A Historic Event when Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents an excellent coach who knows football back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"However, as Chelsea's pioneering black player, I would be lying to claim this news does not affect me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club appointed Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, as their new head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also controls the London club.

There have been just 12 black managers – not including individuals holding interim positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that fights for equality… it is impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is a massive moment for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Do the Numbers Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's first African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English manager in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, forty-three percent of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

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

At first-team coaching positions, based on data provided by 11 clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

For all coaching positions – including senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as Chelsea manager, and we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show what they can do. We need to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior will become one of only four permanent British head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other big five leagues in terms of national managers.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 are German and 10 of the 18 in France.

The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English coaches from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really motivating to young English coaches in the system to see someone get such a role with that profile and we hope he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began penning articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability and said opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" to hear a coach utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea had the top flight's first African heritage boss with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|