A Historic Occasion when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"Rosenior represents a quality manager that knows the game inside out, and that's what matters most.

"But, as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this appointment doesn't move me."

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in April 1982.

This week, the club named Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new head coach after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show only twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including individuals holding interim positions – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played locally, he knows this community," continued Canoville.

"Whenever kids observe someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for equality… it is profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

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

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Exactly Do the Statistics Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach in 1996 and became the Premier League's first African heritage head coach.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became 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 shortage of managers of colour across the English game is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

According to the BFP 2023's report, forty-three percent of Premier League players come from black heritage.

However, analysis from Kick It Out found only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams across most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching level, according to data from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of ability present within ethnic minority groups... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in striving to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four permanent English managers currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's remaining major leagues in terms of national managers.

16 out of twenty top-flight managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English coaches from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English coaches in the system to see someone land such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for his services in combating discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he would repeat: how vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him in moving from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their time together with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

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

Elliott later worked in several executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|