A Emotional Event as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is a quality manager that understands the game back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"However, as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this news fails to move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club named Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show just 12 black managers – excluding those holding interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and played locally, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe someone like Liam managing their club, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that fights for equality… that's powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Exactly Do the Statistics Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural African heritage manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

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

The lack of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by an absence of diversity at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research by the equality organization revealed just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding senior coaching level, based on data from 11 clubs, the percentage is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just 5%.

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

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of talent present within black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches want a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent English managers presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other major leagues regarding homegrown managers.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 are German while Ten of the 18 are French.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English academy coaches to see an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation results in a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he 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 deal with the Blues.

The Blues boasted the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|