A Moving Milestone when Rosenior Transcends Boundaries

"Liam Rosenior is a top tactician who knows the game intimately, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' pioneering black player, it would be dishonest to claim this news doesn't move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench back in April 1982.

This week, the club named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also owns the London club.

Statistics show only 12 black head coaches – not including individuals in interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

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

"When children observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a family that fights for what's right… that's profound demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, it is a massive step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.

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

What Do the Data Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black head coach.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English manager in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present top flight gaffer of colour.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers across English football is matched by a lack of representation at executive level.

As per the BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League players are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research from Kick It Out found only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

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

Across all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as a Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of ability present within black and underrepresented communities... they desire a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four full-time English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues in terms of national managers.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's really inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell at then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed a path in management. He started penning articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine ability and said roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: how significant under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to West London in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

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

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's first African heritage manager with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|