Alan Shearer has issued a cautionary message to Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s leading managerial candidate, emphasizing the high expectations he must meet to thrive at what he describes as a ‘bonkers’ club.

Rosenior has emerged as the top choice to replace Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge after the Italian’s unexpected departure on New Year’s Day.

At present, the 41-year-old is at the helm of Strasbourg, a Ligue 1 team also under the management of Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo.

Shearer highlighted that potential managers should be mindful of the unique challenges at Chelsea, attributing it to the club’s distinctive operational style. He implied that Maresca’s successor must exceed the accomplishments of his predecessor.

During his tenure, Maresca secured the FIFA Club World Cup and the Conference League title and successfully guided the Blues back into the Champions League.

Alan Shearer has warned Chelsea frontrunner Liam Rosenior over his possible task at the club

Rosenior has emerged as favourite for the Chelsea job following Enzo Maresca’s departure

‘You know when you go into that job what you’re doing, it’s a very different football club to others in terms of how it’s managed,’ Shearer said via Betfair. 

‘That’s not Maresca, that’s the people above him. Their model is obviously to buy young, develop them, and give them crazy long contracts with the potential to sell.

‘I don’t think you’re going to win the league like that. You might get into the top four because you can spend, but in the main, the guy coming in has to do better than the guy that’s just left.

‘The guy that left won two trophies last year. They were sitting in fifth, one win off the top four, so, I think he did a really good job. I’m not sure he could have done any better. His stock is high. Am I surprised? Not really.

‘I think Chelsea is a bonkers football club at times. That’s the owners, that’s how they want to run their club. It’s very different, and that’s what Maresca was trying to tell us with that little rant three weeks ago.

‘He was manager of the month in November. I know they’ve only won one in seven, and at a top club that is hard to watch, but nothing surprises me in football, let alone at that club.’

Former Hull City manager Rosenior is viewed as the likely candidate to succeed Maresca.

BlueCo are admirers of Rosenior due to his work with the Ligue 1 sister club. However, bringing him to Stamford Bridge would leave them needing to make another managerial appointment.

Shearer suggested Rosenior will have to surpass Maresca’s achivements to survive in the role

He warned that Rosenior would have to cope with the step up to Chelsea and suggested the ownership make ‘bonkers’ decisions with how they run the football club

His Strasbourg side are currently seventh in the league – and impressively beat Crystal Palace in the Conference League in November – but domestic results tailed off in December.

Rosenior was pressed on his future at a press conference on Friday and admitted he could not offer guarntees that he would continue at Strasbourg.

‘In life, there are zero guarantees,’ Rosenior said. ‘You never know what tomorrow will bring. I’m just doing my job. There’s already been speculation. I don’t want to guarantee how long I’ll be here, but I enjoy myself here every day.

‘I intend to continue doing so as long as I’m here. I love this club, but I can’t guarantee anything. Nobody can.’

Shearer acknowledged that Rosenior is ‘highly thought of’ after his spells at Strasbourg and Hull, but questioned whether he would be able to handle the size of the Chelsea job.

‘The big question will be: is he ready for a job the size of Chelsea? Does he know exactly what he’s taking on? 

‘We’ve seen a guy go there recently with potential in Graham Potter, and we know what happened to him.

‘I can understand the need for a young, up-and-coming coach. I don’t think Chelsea will get one of the “huge” managers because of the way they want to run the club. So, I guess that’s why they’ll go down the potential route rather than a big name manager.

‘It would be great for a young English manager to get the job. He chose to go abroad and learn something different, which shows hunger. I know his time at Hull ended strangely, but to go abroad and learn a different lifestyle is impressive.

‘He’ll have to think long and hard about whether it’s the right thing for his career, but Chelsea is a huge club in the mix for trophies. It’ll be very difficult to turn down.

‘Whoever comes in, top four is the target for Chelsea. They’re not going to win the league; I think it’s clear the top two will be City and Arsenal. They have to qualify for the Champions League.’