Gary O’Neil named as Liam Rosenior’s most likely successor as Chelsea boss ‘faces the sack’
Gary O’Neil has been named as the likely successor to Liam Rosenior, but Chelsea have been told to rethink their recruitment strategy.
Rosenior has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks amid a poor run of form, with reports suggesting his Blues tenure could already be under threat.
Rosenior at risk?
Currently battling for a Champions League place, the west Londoners were dealt a blow with a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.
They currently sit sixth in the Premier League, a point off fifth-place Liverpool, the likely qualification cut-off point, and a further three adrift of Aston Villa in fourth.
The defeat also came just days after Chelsea were beaten 5-2 by Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League round of 16 first leg clash.
With the season approaching a crucial stage, a report from the French arm of Sky Sports has claimed the next few weeks could be pivotal in determining Rosenior’s future at Stamford Bridge.
The publication states that sources close to the club suggest that the 41-year-old is unlikely to remain in charge next season.
It also reports there is a ‘desperate search for stability and results’ that matches the club’s ambitions.
Blues tipped for second Strasbourg raid
Rosenior only took over as Chelsea boss on January 6, when he succeeded Enzo Maresca, after making his name at BlueCo-owned sister club Strasbourg.
But with the Englishman’s future in west London now under question, fan and broadcaster Matisse Armani has claimed the Blues owners could turn to another familiar face as his replacement.
Discussing the likely candidate on the latest episode of talkSPORT’s Inside Chelsea, Armani admitted: “It would probably be Gary O’Neil at Strasbourg.”
Former Wolves and Bournemouth manager O’Neil was appointed as Rosenior’s successor at Strasbourg in early January.
After a year-long football sabbatical following his axe from Wolves in 2024, the Englishman has made a strong start to life in France.
He has won seven of his first 13 games in charge, losing just twice – one of which came at the hands of European champions PSG.
‘Manager is not my main focus’
Armani has strongly warned against O’Neil’s potential appointment at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues superfan gave the examples of Rosenior and his predecessor Maresca – who had previously managed Leicester in the Championship – as proof that Chelsea must prioritise top-level experience next time.
He said: “This is my thing, the manager is not my main focus – and I said that when Enzo Maresca was under fire and people were saying: ‘Should we get rid of him?’
“[I said]: ‘We’re not going to bring in a top manager. We’re not going to bring in a manager that’s going to take us to new heights and new levels’.
“Every manager that comes in and every manager on the shortlist is being fast-tracked from a level [below Chelsea].
“Chelsea are meant to be well above the Strasbourg level, well above the Leicester level, and [their appointments] they haven’t got the CV and they haven’t got the experience and the know-how to manage a club of this stature.”
Slamming the club’s recruitment across the board, Armani accused Chelsea of not backing their head coaches in the transfer market, insisting signing proven, world-class players should be a priority.
In the last summer transfer window, the Blues’ nine permanent arrivals were all aged 23 or under, with Joao Pedro the marquee signing having joined in a £60million deal.
On Chelsea’s recent head coaches, Armani said: “They’re certainly not getting the backing in the windows with the transfers to put this team on another level, in terms of elevating it to a world-class status.
“We’re not bringing in starters, we’re bringing in squad players, and we’ve done that for the last two summer windows.”
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Over to you, owners
Rounding off his rant, Armani insisted that Chelsea will not challenge at the top of football unless their owners rethink their strategy.
“The recruitment isn’t going to take us to the next level, as it stands from what we’re seeing, with the links and what we’re speculated to be interested in.” he ranted
“World-class managers want world-class players – let alone managers that are not world class, needing world-class players. [If Chelsea aren’t doing this] then the manager position is redundant.”
Placing the onus on co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, Armani urged them to consider those making major decisions at Stamford Bridge.
He finished: “It’s now on the owners and the directors, what path do they want to take this club in? Do they want to be successful at the top level or do they not?
“And if they want to be successful at the top level, then they need to start hiring people, and sacking people in top level positions that are not pulling their weight and performing at the level that this club [demands].”
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