A Emotional Moment when Liam Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"He is a top tactician that understands the game inside out, which is the most important thing.

"But, as Chelsea's first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this appointment does not affect me."

These were the sentiments of Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also controls Chelsea.

There have been only twelve black managers – not including individuals holding interim roles – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… it is powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, 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 Statistics Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black manager in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current Premier League boss from a minority ethnic background.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers across the English game is matched by a lack of representation at executive level.

According to a BFP 2023's report, 43% of top-flight footballers are from black backgrounds.

However, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching level, based on figures from eleven clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as the 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 ability that exists in the black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time English head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's remaining major leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany and Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is really inspirational to young English academy coaches to witness someone land that job with that profile and we hope he does really well."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He started writing articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation results in a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

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

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