An Significant Moment when Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"He is a quality tactician who knows football intimately, and that's the most important thing.

"But, as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this appointment fails to move me."

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club hired RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager following the exit of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the multi-club BlueCo which also controls Chelsea.

There have been only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding individuals holding interim positions – in the Premier League since its inception thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is he grew up and played not far from here, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"When kids see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person who looks like them, from a similar background, from a family that fights for equality… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, this represents a huge step for the club, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

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

What Do the Data Reveal?

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

A dozen years on, by 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering black English boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current top flight boss of colour.

The scarcity of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

As per a BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of top-flight players are from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2% of executive and leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching level, based on data provided by eleven clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of ability that exists in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches desire a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining big five leagues in terms of national managers.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany and 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is truly motivating to young English academy coaches to see someone get that job with that profile and we hope he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there based on talent'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for services rendered in combating discrimination within the sport and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He started writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he acknowledged the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine ability and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how vast under-representation results in a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch player with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted he was "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the inclusion campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea had the top flight's first African heritage boss with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several senior positions, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|