An Significant Milestone when Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Liam Rosenior is a top coach who understands football inside out, and that's the most important thing.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this appointment doesn't move me."

These were the words of Paul Canoville, who made his historic first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their next head coach following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show only twelve black head coaches – excluding individuals holding interim positions – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four in the past.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he was raised and played locally, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"Whenever children see someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a household that fights for equality… it is profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is a massive step for the club, for the capital, for every young person with big dreams.

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

What Exactly Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

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

The lack of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game is matched by an absence of diversity at executive level.

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, 43% of top-flight players are from black heritage.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

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

For all coaching positions – including head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the figure is five percent.

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

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of talent that exists in the ethnic minority communities... they want the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other big five divisions regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all aspiring British coaches with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual get that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said roles should be given on merit.

He also made the view he would repeat: how vast under-representation leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "passionate", but said he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and authored 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 – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

The Blues boasted the Premier League's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, including the Football Association's equality board|