An Emotional Moment as Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a quality manager that knows the game inside out, which is the crucial factor.

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

These were the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club named Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show a mere twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he knows this community," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for the club, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Exactly Does the Data Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties and became the top flight's first African heritage head coach.

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

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

The lack of managers of colour across the English game is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

As per the BFP 2023 study, 43% of top-flight footballers come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At senior coaching positions, based on data from 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of talent present in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other major divisions regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany and 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree are, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational for young English coaches in the system to witness an individual land such a role with that profile and we hope he will be highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for his services in combating inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence coaching skill and said roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he would repeat: that significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" to hear a coach make a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea had the top flight's pioneering African heritage boss with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's equality board|