Chelsea dismissed Liam Rosenior after just 106 days in charge, ending an appointment that was questioned from the moment it was announced. The former Hull City and Strasbourg manager was seen by many as a product of his close relationship with the BlueCo ownership group rather than a candidate whose record alone justified the role.

A manager struggling to command respect

Multiple sources who spoke to ESPN described Rosenior as a decent, honest, and hard-working individual. His appointment was welcomed in certain quarters as a positive step for British managers and ethnic minority candidates at the highest level of the game. But the coaching experience he brought to Stamford Bridge — interim work at Derby County, 18-month spells at Hull City and Strasbourg — was limited by the standards of the job.

Old footage of Rosenior redefining the concept of management resurfaced shortly after he took over. In a Ligue 1 interview from his Strasbourg days, he had offered the observation that managing meant "aging men." The clip became meme fodder. Although Rosenior handled the mockery with composure in his early press appearances, his tendency to immerse himself in minor controversies steadily eroded his authority.

After a Carabao Cup semifinal defeat to Arsenal, he accused the Gunners of disrespecting Chelsea during the warmup. A pre-match huddle that encircled referee Paul Tierney ahead of a loss at Newcastle United in March drew further ridicule — ESPN sources confirmed the idea came from another staff member rather than Rosenior himself, but his defence of the act, claiming Chelsea needed to "respect the ball," only deepened the mockery. Images of Rosenior scribbling notes on the touchline while his side trailed Paris Saint-Germain 8-2 on aggregate circulated widely among fans.

A dressing room divided

Rosenior began his tenure promisingly, winning 7 of his first 9 matches, including a comeback victory at Napoli that secured Chelsea's place in the Champions League round of 16. But cracks appeared quickly. After conceding a stoppage-time equaliser to draw 1-1 at home against Burnley, Rosenior alluded to a missed marking assignment without naming the guilty player, triggering a social media witch hunt that one source close to a first-team player described as avoidable — he either needed to stay silent or identify and resolve the issue.

Team news began leaking. The Chelsea starting line-up for both legs of their Champions League tie against PSG emerged in the public domain hours before kick-off. Moments after the 8-2 aggregate elimination — one of the heaviest European defeats in the club's history — midfielder Enzo Fernández told ESPN he was uncertain about his future at Chelsea. During the March international break, Fernández spoke openly about life in Madrid, while Marc Cucurella questioned the decision to remove Enzo Maresca, saying: "If you asked me, I would not have made this decision."

Rosenior responded by fining Fernández and banning him for two matches, including a game against Manchester City. ESPN sources revealed that players internally questioned whether Fernández should have been recalled for that fixture, given Chelsea's fight for Champions League qualification. He remained out of the squad, and Chelsea lost 3-0. The club have collected nine red cards this season — more than any other side in the Premier League.

Relations between Rosenior's backroom staff and certain players deteriorated further. Wesley Fofana visibly shrugged off assistant coach Justin Walker when Walker attempted to console him after he was substituted during a 1-0 loss to Manchester United. After the final collapse — a 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion that left Chelsea eighth in the table and in danger of missing the Champions League — Rosenior publicly labelled the performance "unacceptable," "indefensible," and "unprofessional."

The BlueCo problem

Chelsea's hierarchy had reportedly hoped Rosenior could carry the project into next season, but the combination of fan unrest, player discord, and a run of five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring — the first such sequence since 1912 — forced a change. Supporters at the Amex Stadium chanted against the ownership, against Clearlake boss Behdad Eghbali, and against Rosenior himself.

The structural issues at the club extend beyond any individual manager. Five sporting directors sit between Eghbali and the head coach. Technical feedback reaches the manager after every match. Medical staff and data analysts carry significant influence over team selection, and recruitment decisions involve many voices beyond the coaching staff. Maresca himself reportedly pushed for greater authority over football matters before departing. Whoever arrives next will inherit the same system — and must decide whether they can operate within it.

Chelsea's immediate future is on the line at Wembley on Sunday, when they face Leeds United in the FA Cup semifinal. It is their last remaining route to silverware this season.