An Emotional Event when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is a top coach who knows the game back to front, which is the crucial factor.

"However, as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment does not affect me."

These were the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next manager following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also owns Chelsea.

There have been just 12 black managers – excluding individuals in temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for equality… that's profound and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a massive step for Chelsea, for London, for every aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Exactly Do the Statistics Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first black head coach.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering black English boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional present Premier League gaffer of colour.

The lack of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by a lack of representation in the boardroom.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from black backgrounds.

Yet, research by the equality organization revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

At first-team coaching positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure is two percent.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as Chelsea manager, and we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of ability that exists within ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. We need to continue to striving to break those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other major leagues regarding national representation.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English academy coaches to witness someone land such a role with that profile and we hope he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a five-month spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability and said roles must be awarded on merit.

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

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he understood the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing a coach utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces initiative and authored a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

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

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