An Moving Milestone as Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"He is a top manager that knows football intimately, which is the crucial factor.

"But, as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage player, I would be lying if I said this news does not affect me."

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next head coach following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also owns the London club.

Statistics show just 12 black head coaches – excluding those in temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and played not far from here, he understands the local fans," added Canoville.

"When kids see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for what's right… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

"Indeed, this represents a huge step for Chelsea, for London, for all young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, provide him with what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Data Show?

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

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering English black boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current Premier League boss of colour.

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

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, 43% of top-flight players are from black heritage.

However, analysis from Kick It Out revealed just 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

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

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of him being announced as the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's remaining major leagues in terms of national representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating to up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone get that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief stint at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in the Honours List for services rendered in combating inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "embarrassed" upon hearing a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's first black manager with Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|