An Moving Occasion as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"He is a top tactician who understands the game intimately, which is the most important thing.

"But, as the Blues' first black player, I would be lying if I said this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club appointed RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a multi-club BlueCo which also owns the London club.

Statistics show just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding individuals holding interim positions – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and played not far from here, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"When children see someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a household that champions equality… it is profound demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a massive step for Chelsea, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Exactly Does the Numbers Reveal?

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

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

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

According to a BFP 2023 study, 43% of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, research from the equality organization found only 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching level, according to figures from 11 clubs, the figure is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is just five percent.

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

"We know there is a wealth of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they want a chance to demonstrate what they can do. We need to persist in work hard to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth full-time British managers currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails Europe's remaining big five divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German and Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really motivating to young English academy coaches to see someone get that job with his background and we hope he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for his services in combating inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He started penning articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea.

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

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