An Emotional Event when Liam Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"Rosenior represents a top tactician that knows football intimately, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first black player, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show a mere 12 black managers – excluding individuals in interim positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he grew up and played locally, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever children observe a figure like Rosenior managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for what's right… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge step for the club, for London, for every young person dreaming big.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Statistics Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current top flight gaffer of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with a lack of representation at executive level.

As per the BFP 2023's report, 43% of top-flight players come from black heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization revealed just 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At first-team coaching level, based on figures provided by 11 clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

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

"It is acknowledged there is loads of talent present within ethnic minority communities... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to striving to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other major leagues regarding homegrown representation.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga are German and Ten of the 18 in France.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational to young English academy coaches to see someone get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell at then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

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

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He began writing a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he understood the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

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

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term deal at Chelsea.

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

Elliott has since held several senior positions, among them the FA's equality board|