An Emotional Moment when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

"He is a quality tactician who knows football intimately, which is the most important thing.

"However, as Chelsea's pioneering black player, it would be dishonest if I said this news fails to move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club ownership group that also controls Chelsea.

There have been only 12 black managers – not including individuals in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and played not far from here, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam in charge of their club, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that champions equality… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, it is a huge moment for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Do the Data Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional present Premier League gaffer of colour.

The lack of managers of colour across the English game is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

As per the BFP 2023's report, 43% of Premier League footballers come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, research by Kick It Out found only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to figures provided by eleven clubs, the percentage is 2%.

For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of him being announced as a Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of talent present in the black and underrepresented communities... they want a chance to show what they can do. We need to continue to striving to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth full-time English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other big five leagues regarding national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany and Ten of the 18 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all young English coaches from an academy background will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational to young English coaches in the system to see an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in the Honours List for services rendered to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with 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 on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's pioneering African heritage boss with Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several executive roles, among them the FA's equality board|