🔗 Share this article A Significant Moment as Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles 'It's a key event which honors the rise of a young, black British head coach.' "He is a top tactician that understands football inside out, and that's the crucial factor. "But, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this news doesn't move me." Those are the words of Paul Canoville, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982. On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, as their new manager after the exit of Enzo Maresca. Strasbourg are part of the multi-club ownership group that also controls the London club. There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago. "One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and played not far from here, he knows the local fans," added Canoville. "Whenever kids observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that champions equality… it is powerful and shows them the path is there. "Indeed, it is a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, for all aspiring individual dreaming big. "But right now? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job." What Exactly Do the Statistics Show? The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural black manager. Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers. The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight boss from a minority ethnic background. The lack of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom. According to a BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean heritage. Yet, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds. At senior coaching level, according to data from 11 clubs, the figure is 2%. For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%. "He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor. "We know there is a wealth of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those barriers down." Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent English managers currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown representation. 16 out of twenty top-flight coaches in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French. Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every young English managers from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam. "It's really motivating for young English coaches in the system to witness an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful." Liam Rosenior becomes the London club's second-ever African heritage coach following in the footsteps of Ruud Gullit. 'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent' His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006. In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and beyond. When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that roles should be given on merit. He further expressed the view he would repeat: that vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July. In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice. He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby. Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea. The Blues had the Premier League's first African heritage boss in Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott. Elliott later held multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|
'It's a key event which honors the rise of a young, black British head coach.' "He is a top tactician that understands football inside out, and that's the crucial factor. "But, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this news doesn't move me." Those are the words of Paul Canoville, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982. On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, as their new manager after the exit of Enzo Maresca. Strasbourg are part of the multi-club ownership group that also controls the London club. There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago. "One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and played not far from here, he knows the local fans," added Canoville. "Whenever kids observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that champions equality… it is powerful and shows them the path is there. "Indeed, it is a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, for all aspiring individual dreaming big. "But right now? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job." What Exactly Do the Statistics Show? The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural black manager. Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers. The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight boss from a minority ethnic background. The lack of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom. According to a BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean heritage. Yet, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds. At senior coaching level, according to data from 11 clubs, the figure is 2%. For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%. "He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor. "We know there is a wealth of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those barriers down." Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent English managers currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown representation. 16 out of twenty top-flight coaches in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French. Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every young English managers from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam. "It's really motivating for young English coaches in the system to witness an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful." Liam Rosenior becomes the London club's second-ever African heritage coach following in the footsteps of Ruud Gullit. 'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent' His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006. In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and beyond. When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that roles should be given on merit. He further expressed the view he would repeat: that vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July. In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice. He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby. Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea. The Blues had the Premier League's first African heritage boss in Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott. Elliott later held multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|