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Chelsea star's 'brutal nickname' for Liam Rosenior and cutting jibes from players
Apr 23 2026 10:10 · By Isaac Seelochan/Senior Sports Journalist · 20 Reads
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A Chelsea player reportedly referred to manager Liam Rosenior as “the supply teacher” before he was sacked on Wednesday . The former Strasbourg boss lost his job after Tuesday's abject 3-0 defeat away to Brighton .
It marked the Blues' fifth consecutive defeat in the Premier League without scoring and their worst run of top-flight form in 114 years. Rosenior was dismissed after senior players reacted furiously to his post-match criticism of them.
And the 41-year-old was not well respected by certain players in the Chelsea dressing room. BBC Sport claim there was footage of players appearing to snub Rosenior's inexperienced backroom staff on a near-weekly basis.
One such example included a recent video showing Wesley Fofana ignoring assistant James Walker after Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Manchester United . And one player is said to have even gave him the nickname "the supply teacher".
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It is claimed that Rosenior began to lose authority as he attempted to implement more of his own ideas. The former right-back initially leaned on the blueprint of former Blues boss Enzo Maresca during his first six weeks in charge, amid limited time on the training pitch.
Key tactical decisions were also reportedly scrutinised. One source close to Paris Saint-Germain told the BBC they felt Rosenior's approach over the two legs of the tie was too open, allowing the French champions to exploit Chelsea in an 8-2 aggregate win.
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However, Rosenior's standing at Stamford Bridge was reportedly not universally viewed as negative.
Most players were said to regard the ex-Derby County and Hull City head coach as a thoroughly decent person who was, according to one source, more popular with English members of the squad.
Calum McFarlane will take the reins at Chelsea until the end of the season while the club search for a new head coach.
It is understood that the west London side will take their time to name a replacement, with Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola among the favourites to succeed Rosenior.
Whoever takes over may be in charge of team with no European football next season. The Blues currently sit eighth in the Premier League table and may need to win this season's FA Cup to qualify for Europe.