A Moving Moment as Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is a quality tactician that knows football back to front, which is the crucial factor.

"But, as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this news doesn't move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, as their next head coach after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including those in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a family that champions what's right… that's profound demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a massive step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

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

What Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current top flight boss of colour.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023's report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

However, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams across most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching level, according to figures provided by 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of ability present within black and underrepresented communities... they want a chance to show their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become the fourth permanent British managers presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's remaining big five leagues in terms of national managers.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 are German and 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see an individual land such a role with that profile and we hope he does really well."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services in combating discrimination within the sport and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill and said roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the Premier League's pioneering black boss in Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|