An Emotional Event as Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents an excellent manager that knows the game intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's first African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this appointment doesn't move me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club appointed RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their next manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also controls the London club.

Statistics show a mere 12 black managers – excluding those in interim positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played not far from here, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"When children observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… it is powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for the club, for the capital, for all young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural African heritage manager.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current top flight boss of colour.

The lack of ethnic minority managers across English football corresponds with an absence of diversity in the boardroom.

According to a BFP 2023 study, 43% of Premier League players are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

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

At first-team coaching level, according to figures from 11 clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

Across all coaching roles – including senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of talent present in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's remaining major leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are Italian, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany and 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's really motivating for young English academy coaches to witness an individual land such a role 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, played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services in combating discrimination in football and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started penning articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he understood the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the Premier League's first African heritage boss 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|