A Historic Milestone when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"He is a quality manager who understands the game inside out, and that's the crucial factor.

"However, as the Blues' pioneering black footballer, I would be lying if I said this news fails to move me."

These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a multi-club ownership group which also controls the London club.

Statistics show only twelve black managers – not including individuals holding temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"When kids observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… it is profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Exactly Do the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties and became the Premier League's first African heritage manager.

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

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

The lack of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with a lack of diversity at executive level.

As per the BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of top-flight players come from black backgrounds.

However, research by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding first-team coaching level, based on figures from 11 clubs, the percentage stands at two percent.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent that exists within ethnic minority groups... they desire a chance to show what they can do. We need to continue to striving to break those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other big five divisions regarding national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while Ten of the 18 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's really motivating for young English academy coaches to witness an individual land such a role with that profile and we hope he does highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell at then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He started penning articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

The Blues had the top flight's first black manager with Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|