A Emotional Milestone when Liam Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"He is an excellent tactician that understands football back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, I would be lying if I said this appointment doesn't move me."

These were the words of Paul Canoville, who earned his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their new manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show a mere twelve black head coaches – not including those in interim positions – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"When kids observe someone like Liam managing their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that champions what's right… it is powerful demonstrating the path is there.

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

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

What Exactly Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage head coach.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering English black boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

As per a BFP 2023 report, 43% of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, research from Kick It Out found only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At first-team coaching level, based on figures from eleven clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

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

"It is acknowledged there is loads of talent present within ethnic minority communities... they desire a chance to show what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other major divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga are German and Ten of the 18 are French.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is truly inspirational to young English coaches in the system to witness someone get that job with his background and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination within the sport and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: that significant under-representation leads to misunderstandings of players with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said 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 boasted the top flight's first African heritage manager in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in several senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|