An Moving Moment when Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"Rosenior represents a quality coach who understands football intimately, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this news does not affect me."

Those are the sentiments of the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his historic debut for the Blues' first team as a substitute in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club hired RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, as their next head coach following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the multi-club BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show a mere twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding those holding interim roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he grew up and developed his game locally, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever children observe someone like Liam in charge of their club, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that fights for what's right… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is a massive moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

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

What Do the Data Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager in 1996 and became the top flight's inaugural black manager.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current Premier League boss from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of managers of colour across English football is matched by a lack of representation in the boardroom.

As per the BFP 2023 study, 43% of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

Yet, research by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, based on data from 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as 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 talent present in the black and underrepresented groups... they want the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to striving to dismantle those obstacles down."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent English head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other major divisions regarding homegrown representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all young English coaches with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is really motivating to up-and-coming British coaches in the system to witness an individual land such a role with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a five-month spell in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities should be given on merit.

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

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained the way 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 follow him with a move from France to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" to hear a coach utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, condemning his "overt" 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 collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's pioneering black boss with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple executive roles, among them the Football Association's equality board|