A Emotional Occasion as Liam Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents a top tactician who knows football intimately, and that's the most important thing.

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

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, the man who earned his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea named Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also owns the London club.

There have been only twelve black head coaches – excluding individuals holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and developed his game locally, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When kids see a figure like Rosenior managing the team they support, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that champions what's right… that's profound and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a massive moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers throughout English football is matched by an absence of diversity in the boardroom.

As per the BFP 2023's report, 43% of top-flight players come from black heritage.

However, research by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding first-team coaching level, based on figures provided by eleven clubs, the percentage is 2%.

For all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent that exists within ethnic minority communities... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's other major divisions regarding national managers.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is really inspirational to young English academy coaches to witness an individual land that job with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed a path in management. He started penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "embarrassed" to hear a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" racism.

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

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering African heritage manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|