A Emotional Event as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent manager who knows football back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this moment fails to move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club hired Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

There have been only twelve black managers – excluding individuals in interim roles – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he was raised and played not far from here, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters observe someone like Liam managing their club, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a household that fights for equality… it is powerful and shows them the path is there.

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

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Data Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present top flight gaffer of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with an absence of diversity at executive level.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, 43% of top-flight players are from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, research from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on figures from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

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

"He's certainly made history in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to witness more such appointments," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of ability present within ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's remaining major divisions regarding national representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all young English coaches with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational to young English coaches in the system to witness an individual land that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a brief stint at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He began writing articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not influence ability and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He also made a point he would repeat: that significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the inclusion campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" racism.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's pioneering African heritage boss with Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several executive roles, including the Football Association's equality board|