An Historic Moment when Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent tactician who understands the game back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first black player, it would be dishonest to claim this moment fails to move me."

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea named Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their next head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the multi-club BlueCo that also controls the London club.

There have been a mere 12 black managers – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

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

"Whenever kids observe someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… it is powerful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

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

What Do the Statistics Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

According to a BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of top-flight footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on figures provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is 2%.

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as a the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of ability present within black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's remaining big five leagues regarding national representation.

16 out of twenty top-flight managers in Italy are from Italy, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany and Ten of the 18 in France.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English managers from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is truly motivating for young English coaches in the system to see an individual land that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "emotional", but said he could relate to the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to West London in July.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and authored an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" prejudice.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's pioneering African heritage boss in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several executive roles, including the FA's equality board|