Former Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has rejected the opportunity to become Nice’s next manager, choosing instead to take a break from football following his turbulent spell at Stamford Bridge.

According to reports in France, the English coach was approached by the Ligue 1 club as they searched for a new head coach ahead of the 2026-27 season.

However, Rosenior has decided not to return to management immediately and is understood to be prioritizing time away from the game after a demanding period in his career.

Rosenior steps away after Chelsea departure

The decision comes only a few months after Chelsea dismissed the 42-year-old in April.

Rosenior’s time in West London lasted just over three months, bringing an abrupt end to what had initially appeared to be a promising appointment.

He was promoted internally by BlueCo, Chelsea’s ownership group, after establishing a strong reputation during an impressive 18-month spell at Strasbourg, the French club also owned by the consortium.

Promising start at Stamford Bridge

Rosenior arrived at Chelsea in January 2026 and enjoyed an encouraging start, winning five of his first six matches in charge.

Among the highlights was a memorable 3-2 Champions League victory away to Napoli, a result that appeared to strengthen his position at the club.

However, fortunes changed dramatically as Chelsea’s season unravelled.

A disastrous run of five consecutive Premier League defeats, during which the team failed to score a single goal, ultimately convinced the club’s hierarchy to make a change.

Chelsea’s spell ended with mixed results

By the time of his dismissal, Rosenior had overseen 23 matches in all competitions, recording 11 victories, two draws and 10 defeats.

Chelsea scored 43 goals and conceded 34 during his brief tenure, averaging 1.52 points per game.

Strasbourg’s success remains a highlight

While his spell at Stamford Bridge ended in disappointment, Rosenior’s reputation remains strong thanks to the work he carried out at Strasbourg.

During his 18 months in charge of the French side, he managed 63 matches, winning 32, drawing 14 and losing 17.

His team scored 105 goals and conceded 78 while averaging 1.75 points per match.

One of the standout achievements of his Strasbourg tenure came during the 2024-25 campaign, when he guided the club to a seventh-place finish in Ligue 1 and secured qualification for the UEFA Conference League.

He also led the side to the last 16 of the Coupe de France.

Nice continue search for new manager

With Rosenior now out of the running, Nice have accelerated their search for an alternative candidate.

Sébastien Pocognoli remains under consideration by the club’s hierarchy, but reports suggest Olivier Pantaloni has emerged as the leading contender for the role.

The experienced French coach is highly regarded after guiding Lorient to a respectable 10th-place finish in Ligue 1 last season.