Four candidates who could replace Liam Rosenior at Chelsea

Lewis Henderson
Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:39:26 +0000

Following the sacking of Liam Rosenior as Chelsea boss, the Blues are on the hunt for another manager after already having three so far this campaign.

Calum McFarlane has taken over the reins on a temporary basis until June in his second stint as interim manager.

Chelsea's statement about Rosenior's sacking sent a clear message to fans: they will "bring stability to the head coach position" and "will undertake a process of self-reflection to make the right long-term appointment".

The BlueCo group, which owns Chelsea, has come under regular criticism for their handling of the club, with numerous protests against the ownership being held at Stamford Bridge.

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Today's brief message is arguably the clearest message from the ownership to supporters about their vision for the club, recognising the lack of steadiness in the managerial role.

The season for the Blues has morphed into one to forget, but it still has a glimmer of hope.

European football is in jeopardy, but a turn of form could turn their season around before a new boss takes over in west London.

GB News looks into four possible candidates who could take over at Stamford Bridge.

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Andoni Iraola

Currently the favourite to step in at Chelsea, Andoni Iraola is being tipped to take over the two-time Champions League winners.

The Spaniard has enjoyed a fantastic season at Bournemouth, only losing seven games in the league all season, and currently sits in ninth with a European bid well on the cards.

Iraola has already confirmed he is leaving the Cherries at the end of this campaign, with question marks as to where the highly-rated manager could go.

West London may be a favourable pick for Iraola, and maybe felt as the next step for him in his managerial career after successful stints in Spain with Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano.

Cesc Fabregas

Another Spaniard who could take over at Stamford Bridge is former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The former Barcelona and Arsenal star is having a stellar season at Como, winning 16 games in the league, which includes a victory over Juventus.

His Como side sits in fifth place, with qualification for Europe next season looking very likely.

West London has once been somewhere Fabregas called home and could be an option for the 38-year-old.

Filipe Luis

Having once thought he had the Chelsea job in the bag, Filipe Luis will be keen to get his foot in the door at Stamford Bridge again.

The Brazilian reportedly held secret talks with BlueCo during contract negotiations while still in charge of Flamengo, the last time the Blues were hiring.

Flamengo's board saw this as a breach of trust and dismissed the former Chelsea defender, despite having a 70 per cent win rate.

Having already spoken with the Chelsea ownership and flirting with the job in the past, it would come as no surprise to many fans if the Brazilian returned to Stamford Bridge.

Gary O'Neil

Possibly following in the footsteps of Rosenior, the former Wolves boss could be an outside pick to take over at Chelsea.

The appointment will get mixed reactions from fans, but Gary O'Neil boasts more Premier League experience than BlueCo's last hire, having been in charge of two Premier League sides.

The Englishman has enjoyed a strong spell at Strasbourg, winning 11 of his 17 games in charge, including victories over AS Monaco and Lyon.

Should O'Neil win the Conference League, with a semi-final clash against Rayo Vallecano upcoming, he could be an outside pick to take over at Stamford Bridge.