An Emotional Moment as Liam Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"He is a quality coach that understands football back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"However, as the Blues' pioneering African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this news doesn't move me."

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

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next head coach after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also owns the London club.

Statistics show only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those in interim positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played not far from here, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"Whenever children observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that champions equality… it is profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a massive step for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Do the Data Reveal?

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

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

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional present Premier League gaffer of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom.

According to the BFP 2023's study, 43% of Premier League players come from black heritage.

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

Regarding first-team coaching positions, according to data from 11 clubs, the figure stands at 2%.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent that exists within black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show what they can do. We need to persist in work hard to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent British managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's remaining big five divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight coaches in Italy are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga are German while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly inspirational to young English coaches in the system to witness an individual land that job with his background and we hope he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing articles for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence ability arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a coach make a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the inclusion initiative and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering black boss with Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple executive roles, including the Football Association's equality board|