An Emotional Event when Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Rosenior represents a top tactician who knows football back to front, which is the most important thing.

"However, as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this appointment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments of Paul Canoville, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next manager after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a multi-club ownership group that also controls the London club.

Statistics show a mere 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those holding temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and played locally, he understands this community," continued Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe someone like Liam in charge of their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for equality… it is impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Show?

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

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present Premier League boss from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of ethnic minority managers across English football is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom.

As per a BFP 2023's study, 43% of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

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

At first-team coaching positions, based on data from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

Across all coaching positions – including head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as a Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... they want the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become the fourth permanent English head coaches presently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails Europe's remaining major leagues regarding homegrown managers.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany and 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every young English coaches from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English academy coaches to see someone get that job with that profile and we hope he will be really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career culminating in a five-month spell at then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating inequality within the sport and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: that significant lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he could relate to the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first black manager in Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in several executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|