An Emotional Moment when Liam Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality manager that understands football inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this moment does not affect me."

These were the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club hired Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new manager after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club ownership group which also owns Chelsea.

There have been just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including individuals in interim positions – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played locally, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"Whenever children see someone like Liam managing their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that champions equality… that's powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a huge step for the club, for the capital, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Exactly Does the Statistics Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's first black manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black manager in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League boss of colour.

The scarcity of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with a lack of representation in the boardroom.

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

Yet, analysis from Kick It Out revealed just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

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

Across all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists loads of talent present in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails Europe's other major divisions in terms of national representation.

16 out of twenty top-flight managers in Italy are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany and 10 of the 18 are French.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really motivating for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness an individual get that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination within the sport and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He started writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability arguing that roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to West London this summer.

In subsequent newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the inclusion campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first African heritage manager with Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|