Son of Former Sierra Leone Player Becomes Chelsea Coach

English Premier League side Chelsea Football Club has appointed Liam Rosenior, who is of Sierra Leonean descent, as its new head coach, making him the second Black manager in the club’s history.

He succeeded Italian football manager Enzo Maresca, who was abruptly sacked on New Year’s Day following a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.

Liam is the 12th black manager in Premier League history, and the fifth black British coach to manage a club in England’s top-flight football.

His appointment follows in the footsteps of Ruud Gullit, who served as Chelsea’s first Black manager from 1996 to 1998. 

Since Gullit’s departure in 1998, nearly three decades later, there hasn’t been another Black manager in charge of Chelsea’s senior men’s team, until the son of a former Sierra Leone national team player and of Sierra Leonean descent, Liam Rosenior, becomes one. 

Liam Rosenior’s Connection to Sierra Leone

Liam Rosenior’s family heritage is deeply rooted in Sierra Leone through his father, Leroy Rosenior, whose own father migrated from Sierra Leone to England in the 1950s, carrying with him dreams of a better life and a passion for football. 

Image: Leroy Rosenior

His grandfather, a football enthusiast, ensured his son Leroy became a professional player and later a coach. 

Leroy, although born in London and playing for England at Under-21, represented Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at international level, earning a cap in a 1994 African Nations Cup qualifier against Togo, and briefly took charge of Leone Stars as coach in 2007 for a friendly against Leyton Orient.

Speaking about his son’s historic rise, Leroy said in an emotional TV appearance: “He happens to be my oldest son… as a family we’ve been on a journey. My dad came over in the 50s from Sierra Leone, West Africa, with nothing but his bags… For a young Englishman to be linked with a job like this is absolutely amazing.” 

Chelsea Appointment

Liam Rosenior, 41, signed a 6-year contract with Chelsea that will take him through to 2032.

He arrives at Chelsea from French Ligue 1 side RC Strasbourg, where he led the French club to European qualification for the first time in 19 years in his first season, and seventh on the table in his second season.

Image: Chelsea announced Liam Rosenior

Liam had earlier coaching roles in England with Hull City and Derby County.

Upon his appointment, Rosenior expressed both pride and determination.

In his first official club statement, he said: “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club. This is a club with a unique spirit and a proud history of winning trophies.” 

“I want our fans to be proud of who we are and what we represent in every single game that we play. I will give everything, every single day, to help this team compete and win at the very highest level,” he added.