A Moving Event as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"He is a top coach who knows the game back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering black footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in April 1982.

This week, the club named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns the London club.

There have been only 12 black head coaches – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this community," continued Canoville.

"When children observe someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that champions what's right… that's impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Exactly Do the Numbers Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural black manager.

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

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional present Premier League gaffer of colour.

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

According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, 43% of Premier League players come from black backgrounds.

However, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

At first-team coaching level, according to data from eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is just 5%.

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

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent that exists within ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches want a chance to show their capabilities. We need to persist in work hard to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become the fourth permanent British managers presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's remaining major leagues in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 are German and Ten of the 18 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all young English coaches with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating for young English coaches in the system to witness someone get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell at then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He started writing articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not determine ability arguing that roles must be awarded on merit.

He also made a point he has often stated: that vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", but said he understood the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to follow him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative 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 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" following their time together with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

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

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|