A Historic Event when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality coach who knows football inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"However, as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this appointment doesn't move me."

Those are the sentiments of Paul Canoville, who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea hired Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new head coach after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show a mere 12 black managers – not including individuals in interim positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and developed his game locally, he understands this community," continued Canoville.

"When kids see someone like Liam managing their club, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that champions what's right… that's profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous step for the club, 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 Exactly Does the Statistics Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering English black boss in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of ethnic minority managers across English football is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

According to the BFP 2023's study, 43% of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

Yet, research by the equality organization revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching level, based on data provided by 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as the 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 present in the black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time English head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other big five divisions regarding national representation.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight coaches in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany while 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's really motivating for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see an individual land such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of West London clubs, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a brief spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not influence coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that vast under-representation results in a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

The Blues boasted the top flight's first African heritage manager with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's equality board|