An Historic Event when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality coach that understands the game intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first African heritage player, I would be lying if I said this news fails to move me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a multi-club ownership group that also owns the London club.

There have been a mere twelve black managers – not including those in temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he was raised and played locally, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters observe someone like Liam in charge of their club, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a family that champions what's right… it is powerful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for Chelsea, for London, for every young person with big dreams.

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

What Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering English black manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

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

The lack of ethnic minority managers across English football is matched by a lack of representation in the boardroom.

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League players come from black backgrounds.

However, analysis by Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding senior coaching level, based on figures provided by 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is 5%.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as Chelsea head coach, and we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of talent that exists in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English managers currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other big five leagues regarding national representation.

16 out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German and Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really motivating to up-and-coming British academy coaches to see someone land that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent'

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

In 2019, he was awarded 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.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not influence ability and said roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation results in a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" to hear a staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the top flight's first black manager with Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|