An Emotional Moment as Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a top coach who knows football back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"But, as Chelsea's first African heritage footballer, I would be lying to claim this moment fails to move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club hired RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their next manager following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also owns the London club.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those holding interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he grew up and developed his game locally, he understands the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a massive step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Exactly Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural black head coach.

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

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

The scarcity of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by a lack of representation at executive level.

According to a BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

However, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At first-team coaching level, according to data provided by eleven clubs, the figure is two percent.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of ability present within black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show what they can do. It is imperative 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 managers presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues regarding national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 are German while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English coaches in the system to see an individual land such a role with that profile and we hope he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a five-month stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for his services to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed a path in management. He began writing articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He also made a point he has often stated: how significant under-representation results in a failure to understand of players with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he understood the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week 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 with the Blues.

The Blues had the top flight's first black boss with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in several executive roles, including the FA's equality board|