An Moving Event as Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a top coach that knows football back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"However, as the Blues' pioneering African heritage player, it would be dishonest if I said this news doesn't move me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club named Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new head coach after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club ownership group which also controls Chelsea.

There have been only twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those in temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

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

"Whenever children see a figure like Rosenior managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a huge step for Chelsea, for London, for every aspiring individual with big dreams.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and allow him to do his work."

What Does the Data Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 and became the Premier League's first African heritage head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current top flight gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

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

According to a BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of top-flight footballers are from black heritage.

Yet, analysis 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 positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching positions – including senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of talent that exists within ethnic minority communities... they desire a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues in terms of national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 in Germany and Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational to up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness an individual land that job with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the Honours List for his services to tackling inequality in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not influence ability arguing that roles should be given based on qualification.

He also made the view he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity results in a failure to understand regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

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 understood the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" upon hearing a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's pioneering African heritage manager with Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, among them the FA's equality board|