Liam Rosenior’s appointment as Chelsea head coach is a landmark moment for ambitious English coaches, according to interim manager Calum McFarlane.
McFarlane, Chelsea’s Under-21 coach, took charge after Enzo Maresca’s New Year's Day departure. After guiding the team to a 1-1 draw against Manchester City, McFarlane will lead the squad one last time for Wednesday’s trip to Fulham before Rosenior officially takes over on Thursday.
While the 41-year-old Rosenior is untested as a Premier League manager, his reputation grew significantly following a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 with Racing Strasbourg. He previously managed Hull City and served as interim boss at Derby County.
"I really enjoy watching his sides. They play aggressive, front-footed football," McFarlane said. "It is inspirational for young academy coaches to see this. We hope he does really well."
Rosenior’s history of developing youth fits Chelsea’s current strategy. At Strasbourg, he fielded some of the youngest lineups in Europe, mirroring Chelsea’s youth-centric approach this season, where the average age of the starting XI has been just 23.
McFarlane, who returns to his role at Chelsea’s Cobham Training Centre, expects a strong link between the academy and the first team. "Cobham is in the DNA of this club," he said. "Part of our job is to make Liam’s job difficult by producing even more players ready for the first team."
When asked if he had offered the incoming manager any tips, McFarlane remained humble. "I wouldn't give him advice because he is a really accomplished coach. I am just here to support him."
Rosenior becomes the second-youngest manager in the Premier League, behind Brighton’s 32-year-old Fabian Hurzeler.
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