🔗 Share this article A Moving Event when Rosenior Overcomes Barriers This is a crucial moment that marks the rise of a young, black English manager.' "Rosenior represents a quality manager who knows football inside out, which is the crucial factor. "However, as Chelsea's first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment does not affect me." These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982. On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca. Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also controls the London club. Statistics show just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those holding temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago. "One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this area," continued Canoville. "When youngsters see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that champions what's right… it is impactful and shows them the path is there. "So yes, it is an enormous step for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big. "However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job." What Exactly Do the Numbers Show? The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach back in the nineties and became the Premier League's first black head coach. Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black boss in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers. West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current top flight gaffer of colour. The lack of ethnic minority managers across English football is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level. According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, 43% of top-flight footballers come from African or Caribbean heritage. However, research by the equality organization found just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities. At first-team coaching positions, according to figures from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent. Across all coaching positions – including head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is five percent. "He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor. "It is acknowledged there is a wealth of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to dismantle those barriers once and for all." Furthermore, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown representation. Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 are German while 10 in Ligue 1 are French. The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam. "It is truly motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see someone get such a role with that profile and we hope he will be really well." Rosenior is now Chelsea's second African heritage manager following in the footsteps of Ruud Gullit. 'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability' Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as 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 FC 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 wider society. After Liam hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not determine ability arguing that roles must be awarded on merit. He also made a point he would repeat: that significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand of players with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage. In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he understood the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July. In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the inclusion campaign and authored an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice. Rosenior has since built his reputation in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby. Rosenior said goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues. The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott. Elliott later held several senior positions, including the FA's equality board|
This is a crucial moment that marks the rise of a young, black English manager.' "Rosenior represents a quality manager who knows football inside out, which is the crucial factor. "However, as Chelsea's first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment does not affect me." These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982. On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca. Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also controls the London club. Statistics show just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those holding temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago. "One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this area," continued Canoville. "When youngsters see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that champions what's right… it is impactful and shows them the path is there. "So yes, it is an enormous step for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big. "However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job." What Exactly Do the Numbers Show? The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach back in the nineties and became the Premier League's first black head coach. Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black boss in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers. West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current top flight gaffer of colour. The lack of ethnic minority managers across English football is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level. According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, 43% of top-flight footballers come from African or Caribbean heritage. However, research by the equality organization found just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities. At first-team coaching positions, according to figures from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent. Across all coaching positions – including head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is five percent. "He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor. "It is acknowledged there is a wealth of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to dismantle those barriers once and for all." Furthermore, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown representation. Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 are German while 10 in Ligue 1 are French. The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam. "It is truly motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see someone get such a role with that profile and we hope he will be really well." Rosenior is now Chelsea's second African heritage manager following in the footsteps of Ruud Gullit. 'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability' Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as 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 FC 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 wider society. After Liam hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not determine ability arguing that roles must be awarded on merit. He also made a point he would repeat: that significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand of players with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage. In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he understood the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July. In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the inclusion campaign and authored an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice. Rosenior has since built his reputation in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby. Rosenior said goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues. The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott. Elliott later held several senior positions, including the FA's equality board|