A Powerful Moment when Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent coach that knows the game back to front, and that's what matters most.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first African heritage player, it would be dishonest if I said this news doesn't move me."

These were the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, as their new manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a multi-club BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show only twelve black head coaches – not including individuals in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 in the past.

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

"When kids observe a figure like Rosenior managing the team they support, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a household that fights for equality… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

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

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

What Do the Numbers Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first black head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of ethnic minority managers across English football corresponds with a lack of representation at executive level.

As per a BFP 2023 report, 43% of top-flight footballers are from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization found only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding first-team coaching level, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He's certainly made history in terms of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of talent present in the ethnic minority communities... they desire a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining major divisions in terms of national managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight coaches in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while Ten of the 18 in France.

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

"It is truly motivating to up-and-coming British academy coaches to see someone get that job with that profile and we hope he does really well."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings of players with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name 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 time together at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

The Blues had the top flight's first black boss in Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in several senior positions, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|