An Emotional Event when Liam Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent manager that understands the game intimately, which is the crucial factor.

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

Those are the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, as their new manager following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the multi-club BlueCo that also controls the London club.

There have been just twelve black managers – excluding those in temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and played locally, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, from a household that fights for equality… that's profound demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents an enormous step for Chelsea, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 and became the top flight's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

As per a BFP 2023's report, 43% of Premier League footballers are from black backgrounds.

However, research by the equality organization found only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to data from eleven clubs, the percentage is 2%.

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

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of ability present in the ethnic minority groups... they want a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent English managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other big five divisions regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while 10 of the 18 are French.

The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's really inspirational to up-and-coming British academy coaches to see an individual land such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services in combating discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he would repeat: that significant lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to West London in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the inclusion initiative and wrote a public message 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 – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea had the Premier League's pioneering African heritage manager in Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several senior positions, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|