think that’s a reflection of the great work everyone has done at this club. If a player is linked to a big club, it means we’re doing our job well. It’s the same in my case.
“The players all have social media now and know more than me. Fortunately I don’t, and it will stay that way. The players are obviously aware. They made a couple jokes at the training ground: ‘Please don’t go gaffer.’ It’s just jokes. It’s not a real thing. The most important thing is that we’re all focused on our job.
“There are no guarantees in life. What I do know is that I put everything into this job. I’ve created some unbelievable connections with the people at this club. We’ve created some really great memories.
“You can’t guarantee anything in life. In terms of interest for other clubs, I’ve had a lot of interest. A lot of approaches that I’ve always been open with the club about. Some have come out and some haven’t. My focus is always on the job that I do. But to say I’m definitely going to be somewhere or definitely going to do something, I don’t think that’s right. Because in life, things happen.”
-Liam Rosenior; source: Telegraph
Candidates to replace Rosenior at Strasbourg include former Chelsea youth coach Eric Ramsay (currently manager of Minnesota United in MLS) and Southampton flop Will Still. Earlier rumors had linked Bodø/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen with the possible opening as well. There’s going to be a riot at Strasbourg if Rosenior does leave, so good luck to any of those guys.
