An Emotional Moment as Liam Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is a quality coach that knows the game inside out, and that's what matters most.

"But, as the Blues' first black player, I would be lying if I said this moment doesn't move me."

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

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the multi-club BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

Statistics show only twelve black head coaches – not including individuals in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he knows this area," added Canoville.

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

"Indeed, this represents a massive step for the club, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and allow him to do his work."

What Exactly Does the Data Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach back in the nineties and became the top flight's first black head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with a lack of representation at executive level.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, 43% of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research by the equality organization revealed only 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At first-team coaching positions, based on figures from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

Across all coaching positions – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we hope to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent present within black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time British head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's remaining major leagues regarding national representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga are German and Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers from an academy background will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational for young English academy coaches to witness an individual get that job with that profile and we hope he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, 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 spell at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating discrimination within the sport and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started 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 arguing that roles should be given based on qualification.

He also made a point he would repeat: that significant under-representation leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

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

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|