An Historic Event when Liam Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"Liam Rosenior is a quality coach that knows the game intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"But, as the Blues' first black player, I would be lying to claim this appointment doesn't move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

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

Strasbourg are part of a multi-club BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

Statistics show just 12 black managers – excluding those holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a family that champions what's right… that's powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous moment for Chelsea, for London, for all young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Exactly Does the Data Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's first black head coach.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, forty-three percent of top-flight players are from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, research by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse communities.

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

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we hope to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of talent present within ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to continue to striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become the fourth permanent British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other big five leagues in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight managers in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German and Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all young English coaches from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone land that job with that profile and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career culminating in a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not influence ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity results in misunderstandings of players from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "passionate", but said he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the inclusion campaign and authored a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's pioneering African heritage manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

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