A Significant Event when Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

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

"However, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this moment doesn't move me."

These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in April 1982.

This week, the club appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the multi-club ownership group that also owns Chelsea.

There have been just 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and developed his game locally, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When kids see someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a household that champions what's right… it is impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is a massive moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's first black head coach.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional present Premier League gaffer of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by a lack of representation at executive level.

As per a BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of top-flight footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

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

At first-team coaching level, according to figures from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure 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," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they desire the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become the fourth full-time English managers currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other big five divisions regarding national managers.

16 of the 20 top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French.

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

"It is really motivating to young English academy coaches to witness someone get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is on merit'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career culminating in a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for his services to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He began writing articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence ability arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: that significant under-representation results in misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed staff member make a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's first African heritage manager with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

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