An Historic Occasion when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

"He is an excellent tactician who understands football inside out, and that's what matters most.

"However, as the Blues' pioneering African heritage footballer, it would be dishonest if I said this news doesn't move me."

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

On Tuesday, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their new manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club BlueCo that also controls the London club.

Statistics show only twelve black head coaches – excluding individuals holding interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and played locally, he understands this community," added Canoville.

"Whenever children see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that fights for equality… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous step for the club, for the capital, for every aspiring individual dreaming big.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man get on with the job."

What Exactly Does the Data Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural African heritage head coach.

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

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present Premier League boss of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom.

As per a BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from black backgrounds.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse communities.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on figures provided by eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists loads of talent present in the black and underrepresented communities... they desire a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time English head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's other major leagues in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen out of twenty top-flight managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 in the Bundesliga are German while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all young English coaches from an academy background are, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It is truly inspirational for young English academy coaches to witness an individual get that job with his background and we hope he will be 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 coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued a path in management. He started writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability and said opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings of players with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal at Chelsea.

The Blues had the Premier League's pioneering black manager with Gullit as well as the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

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