A Moving Event as Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"He is an excellent coach who understands the game inside out, which is what matters most.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first African heritage footballer, I would be lying to claim this appointment doesn't move me."

These were the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea hired Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the multi-club BlueCo which also owns the London club.

Statistics show only twelve black head coaches – not including those holding temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that fights for equality… that's powerful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager back in the nineties and became the top flight's inaugural African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current top flight gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers across the English game corresponds with an absence of representation at executive level.

As per the BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization found only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

At senior coaching level, according to figures from eleven clubs, the percentage is two percent.

For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent that exists within ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to persist in striving to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time British head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other big five leagues regarding homegrown representation.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga are German while Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all young English managers from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's really motivating for young English coaches in the system to see an individual land such a role with that profile and we hope he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for his services to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: that vast under-representation results in a failure to understand of players with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

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

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the top flight's pioneering African heritage manager with Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in multiple executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|