A Historic Event as Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"He is an excellent manager that understands the game back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this moment doesn't move me."

These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in the spring of 1982.

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

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

There have been only twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding individuals in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and played locally, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam managing their club, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that champions equality… it is impactful and shows them the path is there.

"Indeed, it is a massive moment for the club, for London, for every young person with big dreams.

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

What Exactly Do the Numbers Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach back in the nineties 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 top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current top flight gaffer of colour.

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

According to a BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

However, research by the equality organization found only 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on figures from eleven clubs, the figure stands at 2%.

For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

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

"We know that there exists loads of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches desire the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those barriers down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent British managers currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other big five leagues regarding national representation.

16 out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga are German while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Chelsea 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, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness someone land such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: how significant under-representation leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" to hear a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first black boss in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

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