A Emotional Event when Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality tactician that knows the game intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"But, as Chelsea's pioneering black footballer, I would be lying if I said this news fails to move me."

Those are the sentiments of Paul Canoville, who earned his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in April 1982.

This week, the club hired RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

There have been a mere twelve black head coaches – excluding individuals holding temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When children see someone like Liam in charge of their club, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a huge moment for the club, for the capital, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Do the Numbers Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's inaugural black manager.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current Premier League gaffer of colour.

The scarcity of managers of colour throughout English football corresponds with a lack of representation at executive level.

As per the BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research from the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse communities.

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

Across all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as a Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they desire a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers down."

Furthermore, Rosenior will become the fourth full-time British managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other major divisions regarding homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Italy are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany while Ten of the 18 in France.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational to young English coaches in the system to see an individual get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does really well."

It is vital to remember – he's there due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a brief spell at then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not influence ability and said roles should be given on merit.

He also made the view he would repeat: that vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea.

The Blues boasted the top flight's pioneering African heritage boss in Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

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