An Historic Milestone when Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is a quality manager that understands football back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage player, I would be lying to claim this appointment does not affect me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

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

Strasbourg are within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

Statistics show just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding individuals holding interim roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he understands the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever children see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, from a family that fights for what's right… it is impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, this represents an enormous step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.

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

What Does the Numbers Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black head coach.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

The scarcity of managers of colour across English football is matched by an absence of diversity at executive level.

As per a BFP 2023's study, 43% of Premier League players come from black backgrounds.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization found only 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse communities.

At first-team coaching positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as a Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of talent that exists within ethnic minority communities... they want a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become the fourth full-time English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails Europe's other big five leagues in terms of national managers.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German and 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's truly motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness someone land that job with that profile and we hope he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a brief stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in the Honours List for services rendered to tackling discrimination within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began writing articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed staff member make a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first African heritage manager with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in several executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|