An Moving Event as Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"He is an excellent manager who knows the game back to front, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering black player, it would be dishonest to claim this news doesn't move me."

Those are the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

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

The French club is within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show only 12 black managers – excluding individuals in temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a household that champions what's right… it is impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for the club, for London, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

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

What Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's first African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game corresponds with an absence of diversity at executive level.

According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, analysis by Kick It Out found just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, based on data from eleven clubs, the figure stands at 2%.

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

"He's certainly made history in terms of him being announced as a Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of talent that exists within black and underrepresented groups... they desire a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior will become the fourth full-time British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other big five divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

16 out of twenty top-flight coaches in Italy are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all young English managers from an academy background are, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really motivating to young English coaches in the system to witness someone land such a role with his background and we hope he does really well."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "emotional", but said he could relate to the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to West London in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear a coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the inclusion campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

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 time together with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

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

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, including the Football Association's equality board|