An Significant Occasion when Rosenior Shatters Barriers
'It's a defining moment that recognizes a black, young British manager.'
"He is a top coach who knows football inside out, which is the crucial factor.
"However, in my role as Chelsea's first black player, it would be dishonest if I said this news fails to move me."
These were the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who earned his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in April 1982.
On Tuesday, Chelsea named Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.
Strasbourg are within a multi-club BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.
Statistics show only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.
"What really strikes me about Liam is that he grew up and played not far from here, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.
"When children observe a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… it is powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.
"Indeed, it is a huge moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.
"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and allow him to do his work."
What Do the Statistics Indicate?
The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.
A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering English black boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League gaffer of colour.
The lack of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.
According to a BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League players are from black heritage.
However, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
At senior coaching level, based on figures from eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.
Across all coaching roles – including head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is just five percent.
"He's certainly made history by virtue of him being announced as Chelsea manager, and we want to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.
"It is acknowledged there is loads of talent that exists within ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show their capabilities. We need to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers once and for all."
Furthermore, Rosenior will become one of only four full-time English managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's remaining major leagues in terms of national managers.
16 out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 are German while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.
Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.
"It's really inspirational to young English coaches in the system to witness someone get that job with his background and we hope he does really well."
Liam Rosenior becomes Chelsea's second African heritage manager after Ruud Gullit.
It is vital to remember – his appointment is based on talent'
His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.
In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services in combating discrimination within the sport and beyond.
When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He began penning articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not determine coaching skill arguing that opportunities must be awarded on merit.
He further expressed a point he has often stated: that significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.
During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "passionate", noting that he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to West London this summer.
In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" upon hearing a coach utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.
Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.
Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.
The Blues boasted the Premier League's first African heritage manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.
Elliott later held multiple senior positions, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|
