An Historic Event as Liam Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"He is an excellent tactician who understands football back to front, and that's what matters most.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this moment does not affect me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their next head coach following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns the London club.

Statistics show just 12 black head coaches – not including those in interim positions – in England's top flight since it began 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and played locally, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When kids observe someone like Liam managing their club, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, from a family that fights for equality… that's powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for the club, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach back in the nineties and became the top flight's first black manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional present top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of managers of colour throughout the English game corresponds with a lack of representation at executive level.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, 43% of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, analysis from Kick It Out revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

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

Across all coaching roles – including senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as a Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of ability present in the ethnic minority communities... they desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails the continent's other big five leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga are German while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English managers from an academy background will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's really inspirational for young English coaches in the system to witness someone get that job with his background and we hope he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill arguing that opportunities must be awarded on merit.

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

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to West London this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and authored an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "overt" racism.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

The Blues boasted the top flight's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, including the Football Association's equality board|