An Emotional Moment as Liam Rosenior Breaks Barriers

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

"But, as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this appointment doesn't move me."

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

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, as their next head coach after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

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

There have been only twelve black managers – excluding individuals holding interim positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and played not far from here, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"When youngsters observe a figure like Rosenior managing their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for equality… that's impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a massive moment for the club, for London, for every young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach in 1996 and became the Premier League's inaugural black manager.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current top flight boss of colour.

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

According to a BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of top-flight players come from black heritage.

Yet, analysis from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to data provided by 11 clubs, the figure stands at 2%.

For all coaching positions – including senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is five percent.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as a the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they desire the opportunity to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in striving to dismantle those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining major leagues regarding national managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are Italian, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany while Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's truly inspirational for up-and-coming British academy coaches to see an individual get that job with that profile and we hope he does really well."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

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

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, he also confessed he was "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

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

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

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

Elliott has since held several executive roles, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|