- Chelsea sack Liam Rosenior
- English coach has been linked with Crystal Palace
- Selhurst Park always offers second chances
The inevitable has occurred this Wednesday evening as Liam Rosenior has lost his job at Chelsea. Any football fan, pundit or player could see that the Stamford Bridge hotseat was far too big for the English coach.
Ridiculed from the moment he first spoke into a microphone, he came off more as a caricature of an elite-level manager rather than a man for the Blues. But his disastrous reign isn’t to be blamed on him, but rather the board’s decision to appoint him in the first place.
Torn away from a superb job at Strasbourg, there was no chance Rosenior was turning down the opportunity to coach one of Europe’s heavyweights. He started incredibly well, posting a 12-game run without a loss.
Then came the downfall; once the dust settled, his quirky personality and over-the-top interviews were no longer making for comedic viewing. Rather, you sympathised with his demise, clearly out of his depth and unable to handle the pressure.
The Inevitable Rosenior Sacking
Chelsea’s 3-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion last night was the final nail in the coffin. A seventh defeat in eight games, ending the west Londoners’ hopes of Champions League qualification.
Rosenior lasted 23 games, won 11 and lost 10, and his reputation, unfortunately, has taken a massive knock. His sacking shouldn’t be a reflection on him but rather the utterly untrustworthy and impulsive board that doesn’t know how big a club they are running.
Rosenior might feel like he has no future in Premier League management. But in can step Palace, a club renowned for giving players second chances.
Palace Present a Second Chance
Although a much different scenario, Marc Guehi knows all about getting an opportunity to prove himself after a difficult period. Not trusted by his boyhood club, he left for Selhurst Park, and that’s where he developed into a world-class centre-back.
That’s not to say that Rosenior replacing Oliver Glasner this summer will lead to similar success for the Englishman. But he could have a chance to prove himself at a club where there is less backroom drama and player power.
Rosenior did a brilliant job at Strasbourg and is why the French outfit find themselves possibly coming up against Palace in the Conference League final.
“Selhurst Park is, for me, one of the most difficult places to go. Look in the Premier League, you have to be ready for a physical battle. The atmosphere in the stadium’s going to be red hot, so we’re not taking a game lightly at all. I was fortunate enough to play against Crystal Palace early in the season. I know what a good team they are,” – Liam Rosenior in January.
Reports recently claimed that the former Hull City boss was still admired by Steve Parish’s board. That was midway through Chelsea’s shambolic run but it’s worth noting that he was on the club’s radar during his time at Strasbourg.
Whether his poor Chelsea stint rules him out of the race to succeed Glasner is up for debate. But the Eagles often love to appoint an available coach and there is a lot to like about Rosenior who might just need to curb his overfriendly relationship with the media if he were to get the job.
