An Powerful Milestone when Liam Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"He is an excellent coach that knows football back to front, and that's the most important thing.

"However, as the Blues' first black player, I would be lying if I said this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the words expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side off the bench back in April 1982.

This week, the club named Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding individuals in temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he knows this community," continued Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a family that champions what's right… it is impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for Chelsea, for London, for all aspiring individual 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 Do the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural African heritage head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince became the first English black boss in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

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

As per the BFP 2023 report, 43% of Premier League players are from black backgrounds.

However, research from the equality organization found only 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

At senior coaching level, according to figures provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is two percent.

For all coaching positions – including head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history in terms of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists loads of ability present in the ethnic minority communities... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become the fourth full-time English head coaches currently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other major divisions in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Italy are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany while 10 of the 18 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure all young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's really inspirational for young English academy coaches to see an individual get that job with that profile and we hope he does really well."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a brief stint at then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for his services to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not determine ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: that vast under-representation results in a failure to understand regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he could relate to the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear a staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

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

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's pioneering black manager in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several senior positions, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|