A Powerful Event as Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a top tactician that understands football inside out, which is the most important thing.

"But, as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this appointment does not affect me."

These were the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, as their new manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the multi-club BlueCo that also owns the London club.

There have been just twelve black head coaches – not including individuals in interim positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played locally, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"When youngsters observe someone like Liam managing their club, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that champions what's right… it is powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for all young person dreaming big.

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

What Exactly Does the Data Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's first black head coach.

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current top flight boss of colour.

The scarcity of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, forty-three percent of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research from Kick It Out revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At senior coaching level, based on figures from 11 clubs, the percentage is 2%.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

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

"We know there is a wealth of talent present in the black and underrepresented groups... they want a chance to show their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English managers presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails Europe's other big five leagues regarding national representation.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is really inspirational to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual get such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of West London clubs, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how significant under-representation leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural 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 "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term contract with the Blues.

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

Elliott has since worked in multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|