Liam Rosenior joins Michael Carrick as only English managers to win first two UCL matches

English football has produced some of the sport’s most iconic players. English managers winning Champions League matches right out of the gate? That’s been a considerably shorter list. Liam Rosenior became just the second English manager in history to win his first two UEFA Champions League matches, joining Michael Carrick in a club so exclusive it makes Champions League qualification itself look common by comparison. How Rosenior got here Rosenior was appointed Chelsea head coach on January 6, 2026, stepping into what is arguably the most volatile managerial seat in world football. His first Champions League test came against Pafos FC, a match Chelsea won 1-0 thanks to a decisive strike from Moisés Caicedo. Before Rosenior took charge, both Graham Potter and Frank Lampard failed to win their Champions League debuts at Chelsea. Rosenior’s tenure at Chelsea ultimately proved brief. He was dismissed on April 22, 2026, lasting just over three months in the role. By July 2026, he had moved on to Paris FC, taking his talents across the Channel. Carrick’s precedent The only other English manager to pull off this feat did so under similarly unusual circumstances. Michael Carrick stepped i...