An Significant Event as Liam Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

"Rosenior represents a top manager who understands the game back to front, which is the crucial factor.

"But, as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, I would be lying if I said this appointment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their next head coach following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding individuals in interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"Whenever children observe someone like Liam in charge of their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's powerful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Do the Data Indicate?

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

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

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

The shortage of managers of colour across English football corresponds with an absence of representation in the boardroom.

According to a BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from black backgrounds.

Yet, analysis from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, based on figures provided by eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of him being announced as the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent that exists within black and underrepresented groups... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four full-time British managers presently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's remaining big five divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 are German while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British coaches from an academy background are, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is really motivating to up-and-coming British academy coaches to see an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a brief spell at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for his services in combating inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence ability and said opportunities should be given based on qualification.

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

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", but said he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal with the Blues.

The Blues had the Premier League's first black manager with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

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