A Historic Event when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Barriers

"Rosenior represents a top manager who understands the game intimately, which is what matters most.

"However, as Chelsea's first black player, I would be lying if I said this moment fails to move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking first appearance for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in April 1982.

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

Strasbourg are part of a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group that also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show only 12 black managers – excluding those holding temporary caretaker roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he knows the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When kids see a figure like Rosenior in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for equality… that's powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for the club, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

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

What Exactly Does the Numbers Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach in 1996 thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural black manager.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering English black boss in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

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

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

As per a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League players are from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research by Kick It Out found just 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

At senior coaching positions, according to data from eleven clubs, the percentage is two percent.

Across all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and we hope to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists loads of ability present in the black and underrepresented communities... they desire a chance to show their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become the fourth full-time English head coaches currently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails Europe's other major divisions in terms of homegrown managers.

16 of the 20 first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German and Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree will be, in some way regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational to up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone get that job with his background and we hope he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., had a career with the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for his services to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed a path in management. He started writing articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: how significant under-representation leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "passionate", but said he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to West London in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed he was "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and authored an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since built his reputation in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club earlier this week before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract with the Blues.

The Blues had the Premier League's first black manager in Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|