An Historic Event when Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent manager that understands the game inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first African heritage player, I would be lying if I said this news does not affect me."

These were the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within a multi-club BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those in interim positions – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever children see someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that fights for what's right… that's profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a massive step for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Exactly Does the Numbers Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's first African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, in 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 currently stands as the only other current Premier League boss from a minority ethnic background.

The shortage of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by an absence of representation at executive level.

According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, 43% of Premier League players are from black heritage.

Yet, analysis from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding senior coaching level, based on data provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is two percent.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as a Chelsea manager, and we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become the fourth full-time British head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other major divisions in terms of national managers.

16 of the 20 top-flight managers in Italy are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while 10 of the 18 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English coaches from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is really motivating to young English coaches in the system to witness an individual get that job with that profile and we hope he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint at then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services in combating inequality within the sport and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that race does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded on merit.

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

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's pioneering black boss with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, among them the FA's equality board|