A Emotional Occasion when Liam Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Rosenior represents an excellent coach that knows the game back to front, which is what matters most.

"However, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, I would be lying if I said this news does not affect me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, who earned his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982.

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

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also controls Chelsea.

There have been just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including individuals holding interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters see someone like Liam managing their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for every young person with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Do the Statistics Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black head coach.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League gaffer of colour.

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

As per a BFP 2023 study, 43% of top-flight footballers are from black heritage.

However, analysis from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding senior coaching level, according to data from 11 clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of ability present within black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails Europe's other big five leagues in terms of homegrown representation.

16 of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English coaches from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational for young English academy coaches to witness someone get that job with that profile and we hope he does highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability arguing that roles should be given on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: that significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" to hear a staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the inclusion initiative and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the top flight's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in multiple executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|