A Powerful Milestone when Rosenior Shatters Boundaries

"He is a quality manager that understands football inside out, which is the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first black player, I would be lying to claim this moment doesn't move me."

These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench in the spring of 1982.

This week, the club hired Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, to be their new manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of a multi-club BlueCo that also controls the London club.

Statistics show only 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including those in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since its inception 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he was raised and developed his game locally, he understands this area," added 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 what's right… it is impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual dreaming big.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him what he needs, and allow him to do his work."

What Exactly Does the Numbers Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's first black head coach.

Twelve years later, by 2008, Paul Ince became the first black English boss in the Premier League when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional present top flight boss of colour.

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

According to a BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League players are from black heritage.

Yet, analysis from the equality organization found just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching level, according to data provided by 11 clubs, the figure is 2%.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as Chelsea manager, and we want to witness more such appointments," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is loads of talent present in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire a chance to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth full-time British managers presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other big five leagues in terms of national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 in Germany while 10 of the 18 are French.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all young English coaches from an academy background are, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational to young English coaches in the system to witness someone get such a role with his background and we hope he will be really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is on merit'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the lack of diversity among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill arguing that roles should be given based on qualification.

He also made the view he would repeat: how significant lack of diversity results in a failure to understand regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "difficult" or "emotional", noting that he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing a staff member make a homophobic slur. He pledged his support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces campaign and authored an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" racism.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after 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 contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's first African heritage manager in Gullit as well as the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, including the FA's equality board|