A Moving Occasion as Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents an excellent tactician who understands football intimately, which is what matters most.

"However, in my role as the Blues' pioneering black footballer, I would be lying if I said this appointment doesn't move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club named RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a multi-club ownership group that also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show a mere twelve black head coaches – excluding those holding temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When children observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for equality… it is impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, this represents an enormous moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

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

What Do the Data Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first black manager.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League gaffer of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023's study, 43% of top-flight players are from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization revealed only 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams across 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 stands at 2%.

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

"He's certainly made history in terms of him being announced as Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of ability present in the black and underrepresented groups... they want a chance to demonstrate what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining major leagues in terms of national managers.

16 out of twenty top-flight coaches in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating for young English coaches in the system to see an individual land that job with his background and we hope he will be highly successful."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill and said roles should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a coach utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

The Blues boasted the Premier League's first African heritage manager with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several executive roles, including the FA's equality board|