A Powerful Event when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"He is an excellent coach that knows football back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"However, in my role as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this moment fails to move me."

These were the sentiments of Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in April 1982.

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

The French club is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also controls the London club.

There have been a mere twelve black head coaches – not including individuals holding interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

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

"When youngsters see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a household that fights for equality… it is powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents a massive step for the club, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present Premier League boss of colour.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers throughout English football corresponds with a lack of representation in the boardroom.

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, 43% of top-flight players are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization revealed just 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on figures from eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

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

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

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent present in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches desire a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent British managers currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining major leagues in terms of national representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 are German while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really motivating for young English coaches in the system to witness an individual get such a role with that profile and we hope he will be really well."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is on merit'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

The Blues boasted the Premier League's first black boss with Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|