A Emotional Occasion as Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is a quality tactician who understands football back to front, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering black footballer, I would be lying if I said this appointment does not affect me."

Those are the words expressed by Paul Canoville, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea named Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a multi-club BlueCo which also controls the London club.

There have been a mere 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including those in interim positions – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four years ago.

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

"When kids see someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that fights for equality… that's profound demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a huge moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

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

What Do the Numbers Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of managers of colour across English football corresponds with a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, 43% of top-flight players are from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, analysis from Kick It Out revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding first-team coaching level, according to figures provided by eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

For all coaching positions – including senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of talent present in the ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. We need to continue to striving to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's other major leagues regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English coaches from an academy background will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

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

It is vital to remember – he's there due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed 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 ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: that vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" to hear a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

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

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