An Emotional Event as Liam Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

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

"However, in my role as the Blues' first black player, I would be lying if I said this news fails to move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea named Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their next manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also owns the London club.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding individuals holding interim roles – in England's top flight since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that champions what's right… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for the club, for London, for all young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and allow him to do his work."

What Does the Data Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first African heritage head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers throughout English football corresponds with an absence of diversity at executive level.

According to a BFP 2023 report, 43% of top-flight footballers come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, research from the equality organization found just 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching level, based on figures from 11 clubs, the percentage is two percent.

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

"He's certainly made history in terms of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of talent that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior will become one of only four full-time British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other big five leagues regarding national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany and 10 of the 18 in France.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see 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'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill arguing that roles should be given on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that significant under-representation results in a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing a coach make a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the Premier League's pioneering black manager with Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's equality board|