A Moving Milestone as Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a top coach that knows the game intimately, which is the most important thing.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first black footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, aged 41, as their next head coach following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within a multi-club ownership group which also controls the London club.

There have been just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding individuals in temporary caretaker roles – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and played locally, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When kids observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is an enormous moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for all young person with big dreams.

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

What Do the Data Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural black manager.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present top flight boss of colour.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game corresponds with a lack of representation in the boardroom.

As per the BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean heritage.

Yet, research from the equality organization found just 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

At first-team coaching level, based on figures provided by 11 clubs, the percentage is two percent.

For all coaching roles – including senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just five percent.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as Chelsea manager, and we want to witness more such appointments," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of talent present within ethnic minority groups... aspiring coaches desire a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time British managers presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind Europe's other big five divisions regarding homegrown representation.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Italy are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while 10 in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every aspiring British coaches from an academy background are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is truly inspirational for young English academy coaches to see someone get such a role with his background and we hope he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – his appointment is on merit'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating discrimination in football and wider society.

After Liam retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He started writing a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability and said roles should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers from different cultural and ethnic heritage.

During an interview with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" upon hearing a coach utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year deal with the Blues.

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

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|