An Emotional Milestone when Liam Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"Rosenior represents a quality coach who knows the game inside out, which is what matters most.

"But, as Chelsea's first black footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this news fails to move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club hired Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, as their next manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club BlueCo which also owns the London club.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding those in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he was raised and played not far from here, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"Whenever children observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a household that champions what's right… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

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

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Exactly Do the Data Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural black head coach.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current top flight gaffer of colour.

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

As per the BFP 2023 study, 43% of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found just 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding senior coaching level, based on data from 11 clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

For all coaching roles – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of his appointment as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... they desire the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, Rosenior will become one of only four full-time English managers currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's remaining major divisions in terms of national managers.

16 of the 20 top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's truly inspirational for young English coaches in the system to witness someone get that job with that profile and we hope he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC 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 in football and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started penning articles for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine ability arguing that roles must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "passionate", noting that he understood the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the inclusion campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first black boss in Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

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