An Historic Occasion when Liam Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality tactician who knows the game inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"However, as the Blues' first African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, the man who made his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a multi-club ownership group which also owns the London club.

Statistics show just 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those in interim positions – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and developed his game locally, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that champions what's right… it is profound and shows them the path is there.

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

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Numbers Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's first black manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

As per the BFP 2023's study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

At first-team coaching positions, according to data provided by eleven clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

Across all coaching positions – including senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

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

"We know there is loads of talent present in the black and underrepresented communities... they desire the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to persist in striving to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become the fourth full-time English managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining big five divisions in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's truly motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see an individual land such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill and said roles should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant lack of diversity results in a failure to understand regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "passionate", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear a coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following 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 at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's pioneering black boss in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's equality board|