An Historic Occasion as Rosenior Transcends Barriers

"He is an excellent tactician that understands the game inside out, and that's what matters most.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage player, it would be dishonest if I said this moment fails to move me."

Those are the sentiments of Paul Canoville, the man who earned his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also controls Chelsea.

There have been a mere twelve black managers – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played not far from here, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"Whenever children observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge step for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

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

What Does the Data Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering English black manager in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current top flight gaffer of colour.

The lack of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by an absence of representation at executive level.

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

However, analysis from Kick It Out revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At first-team coaching level, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure is two percent.

Across all coaching positions – including head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent that exists within black and underrepresented communities... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English managers presently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails Europe's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown managers.

16 out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 are German and Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is really motivating to young English coaches in the system to see an individual get such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career culminating in a five-month spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded 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.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He began penning a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: how vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" racism.

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

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea.

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

Elliott has since worked in several executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|