A Powerful Moment when Liam Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is a top tactician that knows football inside out, and that's what matters most.

"However, in my role as the Blues' first African heritage player, it would be dishonest if I said this news fails to move me."

These were the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club appointed Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new manager following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show just twelve black head coaches – excluding individuals holding interim roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

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

"When kids see someone like Liam in charge of their club, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a household that champions equality… it is impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for every young person with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Data Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black head coach.

Twelve years later, 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 Premier League boss of colour.

The lack of managers of colour across English football is matched by a lack of representation at executive level.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, 43% of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

At first-team coaching level, based on data from 11 clubs, the percentage is 2%.

For all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of ability that exists within ethnic minority groups... they desire a chance to show their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to break those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become one of only four full-time English head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other big five divisions regarding national managers.

16 of the 20 top-flight coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

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

"It's truly inspirational for up-and-coming British academy coaches to see someone land such a role with that profile and we hope he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint at then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing articles for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made a point he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings of players with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "passionate", noting that he understood 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 "ashamed" to hear a coach make a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President 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 – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their time together at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

The Blues had the top flight's first African heritage boss in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple senior positions, among them the Football Association's equality board|