An Emotional Occasion as Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents an excellent manager who understands the game intimately, and that's what matters most.

"However, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, I would be lying if I said this news does not affect me."

These were the words of Paul Canoville, who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, as their new manager following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

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

There have been just 12 black head coaches – not including those holding interim positions – in England's top flight since it began 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he grew up and played locally, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that fights for equality… it is impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

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

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Statistics Reveal?

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

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English manager in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present top flight boss of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across the English game is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom.

According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, 43% of top-flight players are from black backgrounds.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization revealed only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At first-team coaching positions, based on data provided by eleven clubs, the percentage is 2%.

For all coaching roles – including head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

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

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of talent that exists within ethnic minority groups... they want the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become the fourth full-time British managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all young English managers from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational to young English academy coaches to see an individual get that job with his background and we hope he does really well."

It is vital to remember – he's there due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services in combating inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that roles should be given on merit.

He also made a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's first black boss with Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple senior positions, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|