An Significant Milestone as Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"He is a top coach who knows football back to front, which is what matters most.

"However, as the Blues' first African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this moment does not affect me."

Those are the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea named Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their next manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

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

There have been a mere 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including individuals in temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since it began 34 in the past.

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

"When children see someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for equality… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents an enormous moment for the club, for London, for all young person dreaming big.

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

What Exactly Does the Numbers Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

As per the BFP 2023 study, 43% of Premier League footballers are from black heritage.

Yet, research by Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to data from eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of ability present in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to break those barriers down."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's remaining major leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany and 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English managers from an academy background are, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is truly inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see an individual land that job with his background and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for clubs such as Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating inequality within the sport and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made the view he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club earlier this week before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the Premier League's first African heritage manager with Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several senior positions, among them the Football Association's equality board|