A Moving Event when Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents an excellent coach that understands football intimately, and that's what matters most.

"However, as the Blues' pioneering African heritage player, it would be dishonest if I said this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, the man who earned his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club hired Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also controls Chelsea.

Statistics show only twelve black head coaches – not including individuals in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids see someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a household that champions what's right… it is powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, it is a huge step for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Do the Data Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's first African heritage head coach.

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

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

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

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, 43% of top-flight footballers come from black heritage.

Yet, research by the equality organization revealed just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse communities.

At senior coaching positions, according to figures provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is two percent.

For all coaching roles – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is five percent.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent that exists within black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. We need to persist in work hard to break those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown managers.

16 of the 20 top-flight managers in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual land such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a brief spell at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He started writing articles for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: that significant lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings of players with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" upon hearing a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged 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 in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's pioneering African heritage manager in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|