An Emotional Milestone as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents an excellent tactician who knows football intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"However, as Chelsea's first black footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this moment does not affect me."

These were the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic debut for the Blues' first team as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the multi-club ownership group which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show just 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game 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 household that champions equality… that's profound demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, this represents an enormous step for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big.

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

What Exactly Does the Data Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's inaugural black head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black boss in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current top flight gaffer of colour.

The scarcity of managers of colour across the English game is matched by an absence of representation at executive level.

As per a BFP 2023 report, 43% of Premier League footballers are from black heritage.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found only 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on data provided by eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

For all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as a the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of talent that exists within black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent British managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's remaining major leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German and Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual get such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality in football and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said roles should be given based on qualification.

He also made the view he would repeat: how significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together 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 first African heritage manager with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|