Liam Rosenior, the newly appointed manager of Chelsea Football Club, one of England’s most successful football institutions based in London, United Kingdom, will take charge of his first competitive match this weekend when the club travels to face Charlton Athletic Football Club in the third round of the Football Association Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup.
The fixture presents an immediate test for the forty-one-year-old English coach, as Chelsea confront the traditional unpredictability of the FA Cup against a lower-division opponent. Charlton Athletic, based in southeast London, are currently placed nineteenth in the EFL Championship, England’s second-tier league, but remain dangerous opponents in knockout football.
Okay News reports that Rosenior’s appointment comes at a time when several high-profile managers across the English Premier League are under intense scrutiny, with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and Manchester United Football Club also navigating turbulent periods ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup ties.
Rosenior’s rise to the Chelsea job marks a sharp contrast to his last experience in English football management. His previous role ended in disappointment in May 2024, when his Hull City side were beaten one nil by Plymouth Argyle Football Club, a result that ended their push for a Championship play-off place. He was dismissed by Hull City only days later.
Despite that setback, Rosenior rebuilt his reputation abroad by taking charge of Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace, a professional football club based in Strasbourg, eastern France. Under his leadership, the club finished seventh in France’s top division, Ligue One, during the 2024 to 2025 season, earning praise for their structure and discipline.
Strasbourg is part of the BlueCo ownership group, the same consortium that owns Chelsea. Even so, Rosenior’s selection as successor to former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca raised eyebrows across English football due to his limited experience at elite level.
His debut match will take place at The Valley, Charlton’s home ground, where expectations will be high and tolerance for error extremely low. A defeat against Championship opposition so early into his reign would likely fuel criticism from supporters and pundits alike.
“For this opportunity to come up at this stage of my career is great, but my biggest focus is not about being Chelsea manager, it is about being a winning Chelsea manager,” Rosenior said. “We need to hit the ground running for the rest of the season.”
Rosenior also carries a personal connection into the match, as his father, Leroy Rosenior, previously played for Charlton Athletic during the nineteen nineties.
Elsewhere, pressure continues to mount on Thomas Frank, the Danish head coach of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, based in north London. Appointed at the end of last season after the dismissal of Australian coach Ange Postecoglou, Frank has struggled to meet expectations.
Tottenham have recorded just three wins in their last thirteen matches across all competitions. Frank’s pragmatic approach, which emphasizes defensive shape, physical intensity, and set-piece execution, has failed to resonate with supporters accustomed to a more attacking style.
A home defeat to Aston Villa Football Club this weekend could significantly increase speculation about Frank’s future at the club.
Meanwhile, Manchester United Football Club, one of the most globally recognized football teams, remain in a period of uncertainty. Former midfielder Darren Fletcher is currently serving as caretaker manager following the dismissal of Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim earlier this week.
United are expected to appoint an interim head coach until May while they search for a permanent replacement. Reports indicate that former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and former United midfielder Michael Carrick have both been approached regarding the role.
Fletcher’s first match in charge ended in a two all draw against Burnley Football Club, a result that extended United’s poor run at Old Trafford to one win in five matches. He now faces Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, who have previously won three consecutive away matches at the stadium before losing there in October.
