An Moving Event as Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"He is an excellent coach that understands the game inside out, and that's what matters most.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first black player, I would be lying if I said this appointment does not affect me."

These were the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

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

The French club is part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns the London club.

Statistics show just twelve black managers – excluding those in interim positions – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he was raised and played locally, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever children see someone like Liam managing their club, someone who looks like them, from a similar background, who comes from a family that champions what's right… that's impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

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

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, give him the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Statistics Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach back in the nineties and became the Premier League's first black head coach.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first English black manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present Premier League boss of colour.

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

As per the BFP 2023's report, 43% of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams across most Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, based on data provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is 2%.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and we want to witness more such appointments," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in work hard to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth permanent British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's remaining big five divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen of the 20 first division coaches in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 of the 18 in Germany and Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual land that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a brief stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He began penning articles for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability and said roles should be given on merit.

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

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" to hear a staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

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

Elliott later held several senior positions, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|