An Moving Moment as Liam Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"He is an excellent manager who knows the game intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this appointment doesn't move me."

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

This week, the club hired RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a multi-club BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

There have been a mere 12 black head coaches – not including individuals holding interim roles – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four in the past.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam managing their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that champions equality… it is impactful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a massive moment for the club, for London, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Exactly Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English manager in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current top flight boss of colour.

The scarcity of ethnic minority managers across the English game corresponds with a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, forty-three percent of top-flight players are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, research from Kick It Out found just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on figures from eleven clubs, the percentage is two percent.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and we want to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of ability present in the ethnic minority groups... they want a chance to show what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to break those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth full-time British managers currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails Europe's other major divisions regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see an individual land that job with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning articles for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill arguing that roles should be given based on qualification.

He also made the view he would repeat: that significant under-representation 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 leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" upon hearing a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration 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 had the Premier League's first African heritage manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, including the FA's equality board|