An Emotional Milestone as Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent manager who knows the game inside out, and that's the crucial factor.

"However, as Chelsea's first black player, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment fails to move me."

Those are the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a multi-club ownership group that also controls the London club.

Statistics show only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those in interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and played not far from here, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that champions equality… that's powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for Chelsea, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and allow him to do his work."

What Exactly Does the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural African heritage head coach.

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

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League gaffer of colour.

The lack of managers of colour throughout the English game corresponds with an absence of representation at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

Yet, analysis from Kick It Out found only 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, according to figures provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is two percent.

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of talent present in the ethnic minority communities... they desire a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other major leagues in terms of national representation.

16 out of twenty top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all young English managers from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness an individual get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: that significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand of players with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing a coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

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

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, among them the FA's equality board|