A Significant Occasion as Liam Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents an excellent manager who knows football inside out, which is what matters most.

"However, as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this news fails to move me."

Those are the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who earned his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

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

The French club is within a multi-club ownership group which also controls the London club.

Statistics show a mere 12 black managers – excluding individuals holding temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters observe someone like Liam in charge of their club, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that champions equality… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, for all young person dreaming big.

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

What Do the Statistics Show?

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

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

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League gaffer of colour.

The lack of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with an absence of representation in the boardroom.

According to a BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

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

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

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea manager, and we want to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent present within black and underrepresented groups... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become the fourth permanent British managers presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining major divisions in terms of national representation.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone land 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., had a career with the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that significant under-representation leads to misunderstandings of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and authored a public message to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "overt" racism.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

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

Elliott has since held several executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|