Liam Rosenior's appointment as Chelsea manager marks a significant milestone in English football, with the 44-year-old becoming the first permanent black English manager at a top-six club. The decision to appoint Rosenior, who has previously managed Strasbourg and Hull City, has been met with widespread acclaim, with many hailing it as a landmark moment for diversity and inclusion.
However, despite this positive development, there are concerns that the lack of diversity in football's leadership is still a major issue. Research has shown that only 3.2% of Premier League clubs' board members are ethnically diverse, while the percentage of ethnically diverse people among permanent employees is a mere 12%. This disparity raises questions about implicit bias and the importance of diversity in decision-making.
Rosenior himself has spoken about the benefits of having a diverse background, citing his experiences managing multicultural teams. However, it remains to be seen whether other clubs will follow Chelsea's lead and appoint their own black managers. The lack of transparency and accountability in football's governance structure is a major obstacle to progress, with many clubs lacking clear policies on diversity and inclusion.
The introduction of the Independent Football Regulator, which will require clubs to publish workforce diversity data, marks an important step forward. However, it is essential that this data is published regularly, rather than only every two years, in order to track progress and measure the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at increasing diversity.
Furthermore, clubs must set targets for improving their workforce diversity, demonstrating a commitment to reflecting their communities. The time for discussion and debate is over; it is now imperative that action is taken to address these disparities and create a more inclusive football industry.
Rosenior's appointment has the potential to inspire other clubs to follow Chelsea's lead, but only if they are given the support and resources needed to do so. With the Independent Football Regulator's guidance and the encouragement of organizations like Kick It Out, there is no reason why this can't happen. The future of football depends on it.
However, despite this positive development, there are concerns that the lack of diversity in football's leadership is still a major issue. Research has shown that only 3.2% of Premier League clubs' board members are ethnically diverse, while the percentage of ethnically diverse people among permanent employees is a mere 12%. This disparity raises questions about implicit bias and the importance of diversity in decision-making.
Rosenior himself has spoken about the benefits of having a diverse background, citing his experiences managing multicultural teams. However, it remains to be seen whether other clubs will follow Chelsea's lead and appoint their own black managers. The lack of transparency and accountability in football's governance structure is a major obstacle to progress, with many clubs lacking clear policies on diversity and inclusion.
The introduction of the Independent Football Regulator, which will require clubs to publish workforce diversity data, marks an important step forward. However, it is essential that this data is published regularly, rather than only every two years, in order to track progress and measure the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at increasing diversity.
Furthermore, clubs must set targets for improving their workforce diversity, demonstrating a commitment to reflecting their communities. The time for discussion and debate is over; it is now imperative that action is taken to address these disparities and create a more inclusive football industry.
Rosenior's appointment has the potential to inspire other clubs to follow Chelsea's lead, but only if they are given the support and resources needed to do so. With the Independent Football Regulator's guidance and the encouragement of organizations like Kick It Out, there is no reason why this can't happen. The future of football depends on it.
This appointment is massive! I'm literally jumping for joy 
! We've gotta celebrate this milestone because it shows that diversity & inclusion are being taken seriously in the beautiful game 
. Now, let's hope other clubs follow Chelsea's lead and give opportunities to underrepresented groups 
. We need more managers like Liam who can bring a different perspective to the table 
. The fact that we still have work to do is true 
, but I'm so hyped about the progress we're making!
This appointment is a huge step forward, but we need to be realistic about what's really going on here. I mean, just having one black manager at Chelsea doesn't automatically solve the problem of lack of diversity in the sport. We're still talking about 95% white clubs and boards - that's not progress, that's just a drop in the ocean 
.
.
.
it's also worrying that there's still so little transparency and accountability in football governance 
if we wanna track progress and measure success, we need to see regular reporting and targets for improvement 
. The time for talk is over; it's time for action 
.
but at the same time i'm all worried about the fact that there's still so much work to be done 
lets keep pushing for change and create a more inclusive football industry 
I'm low-key super hyped about Liam Rosenior becoming Chelsea's new manager!!! 
️. Clubs gotta step up their game & set targets to improve their diversity, no excuses! 
It's time for action, not just talk... let's get this inclusivity train rolling! 
, but let's be real, 44 is a bit old to be starting from scratch in this role. What if other clubs just follow suit because they feel pressured by the media and not because they genuinely believe it's the right thing to do? And what about all the other talented black managers out there who aren't getting the chance to break through? It's like, let's celebrate Rosenior for his achievements, but also acknowledge that this is a drop in the ocean compared to how much work still needs to be done 
. And yeah, it's cool that Rosenior is all about multicultural teams and stuff, but how many other clubs are gonna follow Chelsea's lead? I hope they do, cuz we need more diversity in football 
- I mean, it's about time we see more diversity in top-six clubs. Interesting 
how only 3.2% of Premier League board members are ethnically diverse... that's crazy 
! But for real, Rosenior's appointment is a step in the right direction 
. Can't wait to see if other clubs follow Chelsea's lead 
!
! As someone who's been following the game for years, I have to admit that it's about time we saw more diversity in top-six clubs. The stats on workforce diversity are worrying though - 12% is just not enough 
. I'm glad they're introducing the Independent Football Regulator and setting targets for improvement, but let's be real, it's going to take a lot more than that to make a real impact 
.
. Clubs need to stop making excuses and start taking action - no more justifying their lack of diversity with "we're trying" 
. We need to see concrete targets, transparency, and accountability 
. I mean, we need more black managers in top-six clubs, but what if it's just a token gesture? 
️. But hey, at least Chelsea is leading the way and thats somethin to be proud of 
. And, honestly, I think Rosenior's experience will be a game-changer for other clubs lookin' to follow suit 
. We need more transparency and accountability in the governance structure, and regular reporting on workforce diversity 
. The future of football depends on it! 
.
, but we need more than just one club taking a step forward 
. The regulator is a good start 
. im thinking about how its not just about hiring more ppl of color, its about creating an actual culture of inclusivity within these clubs