A Moving Occasion as Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

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

"But, as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, I would be lying to claim this appointment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, who earned his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also controls the London club.

There have been just 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those in interim positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he was raised and played locally, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"When kids see a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for equality… that's profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a massive moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Numbers Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager 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 boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

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

As per a BFP 2023 study, 43% of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of talent present within ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other big five leagues regarding national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's truly inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see someone get that job with that profile and we hope he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint at the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made a point he has often stated: that significant lack of diversity results in a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea.

The Blues boasted the Premier League's pioneering African heritage boss with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

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