A Emotional Occasion when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents an excellent tactician who understands the game inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' pioneering black player, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment fails to move me."

These were the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench back in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their next head coach following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the multi-club ownership group which also owns the London club.

There have been only twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those in temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever children observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for equality… it is impactful and shows them the path is there.

"Indeed, this represents a massive step for the club, for London, for all young person dreaming big.

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

What Exactly Do the Data Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's inaugural black manager.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current Premier League boss of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across the English game is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, 43% of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams across most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At senior coaching level, based on data provided by eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and we want to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent present in the black and underrepresented communities... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other big five divisions in terms of homegrown representation.

16 of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is really motivating for young English academy coaches to see someone get such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career culminating in a brief stint at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He began penning a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed 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" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's first black boss in Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several senior positions, among them the FA's equality board|