A Powerful Milestone when Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is a top tactician that understands the game back to front, which is the crucial factor.

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

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club named Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their next head coach after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the multi-club ownership group which also controls the London club.

There have been a mere 12 black managers – not including those holding temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that champions what's right… it is powerful and shows them the path is there.

"Indeed, this represents an enormous moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for all young person with big dreams.

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

What Do the Statistics Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach back in the nineties and became the top flight's first black manager.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, 43% of top-flight players are from black backgrounds.

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

Regarding first-team coaching level, according to data provided by eleven clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

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

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

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of talent present in the ethnic minority communities... they desire a chance to show their capabilities. We need to continue to work hard to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time British managers currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining big five leagues in terms of national managers.

Sixteen of the 20 first division coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German and 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all young English managers from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness someone land that job with his background and we hope he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made the view he has often stated: that vast under-representation leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" or "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, including the FA's equality board|