A Emotional Event as Liam Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"He is an excellent manager who understands football intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"However, as the Blues' pioneering black player, I would be lying if I said this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982.

This week, the club named RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new head coach following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also owns Chelsea.

There have been a mere 12 black head coaches – not including those in interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and played not far from here, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"When kids observe someone like Liam managing their club, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, from a household that champions equality… it is powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for Chelsea, for London, for every aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Exactly Do the Statistics Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black manager in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional present Premier League boss of colour.

The lack of managers of colour throughout English football corresponds with a lack of representation in the boardroom.

According to the BFP 2023's study, 43% of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, research by the equality organization found only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching level, according to data from 11 clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

For all coaching positions – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of him being announced as Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of ability that exists within ethnic minority groups... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those barriers down."

Additionally, Rosenior will become one of only four full-time British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other big five divisions regarding homegrown representation.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany while Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating for young English academy coaches to see an individual get such a role with his background and we hope he does really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services in combating discrimination within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He started writing articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine ability arguing that roles must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: how vast under-representation results in misunderstandings regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London in July.

In further newspaper articles, he also confessed he was "ashamed" upon hearing a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|