An Historic Moment as Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"He is an excellent manager that understands football inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this moment does not affect me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his historic debut for the Blues' first team as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea named Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, as their new head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show a mere twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those in interim positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

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

"When children observe someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that fights for what's right… that's profound and shows them the path is there.

"Indeed, it is a huge moment for the club, for London, for every aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Does the Statistics Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first black head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League boss of colour.

The lack of ethnic minority managers across the English game is matched by an absence of diversity at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023's study, 43% of top-flight players come from black backgrounds.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to data provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is 2%.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms 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.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of ability present in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches want a chance to show their capabilities. We need to continue to work hard to break those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time British head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other big five divisions in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English academy coaches to see someone get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of West London clubs, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the Honours List for his services to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill arguing that roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he would repeat: that significant under-representation results in a failure to understand of players from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed coach utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

The Blues boasted the top flight's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|