An Significant Milestone when Liam Rosenior Breaks Barriers

"Liam Rosenior is an excellent tactician that knows football back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this moment fails to move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench in April 1982.

This week, the club hired RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their new manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show just twelve black head coaches – not including individuals in interim positions – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four in the past.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever children see someone like Liam managing their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for equality… it is powerful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a massive step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Does the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current top flight gaffer of colour.

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

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

However, research by Kick It Out revealed only 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, based on figures from eleven clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

Across all coaching positions – including senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as a Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent present within black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches desire a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those obstacles once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior will become one of only four full-time English managers presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's other major leagues in terms of national representation.

16 out of twenty top-flight coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga are German while 10 of the 18 in France.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's really motivating to up-and-coming British academy coaches to see someone land such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does really well."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career culminating in a five-month spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating inequality within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand of players with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "emotional", noting that he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

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

Elliott later held multiple executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|