An Moving Event when Rosenior Transcends Obstacles

"He is a quality tactician who understands the game inside out, which is the most important thing.

"But, as the Blues' pioneering African heritage footballer, I would be lying if I said this moment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a multi-club BlueCo that also controls the London club.

There have been a mere 12 black head coaches – not including individuals in interim positions – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and played not far from here, he knows this community," added Canoville.

"When kids see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that fights for equality… it is powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, it is an enormous moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

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

What Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black head coach.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current top flight boss of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across English football corresponds with a lack of diversity at executive level.

According to a BFP 2023 study, 43% of top-flight footballers are from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research by Kick It Out found just 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching level, based on data from 11 clubs, the percentage is two percent.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of talent present within ethnic minority communities... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other big five leagues in terms of national managers.

16 out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga are German and 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers from an academy background are, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational to young English coaches in the system to see an individual land that job with his background and we hope he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of West London clubs, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not determine ability arguing that roles should be given on merit.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing a coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's pioneering African heritage boss in Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, including the FA's equality board|