Coaching may be Liam Rosenior’s forte but, during his days as a Brighton defender, the man widely expected to be Chelsea’s new manager was also a pretty useful Guardian columnist. His eagerly awaited dispatches were invariably packed with thought-provoking opinions on an assortment of topics, ranging from dead balls to Donald Trump. Below are excerpts from a cross-section of Rosenior’s thoughts during his three years with us, alongside a sense of what they tell us about the 41-year-old and how he could carry out his duties at Stamford Bridge. It is important to remember, of course, that Rosenior’s views may have changed in the intervening period.
“Everyone at the London Stadium as well as millions around the world saw the criticism, abuse and ridicule Slaven Bilic was subjected to last Friday night as we recorded a superb win over West Ham [then managed by Bilic]. What they didn’t witness was that same man standing outside the Brighton dressing room afterwards, waiting for each and every one of our players and coaches to offer congratulations and a warm handshake. A few minutes before I was sat behind the technical area while chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ and ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ crashed down on Bilic from the stands and yet here he was in the quiet of the tunnel displaying a humility and courtesy which very few people could find in those circumstances and, for the first time in my life, I questioned my own ambition to be a manager.”
Rest assured, Rosenior knows precisely what he is getting into at Stamford Bridge.
“I had an experience some years ago where I heard a manager say: ‘If I found out one of my players is gay, they wouldn’t be playing in my team’ … If I was gay and in earshot of that remark from somebody in a position of power it would not only hurt me to the core but make me question whether football is ready to consider me an equal. I feel ashamed that our men’s game, followed and revered by millions of people, does not at the moment have a role model who feels comfortable enough to be openly gay and play a sport we all love.”
Chelsea’s players can expect Enzo Maresca’s likely successor to take a dim view of dated macho dressing-room banter.
“I strongly believe the ethnic background of a coach doesn’t make a difference in their competence to do the job and nor does it influence their ability, so opportunities should be based solely on merit. However it is undeniable that players from ethnic backgrounds are vastly under-represented in high-level coaching positions. Coaching is more than just ‘knowing football’ – it is about having empathy and engagement with players while being able to relate them to them on a football, social and psychological level. In my career I’ve seen so many misunderstood young talents from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds struggle in our football culture and fall out of the game completely, where maybe a coach from a similar background could engage, empathise and motivate them to maximise their potential.”
Do not be surprised to see Rosenior using his position to highlight the glaring under-representation of black managers and coaches in English football.
“When we show the next generation of young midfield players the art of receiving possession on the half turn, enabling your line of sight to open up the pitch so you know your next pass before you even receive the ball, there is no English player who has been as consistently good at this as Carrick. Nor one who has been able to play the ball quickly, with both feet, between the lines to attacking players with short incisive passes.”
Michael Carrick’s status as a Rosenior hero highlights his penchant for midfielders who know how to take care of the ball.
“These trips can be crucial in terms of the rejuvenation of the physical capabilities of players – helping them to train and afterwards recover with the health benefits of Vitamin D from the sun. And perhaps more important is the opportunity for players to sit together, to have meals in a completely different environment and to have shared experiences as a group – something that, if done sensibly and within the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, can have remarkably positive results in the improvement of that vital, if intangible component, team spirit. I have been on mid-season breaks and sensed a complete change in the standard of performance both in training and matches.”
Memo to Chelsea’s travel department: get a mid-season squad break in the sun sorted sharpish.
“The fact VAR has been incorporated for the first time has completely affected the way teams are defending corners and wide free-kicks, as is the fact more penalties are being awarded for shirt pulling and overly aggressive defending,. Psychologically you can see that defenders are more aware of this and I see this is leading to more and more chances coming from set plays, making the importance of organisation in these areas more crucial than ever.”
These reflections made during the 2018 World Cup in Russia indicate quite clearly that Rosenior is a forward thinker, way ahead of the tactical curve and someone who will not underestimate the importance of free-kicks, corners and throw-ins during his time in west London.
“You are the reason why my daughters – who are US citizens – ask me: ‘Why does the President hate black people? You are the catalyst for our future generations to impact lasting change, not only to your corroding country but countries all over the world, including here in the UK. You truly mirror the views and ideology of a group of people we must and will overcome.”
Written against the backdrop of the US president’s attempts to crush protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, Rosenior’s hope that Donald Trump might be an unwitting catalyst for overdue cultural global change was possibly a tad optimistic. Even so, he is clearly not the sort of manager who believes football and politics belong in separately-sealed boxes.
