A Emotional Occasion as Liam Rosenior Transcends Obstacles

"He is an excellent tactician who knows football inside out, and that's the most important thing.

"However, as Chelsea's first black footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this news doesn't move me."

Those are the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their next manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

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

There have been just 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding individuals in interim positions – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he grew up and played locally, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… it is powerful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

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

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

What Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural African heritage manager.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering 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 current Premier League boss from a minority ethnic background.

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

As per the BFP 2023's study, 43% of top-flight footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, analysis by Kick It Out revealed only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, based on figures provided by eleven clubs, the figure is two percent.

For all coaching roles – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of his appointment as Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of talent that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they want the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to persist in striving to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become the fourth permanent British head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other big five leagues in terms of national representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany and 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is 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, with his managerial career culminating in a brief stint at then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the inclusion campaign and authored an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's first African heritage boss with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|