Chelsea and Strasbourg Appoint New Managers Amid Transition

In early January, following Enzo Maresca’s departure from Chelsea, the Premier League club promptly appointed Rosenior, the former manager of Strasbourg. The ex-Hull City coach expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea, which, like Strasbourg, is owned by BlueCo, while also conveying his appreciation for his prior role at the Ligue 1 club.

Upon his appointment at Stamford Bridge, Rosenior remarked, “I was fully focused on Strasbourg’s last match, but since then, I have been granted permission to join one of the biggest clubs in the world, the Club World Cup champions. It is an honor to engage with a club of this stature, and today marks a pivotal moment as I take on the role of manager. This is an extraordinary opportunity at an incredible club, and I simply couldn’t refuse it. Additionally, I can return home to my children after making the sacrifice of being away from them.”

He further acknowledged, “The past 18 months at Strasbourg have been the most rewarding of my professional career. I have encountered remarkable individuals, and none of this would have been possible without the dedication of everyone associated with the football club.”

According to reports from L’Equipe, Strasbourg received numerous applications following Rosenior’s exit, including one from Ancelotti. The Italian has served as an assistant coach under his father at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Napoli, and Everton, in addition to managing Botafogo for six months before his dismissal last December. Though he was considered for the Reims position in 2024 due to his proficiency in multiple languages, his limited managerial experience ultimately hindered his candidacy for the Strasbourg role. Eventually, O’Neil was selected as the new manager, marking a turning point for the club.

Last week, O’Neil, formerly of Bournemouth and Wolves, was appointed as Strasbourg’s new manager. The 42-year-old aims to build upon the impressive groundwork laid by Rosenior. He expressed his pride in joining a club that boasts a “high-quality squad and clear, ambitious goals for the season.”

O’Neil stated, “I am proud to join this incredible club and am eager to begin our journey. We possess a squad of exceptional quality and clearly defined objectives for the season ahead. My primary focus is to work diligently with the team and dedicate myself to the club’s success. Racing has a unique history, extraordinary passion, remarkable resilience, and, importantly, loyal supporters who desire to witness the team play attractive football and thrive.”

Rosenior made his debut in the Chelsea dugout as the Blues triumphed 5-1 over London rivals Charlton Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup last weekend. Similarly, O’Neil led Strasbourg to a commanding 6-0 victory against Avranches in the Coupe de France round of 32 in his inaugural match at the helm. This Wednesday, Chelsea will return to Carabao Cup action, hosting Arsenal in the first leg of their semi-final, while Strasbourg will face Metz in Ligue 1 on Sunday.