An Emotional Moment when Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is a quality coach who understands football intimately, which is the most important thing.

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

These were the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also controls the London club.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding those holding temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played not far from here, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"Whenever children see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that fights for equality… that's powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for the club, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and allow him to do his work."

What Do the Numbers Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's inaugural black head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current Premier League gaffer 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 report, 43% of Premier League players come from black heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At senior coaching positions, according to figures provided by eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of ability present in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire a chance to show their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent British managers presently in the Premier League – joining 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 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany and 10 of the 18 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is really inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see someone land such a role with his background and we hope he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence ability and said roles 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 with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", but said he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to West London in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" upon hearing a coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

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" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first black manager with Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

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