A Historic Milestone when Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a top manager who understands football back to front, and that's what matters most.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this news fails to move me."

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

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a multi-club BlueCo that also controls the London club.

Statistics show only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those holding interim roles – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and developed his game locally, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that champions equality… that's impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, it is a huge step for Chelsea, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering English black boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of managers of colour across the English game is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom.

As per the BFP 2023's study, 43% of Premier League footballers come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At first-team coaching level, based on data provided by eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of him being announced as the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. We need to continue to striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent British managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's remaining major divisions regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight coaches in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten of the 18 are French.

The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches from an academy background are, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's really motivating to 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."

It is vital to remember – he's there based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability and said roles should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity results in a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he understood the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with 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 at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's first black boss with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, including the Football Association's equality board|