A Emotional Occasion as Rosenior Shatters Boundaries

"Rosenior represents an excellent manager that understands the game back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage player, I would be lying to claim this moment doesn't move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new head coach after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also owns the London club.

Statistics show a mere 12 black head coaches – not including those in interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he grew up and played locally, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a household that fights for equality… it is profound demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a massive step for the club, for London, for every young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Do the Statistics Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black head coach.

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

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

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

According to the BFP 2023 study, 43% of Premier League players are from black backgrounds.

However, analysis by Kick It Out found only 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams across most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At senior coaching positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches want a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 are German while 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's truly inspirational for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness an individual get that job with his background and we hope he does really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

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

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings of players with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and authored a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

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

Elliott later held multiple executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|