Former Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has been appointed as the new head coach of Ligue 1 side Paris FC.
The 41-year-old has signed a two-year contract, with the French club announcing his arrival on Tuesday following the departure of previous boss Antoine Kombouare.
Rosenior’s move marks a swift return to French football, having been sacked by Chelsea in April after a challenging 106-day tenure. During his brief spell at Stamford Bridge, he oversaw just 11 wins in 23 matches.
Prior to his ill-fated move to Chelsea, Rosenior had left Strasbourg, a sister club to Chelsea, in January. His time at Strasbourg was notably more successful, guiding the team to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 and securing European competition for the first time in eight years.
He now takes over from Kombouare, who was appointed in February and successfully navigated Paris FC away from the threat of relegation. Despite this achievement, the club has opted for a new direction.
A statement from Paris FC indicated that Rosenior was “fully in line” with the club’s “philosophy and sporting project”.
Sporting director Marco Neppe elaborated on the decision, stating: “Liam Rosenior brings together all the qualities we were looking for. He is a modern, demanding coach and recognised for his ability to help both the players and the team progress. Beyond his tactical skills, we were particularly attracted by his management qualities and his ability to unite a group around a clear vision.”
Rosenior expressed his enthusiasm for the new role: “I’m so happy to be the new coach of Paris FC. I can’t wait to get started with the players. I want my team to enjoy playing football, to show and express themselves and play with intensity and enthusiasm. That’s what I’m about and hopefully I can bring that to this club.”
His promising start at Chelsea, following Enzo Maresca’s sudden departure on New Year’s Day, quickly unravelled, culminating in a run of five successive league defeats without scoring that ultimately cost him his job.
Paris FC returned to the French top flight last season for the first time since 1979. They had previously parted ways with promotion-winning coach Stephane Gilli after a poor run of form. Kombouare, a former Paris St Germain boss, secured an 11th-placed finish, but the club has decided to pursue a different path.
The club’s statement concluded: “Paris FC welcomes Liam Rosenior and would like to thank Antoine Kombouare for the work accomplished during his time at the club.”
