A Significant Occasion as Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents an excellent tactician who knows the game back to front, which is the most important thing.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering black footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this moment fails to move me."

These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their next head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the multi-club BlueCo which also owns the London club.

There have been only twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding individuals in interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 in the past.

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

"Whenever kids observe someone like Liam managing their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that champions equality… that's impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents an enormous moment for the club, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Do the Numbers Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural black manager.

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

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight boss of colour.

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

According to the BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of Premier League players come from black backgrounds.

However, research from Kick It Out found just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At senior coaching positions, according to data provided by 11 clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we want to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority communities... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other major leagues regarding homegrown managers.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational for young English academy coaches to see an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill arguing that roles must be awarded based on qualification.

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

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", but said he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in several executive roles, among them the Football Association's equality board|