An Historic Milestone when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality manager who understands football intimately, which is the most important thing.

"However, as the Blues' first black footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this news fails to move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show a mere 12 black managers – not including individuals holding interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four in the past.

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

"When kids observe a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a household that champions equality… it is powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, it is an enormous step for the club, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

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

What Exactly Does the Statistics Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach in 1996 and became the Premier League's inaugural African heritage head coach.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of managers of colour across English football is matched by an absence of diversity in the boardroom.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization found just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At senior coaching level, based on figures provided by eleven clubs, the figure is two percent.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is five percent.

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

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of ability that exists within black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches want a chance to show their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's other big five divisions regarding homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany and 10 of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt every young English coaches from an academy background will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

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

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

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a brief stint at the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for his services in combating inequality in football and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He also made a point he would repeat: how vast lack of diversity results in a failure to understand of players with diverse 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" and "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation 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" after their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's first African heritage manager with Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

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