A Moving Occasion as Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent manager that understands the game intimately, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, as the Blues' first black player, it would be dishonest if I said this news does not affect me."

These were the words expressed by Paul Canoville, who earned his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their new head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club BlueCo which also owns the London club.

Statistics show a mere twelve black head coaches – not including those holding interim roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played not far from here, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that fights for what's right… it is profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is a massive moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for all young person dreaming big.

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

What Do the Data Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties and became the top flight's inaugural African heritage manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present Premier League boss of colour.

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

As per a BFP 2023's report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

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

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to figures from eleven clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching positions – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent present in the black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches want a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to striving to break those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become the fourth permanent English managers presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's remaining big five divisions regarding homegrown managers.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all young English coaches from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

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

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

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He began writing articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine ability and said opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: how vast under-representation results in a failure to understand of players with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" to hear a coach make a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – first at 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 at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's first black manager with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

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