A Emotional Occasion when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

"He is an excellent coach that knows the game intimately, and that's the crucial factor.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this appointment doesn't move me."

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

On Tuesday, the club hired Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also controls Chelsea.

There have been a mere twelve black managers – excluding those holding interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he knows this community," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe someone like Liam managing their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that champions what's right… it is impactful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, it is an enormous moment for Chelsea, for London, for all young person dreaming big.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Statistics Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black head coach.

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' manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League gaffer of colour.

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

As per a BFP 2023 report, 43% of top-flight players are from black heritage.

However, analysis from Kick It Out found just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

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

Across all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

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

"We know there is a wealth of ability that exists within black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth permanent British managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's remaining major divisions regarding national representation.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve of the 18 are German while Ten of the 18 in France.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational to young English coaches in the system to see someone land such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for his services in combating inequality within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not determine 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 a failure to understand of players with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he understood the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

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

Elliott later held multiple executive roles, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|