An Historic Milestone as Liam Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is a quality coach who knows the game inside out, and that's the most important thing.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's first African heritage player, it would be dishonest if I said this appointment doesn't move me."

Those are the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, as their new manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club ownership group which also controls the London club.

Statistics show just 12 black head coaches – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that champions what's right… that's powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for Chelsea, for London, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

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

What Do the Statistics Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's first black manager.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current Premier League boss of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across the English game is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023's study, 43% of Premier League players are from black backgrounds.

However, analysis by Kick It Out found just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

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

Across all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

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

"We know there is a wealth of ability present in the ethnic minority groups... they desire a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become the fourth permanent British head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails Europe's remaining major divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

16 of the 20 first division coaches in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 in Germany and Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's really motivating for up-and-coming British academy coaches to see an individual get such a role with his background and we hope he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed a path in management. He started writing articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

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

The manager bid goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's first African heritage manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

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