An Significant Event as Rosenior Overcomes Boundaries

"Rosenior represents a top tactician who understands the game back to front, which is the crucial factor.

"But, as the Blues' pioneering black player, I would be lying if I said this moment does not affect me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the multi-club ownership group which also owns the London club.

Statistics show a mere 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding individuals in temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he was raised and played not far from here, he knows this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters see someone like Liam in charge of their club, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… it is profound demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a massive step for Chelsea, for London, for all young person dreaming big.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Exactly Does the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' head coach in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black head coach.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current Premier League gaffer of colour.

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

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers come from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research from Kick It Out found only 3.2% of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to figures provided by eleven clubs, the percentage is 2%.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as a Chelsea head coach, and we hope to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of ability present in the black and underrepresented communities... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time British managers currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's remaining major leagues in terms of homegrown representation.

Sixteen of the 20 top-flight coaches in Italy are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating for up-and-coming British coaches in the system to see someone land such a role with that profile and we hope 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 and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint in charge of then-League One side Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination in football and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing articles for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he would repeat: how vast lack of diversity results in a failure to understand of players from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "passionate", but said he understood the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently built his reputation in the dugout – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with 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 to his former club earlier this week before signing a long-term contract at Chelsea.

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

Elliott has since held several executive roles, among them the FA's equality board|