An Emotional Occasion as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"He is a top manager who understands football inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"However, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this news does not affect me."

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

This week, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also controls Chelsea.

There have been only 12 black head coaches – not including those in interim positions – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four in the past.

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

"Whenever youngsters see someone like Liam in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for equality… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

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

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Exactly Does the Numbers Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager back in the nineties and became the top flight's inaugural black manager.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering English black manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

The lack of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by an absence of diversity in the boardroom.

According to the BFP 2023's study, 43% of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization found only 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At first-team coaching positions, based on figures from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea manager, and we hope to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability present within black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to continue to work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent British managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's remaining big five divisions regarding national managers.

16 of the 20 first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany and 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree are, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational to young English academy coaches to see someone get such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for his services to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill and said opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He also made a point he would repeat: how vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", but said he could relate to the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed coach utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea had the Premier League's pioneering black boss in Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

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