Southampton Eye Rosenior as Strasbourg Continue to Impress
Southampton are reportedly interested in appointing Liam Rosenior, currently the head coach at Strasbourg, as they look ahead to the 2025/26 Championship season. However, Strasbourg's majority owners, BlueCo, are keen to retain his services, according to football.london sources.
Strasbourg, who are affiliated with Chelsea through shared ownership, have been on a remarkable run in Ligue 1. Their recent victory over Reims marked a fifth straight win, and they've suffered just one league defeat since November, climbing to an impressive fourth place in the table.
Chelsea loanees Djordje Petrovic and Andrey Santos have been pivotal in this success—Santos has now scored ten goals this season, while Petrovic has kept six clean sheets in his last eight matches. Former Chelsea player Diego Moreira also made an impact before receiving a red card that will sideline him for upcoming games.
Rosenior’s rising profile has made him a serious contender for the Southampton job. Should he be open to a return to England, it's possible he could finish the season with Strasbourg, potentially guiding them to a Champions League berth.
However, this raises a potential complication for BlueCo and UEFA. Current regulations prohibit clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same European tournament. While exceptions have occurred—such as Manchester City and Girona both featuring in this year’s Champions League—UEFA assesses each case individually. With Chelsea also sitting fourth in the Premier League, both clubs may qualify, setting the stage for a regulatory dilemma.