McFarlane promoted as Rosenior confirms Chelsea backroom staff

Following McFarlane’s promotion, Harry Hudson – who joined Chelsea from Wycombe in the summer of 2025 as U18s Assistant – steps up to become U21s Lead.

Rosenior, 41, was confirmed as Chelsea’s new Head Coach on a five-and-a-half-year deal with the option of a further season on Tuesday.

Having taken a watching brief for the clash against Fulham, he will be in the dugout for the first time against Charlton in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Rosenior has brought a trio of staff with him to Chelsea from Strasbourg:

• Justin Walker (Assistant, pictured): Made more than 300 Football League appearances as a player and moved into coaching with Derby County’s Academy in 2009. Promoted to first-team set-up under Phillip Cocu as Development Coach and then part of a caretaker management team along with Rosenior. Moved with Rosenior to Hull City in November 2022 and then to Strasbourg in July 2024. A Pro Licence coach. 
• Kalifa Cisse (First Team Coach): Former pro footballer who played alongside Rosenior at Reading from 2007 to 2010. Praised the Englishman for helping him adapt to England. Moved into coaching with Bristol City in 2019 before rejoining Rosenior at Strasbourg in July 2024.
• Ben Warner (Analyst): After a two-year spell with Nottingham Forest, Warner worked at Derby County, rising through the ranks to become Head of Analysis. This is where he got to know Rosenior and went with him to Hull City and then Strasbourg.

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo’s multi-club ownership group. The French side are currently seventh in Ligue 1 and top of the Conference League. 

The other members of Rosenior’s team will be Goalkeeper Coach Ben Roberts and Set Piece Coach Bernardo Cueva, who remain on the staff. 

Roberts moved to Chelsea with former boss Graham Potter in September 2022 and remained under Frank Lampard, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca (when he took on the new title of Head of Global Goalkeeping) and now Rosenior.

Cueva joined from Brentford, who have long been renowned for their set pieces, in June 2024. The Mexican had the title of Strategic Analysis Manager with the Bees, although analysing and coaching set pieces represented a significant part of his work.

Meanwhile, six staff have left Chelsea following the departure of Enzo Maresca as Head Coach on New Year’s Day. They are:

• Willy Caballero (Assistant)
• Roberto Vitiello (Assistant)
• Danny Walker (First Team Coach)
• Michele De Bernardin (Goalkeeper Coach)
• Marcos Alvarez (Fitness Coach)
• Javier Molina Caballero (Analyst)

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez personally thanked Maresca and his assistants on Instagram. 

“Thank you for everything Enzo, Mickey, Willy, Dani, Marcos and Robi. Very grateful for the trust and the memories we shared, those will live with me forever. Wishing you all the best for the future , will miss you all.”