A Emotional Moment as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a top manager who knows the game back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"But, as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this moment fails to move me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea named Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a multi-club BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding individuals holding interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he understands this community," continued Canoville.

"When children see someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… that's impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, it is a massive step for the club, for the capital, for all young person with big dreams.

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

What Does the Data Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black manager.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, 43% of Premier League footballers come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, analysis by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, according to data from eleven clubs, the figure stands at 2%.

For all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as a Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show what they can do. It is imperative to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other major divisions regarding homegrown representation.

16 of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany and Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches from an academy background will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness an individual land 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, and his managerial career peaked with a brief stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how vast under-representation leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "emotional", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" to hear a coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues boasted the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several senior positions, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|