An Significant Milestone as Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent coach who understands football back to front, which is the most important thing.

"But, in my role as the Blues' pioneering black player, I would be lying to claim this moment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, 41, as their new head coach following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also controls the London club.

There have been just 12 black managers – not including individuals in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he was raised and played locally, he understands the local fans," added Canoville.

"When youngsters observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that champions what's right… that's impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a massive step for Chelsea, for the capital, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and allow him to do his work."

What Exactly Does the Data Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black manager.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

The scarcity of ethnic minority managers throughout English football corresponds with a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, 43% of top-flight footballers are from black backgrounds.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found only 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At senior coaching positions, based on data provided by eleven clubs, the figure is two percent.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He's certainly made history in terms of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability that exists within black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches want a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become the fourth permanent English head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's remaining major leagues in terms of homegrown representation.

16 of the 20 first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree 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 will be highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a brief stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He started writing articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that roles should be given on merit.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing a staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

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

Chelsea boasted the top flight's pioneering black manager in Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in several senior positions, including the FA's equality board|