An Powerful Milestone as Liam Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent manager who knows the game back to front, which is the most important thing.

"But, as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this moment does not affect me."

These were the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, who earned his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within the multi-club BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show a mere twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those in interim roles – in England's top flight since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and played not far from here, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When kids see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that champions what's right… that's powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge step for the club, 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 get on with the job."

What Does the Numbers Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English manager in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

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

The scarcity of ethnic minority managers throughout English football corresponds with a lack of diversity at executive level.

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, forty-three percent of top-flight players are from black heritage.

Yet, research from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse communities.

At senior coaching positions, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as the Chelsea head coach, and we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they want the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to persist in striving to dismantle those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior will become the fourth full-time English head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other major leagues in terms of national representation.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is really motivating for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone land such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for his services in combating inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not determine coaching skill and said roles should be given based on qualification.

He also made the view he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from Strasbourg to West London this summer.

In further newspaper articles, he also confessed he was "embarrassed" upon hearing a coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering black manager with Gullit and the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held several executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|