Chelsea’s decision to appoint Liam Rosenior as head coach will serve as an inspiration to aspiring English managers, according to interim boss Calum McFarlane, who will hand over responsibility after Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Fulham.

McFarlane, Chelsea’s Under-21 coach, stepped into the role following Enzo Maresca’s departure on New Year’s Day and oversaw an impressive 1-1 draw away at Manchester City on Sunday.

He will remain in charge for the league fixture at Fulham, with Rosenior watching from the stands before officially taking over on Thursday.

At 41, Rosenior arrives at Stamford Bridge without top-flight managerial experience in England, having previously served as interim manager at Derby County and later as head coach of Hull City in the Championship, before moving to Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg.

A seventh-place finish in France last season boosted his reputation, and McFarlane believes Rosenior is well placed to make his mark on Chelsea’s expensively assembled squad while representing a new generation of home-grown coaches.

“I really enjoy watching his teams,” McFarlane told reporters. “They play aggressive, front-foot football and I’m really excited about the work he’s going to do at this club.

“I’m sure young English coaches coming through academy systems will be rooting for Liam. It’s genuinely inspirational to see that pathway, and we all hope he does really well.”

Rosenior followed a similar coaching route to McFarlane after retiring as a player at the age of 34, beginning his coaching career at Brighton & Hove Albion.

At Strasbourg, Rosenior placed strong trust in youth, fielding one of the youngest starting line-ups in Europe. That approach aligns closely with Chelsea’s philosophy, with Enzo Maresca’s average starting XI age this season standing at just 23.

McFarlane, who will return to his role at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground after the Fulham match, expects a close working relationship with the new head coach.

“I’m sure it will be a really strong connection,” he said. “Cobham is a huge part of this club’s identity and history — it’s in the DNA.

“It’s something the sporting directors are proud of, and it’s our job to make Liam’s job difficult by pushing more players into the first team.”

Asked whether he had offered any advice to Rosenior, McFarlane played it down.

“I spoke to Liam briefly last night and he’s excited about the role,” he said. “But I won’t be offering advice — he’s a very accomplished coach. I’m here to support him.”

Rosenior will become the Premier League’s second-youngest head coach, behind Brighton & Hove Albion’s 32-year-old Fabian Hürzeler.