A Emotional Event as Liam Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is a quality coach who knows the game back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"However, as Chelsea's pioneering black footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this news doesn't move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

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

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

There have been just twelve black managers – excluding individuals in interim roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he knows this community," continued Canoville.

"Whenever children observe a figure like Rosenior managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that fights for what's right… that's profound and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a massive step for the club, for the capital, for every aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, provide him with what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties and became the top flight's inaugural African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black manager in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional present Premier League boss of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across the English game is matched by an absence of diversity at executive level.

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, 43% of Premier League players are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, analysis from Kick It Out found just 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At senior coaching level, based on data from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of ability that exists within black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time British managers currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's remaining major divisions regarding national managers.

16 out of twenty top-flight coaches in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve of the 18 are German and 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is truly inspirational to up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness an individual land such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a five-month spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not influence ability arguing that roles should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: how significant under-representation results in a failure to understand regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" or "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to follow him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" racism.

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

The manager bid his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

The Blues had the top flight's first black boss with Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

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