Wayne Rooney has expressed his full support for Liam Rosenior, saying the English coach has earned the chance to manage Chelsea after proving himself in his managerial career.

Rosenior, who was Rooney’s assistant at Derby County and is currently in charge of Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, is the frontrunner to replace Enzo Maresca following the Italian’s departure from Stamford Bridge last week.

“Liam was so important for me,” the former Manchester United striker said on the BBC’s The Wayne Rooney Show. “He was incredible in his coaching ability. I was more of the manager dealing with players and everything, but I learned a lot from him from that point of view. He’s done a great job as a whole.”

Rosenior, 41, previously managed Hull City before taking over at Strasbourg in July 2024, guiding the French club to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1.

“If he goes in there [to Chelsea], he won’t disappoint,” Rooney added. “He’s been waiting for an opportunity like this. If you don’t take it now, then you’re never going to take it. He’s done his apprenticeship; he’s done the work to get to that job.”

Chelsea, currently fifth in the Premier League, are set to face Fulham on Wednesday.

-Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters