Liam Rosenior, a former defender for Brighton and Fulham, may only be in the early stages of his coaching career, yet his inaugural season at Ligue 1 club Strasbourg has been nothing short of remarkable. The 40-year-old has his eyes firmly set on European football.
In an interview with AFP Sport, Rosenior shared his aspirations and the hurdles he faces while managing the youngest team in the French league.
“My goal is to secure a spot for us in Europe,” stated the ex-England under-21 player.
With just eight matches remaining in Ligue 1, Strasbourg has already accumulated more points than they did in the entirety of the previous season and currently sits in seventh place, only four points shy of a Champions League position.
Upon taking the helm at Strasbourg last July, even the most diehard fans might have found it hard to envision that, a mere eight months later, the club would be vying for European contention against powerhouse Lyon, who have claimed the French title seven times.
“This is football; you have to dream. I never want to restrict my players’ aspirations. I’m not being presumptuous, but… with eight games left? It’s absolutely within reach,” remarked Rosenior.
“I encourage my players to dream. I want them to believe they can triumph in every match they play.”
The young squad faces a challenging finish to the season, with fixtures against heavyweights like Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco on the horizon.
A win against fifth-placed Lyon on Friday would significantly bolster their chances of European competition next season, potentially marking the club’s first venture into the continent’s elite competition since 1980.
“To reach the Champions League or the Europa League, you must outplay the top teams,” Rosenior stated.
“This is part of the journey. It’s a natural progression… The focus has to be on the next match and giving it your all.”
Rosenior recognises that he has already accomplished a great deal this season.
“We’re in a situation that I doubt many would have thought possible at this point. So, we must appreciate what we have right now. There’s no pressure on us,” he commented.
“We just need to continue playing as we have been, striving to win every match. If we can maintain the level I expect from the team, we should have an extremely thrilling conclusion to the season.”
“We may ultimately fall short. However, in terms of establishing the club’s long-term identity, this has been a very successful season.”
‘What brings me joy’
Rosenior’s father, Leroy, had a career with West Ham and Fulham before moving into coaching.
“Even before my playing days, I aspired to be a manager,” Liam recalled. “I was coaching the school team when I was 11; those kids are still my closest friends today. I would organise training sessions and team selections, and my teachers were very supportive.”
Arriving at Stade de la Meinau after his dismissal from Hull City, where he was unable to last two years in the Championship, he inherited a youthful squad that had finished 13th last season under Patrick Vieira. This year, the average age of the team he fielded was just 21 years and 185 days, marking it the youngest in Ligue 1 for the past 75 years.
“I had only a two-week pre-season with the squad… I had to introduce a completely new playing style and philosophy,” Rosenior explained.
“There were many trials and errors during the first half of the season. I didn’t expect us to win every single match, but I always had a vision of where I wanted us to end up as a team.”
“Working with young players is like starting with a blank canvas… I’ve found they adapt more quickly.”
“I thoroughly enjoy working with this group; they are so expressive and genuine. They genuinely care for each other and possess an enthusiasm that I find contagious,” he added.
“They play with joy, and that is what truly makes me happy.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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