An Emotional Occasion when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality manager who understands the game back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, I would be lying to claim this moment fails to move me."

Those are the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who earned his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their next manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show just twelve black managers – excluding those in temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and played not far from here, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters observe a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that champions what's right… that's profound demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a huge step for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Data Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's first black head coach.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of ethnic minority managers across the English game is matched by a lack of representation in the boardroom.

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found only 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

At senior coaching level, based on data from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

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

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

"We know that there exists loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to striving to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become the fourth permanent British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other major leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight coaches in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany and Ten of the 18 are French.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly inspirational to up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone get such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell at 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 services rendered in combating discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He also made the view he has often stated: that significant lack of diversity results in a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed staff member make a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

The Blues boasted the top flight's first black boss in Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

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