An Powerful Milestone when Liam Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"He is an excellent manager who understands the game back to front, and that's what matters most.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first African heritage player, I would be lying to claim this news fails to move me."

These were the words expressed by Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, to be their next manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also controls the London club.

There have been a mere twelve black managers – excluding individuals holding temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since its inception thirty-four in the past.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"When kids observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a family that champions equality… it is impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, it is a massive step for the club, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Do the Data Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's first black manager.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional present Premier League gaffer of colour.

The lack of managers of colour across the English game corresponds with a lack of representation at executive level.

According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, 43% of top-flight players are from black heritage.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization found only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

At first-team coaching level, based on figures from 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

For all coaching roles – encompassing senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is five percent.

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists loads of talent that exists in the ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to break those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent British managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other major leagues in terms of homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Italy are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga are German and Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all young English managers from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English coaches in the system to see someone get such a role with that profile and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine coaching skill and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how significant under-representation results in misunderstandings of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "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 in July.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed coach make a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

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

The manager bid goodbye at Strasbourg earlier this week before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's first black boss in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held multiple executive roles, among them the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|