Whilst Leroy Rosenior's infamous ten minute spell as Torquay United in 2007 is well documented, his Liam's ten-match loan spell in 2003-04 has, until his recent appointment as the new Chelsea manager, been overlooked.
Rosenior junior had been drafted in on loan from Fulham by Leroy to bolster a squad that already contained the likes of Alex Russell, Jason Fowler, David Graham and Kevin Hill et al - all names that trip off the tongues of all Torquay United fans who witnessed them in action to this every day.
Unlike many players who are loaned from Premier League Under-23 squads to the lower leagues today, Liam arrived at Plainmoor with some pedigree in senior football, having scored for his former club Bristol City in the LDV Vans Trophy final against Carlisle United in 2003.
He was handed his debut by Leroy as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Cambridge United on March 20, 2004. However, Leroy was keen to keep him grounded.
In his 2017 autobiography, It's Only Banter, Leroy tells the story of how the two of them drove into training together, and once at training United's one-time England physio Norman Medhurst went up to Liam and said: "the boss wants to see you," He went to see Leroy, who then delivered the bombshell: "I'm dropping you."
Although Liam was disappointed to be left out, the move sent out the message that he didn't have any favourites. Nevertheless, Liam ended up having the last laugh when he was brought off the bench after 29 minutes along with Jo Kuffour, as they replaced Tony Bedeau and Kevin Hill respectively, as United drew 2-2 with Yeovil Town on April 3, 2004.
Liam then regained his spot in the side and featured in the Gulls' 2-1 win over Southend United, which secured Division Three's third automatic promotion spot at the expense of Huddersfield Town, who, of course, drew with Cheltenham Town.
In the following 2004-05 season, Liam made his debut for Fulham in the Premier League against Manchester United. He then went on to play for Reading, Hull City and Brighton and Hove Albion and also played for England at Under-21 level.
As a coach, he coached Brighton's Under-23's side before assisting Philip Cocu and Wayne Rooney at Derby County.
Spells managing Hull City in the Championship and Strasbourg in Ligue 1 before he was recently handed his big break at Stamford Bridge.
