An Emotional Occasion as Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is a top tactician that knows the game inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"But, as the Blues' pioneering black footballer, I would be lying if I said this news does not affect me."

These were the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench back in April 1982.

This week, the club named RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next head coach following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also controls the London club.

There have been a mere 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including those in temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and played locally, he knows this community," continued Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters see a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… that's profound and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, it is a massive step for Chelsea, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League gaffer of colour.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers throughout English football corresponds with an absence of diversity at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023 report, 43% of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization revealed only 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At senior coaching level, based on data from eleven clubs, the percentage is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He's certainly made history in terms of his appointment as a the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability present in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. We need to continue to work hard to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become the fourth permanent English head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's remaining big five divisions in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight coaches in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly inspirational to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness someone get that job with his background and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability arguing that opportunities should be given on merit.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings of players with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" upon hearing a coach utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

Chelsea had the top flight's first African heritage boss in Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|