"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."
"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."
Liam Rosenior combined a playing career with regular Guardian columns that revealed his approach to leadership and football culture. He described witnessing Slaven Bilic receive public abuse yet behave with humility, waiting to congratulate Brighton players, and said that moment made him question his managerial ambition. He stated he understands the heightened pressure he will face at Chelsea and the need for a culture shift at clubs. He recounted hearing a manager say a gay player would not be selected, saying such remarks would wound players and make them doubt football's equality, calling that painful and shameful.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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