A Historic Occasion when Liam Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"He is an excellent manager who knows the game inside out, which is what matters most.

"However, as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this moment does not affect me."

These were the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who earned his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the multi-club ownership group that also owns Chelsea.

There have been only twelve black managers – not including those in temporary caretaker 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 played locally, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

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

"So yes, it is a massive moment for the club, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Data Reveal?

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

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional present top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, research by Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At first-team coaching positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of talent present in the black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent British managers presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other major leagues regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone land that job with that profile and we hope he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality within the sport and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning articles 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 must be awarded on merit.

He also made a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity results in a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and authored an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Blues.

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

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