An Historic Milestone when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"He is an excellent tactician that knows the game back to front, which is the crucial factor.

"But, as Chelsea's first black player, it would be dishonest if I said this news fails to move me."

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

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their new head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show just twelve black managers – excluding those holding temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played locally, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam managing their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a household that fights for what's right… it is impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for the club, for the capital, for every young person dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Exactly Do the Statistics Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional present Premier League boss from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of managers of colour across the English game is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, forty-three percent of top-flight footballers come from black heritage.

However, research by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

At senior coaching positions, based on figures provided by 11 clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability that exists in the ethnic minority communities... they want the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time English managers currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining big five divisions in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is really inspirational for young English coaches in the system to witness an individual land that job with that profile and we hope he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, played for the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a five-month stint in charge of 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 to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing articles for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he would repeat: how significant lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "emotional", but said he could relate to the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

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

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal with the Blues.

Chelsea had the Premier League's first black boss in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|