A Emotional Occasion as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a quality coach who understands the game intimately, and that's what matters most.

"However, in my role as the Blues' first black footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this moment doesn't move me."

These were the words of Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show a mere twelve black managers – not including those holding interim roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he was raised and played not far from here, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam managing their club, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, from a household that champions what's right… that's powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for Chelsea, for London, for all 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 Does the Statistics Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black head coach.

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

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present top flight gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game is matched by an absence of diversity in the boardroom.

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

Yet, analysis by Kick It Out found just 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At senior coaching positions, based on data from 11 clubs, the figure stands at 2%.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as Chelsea head coach, and we want to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent present in the black and underrepresented groups... they want a chance to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to dismantle those barriers down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time British head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other big five leagues in terms of homegrown representation.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are Italian, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English coaches with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness someone get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine ability arguing that roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made the view he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings of players with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "passionate", noting that he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In further newspaper articles, he also confessed he was "ashamed" upon hearing a coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and authored a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye 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 first African heritage manager in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in multiple senior positions, among them the FA's equality board|