A Emotional Milestone as Liam Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"He is an excellent manager who understands football intimately, which is the most important thing.

"However, in my role as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this moment fails to move me."

These were the words of the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea hired Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their next manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

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

There have been just 12 black managers – not including individuals in interim roles – in England's top flight since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he was raised and played not far from here, he understands the local fans," added Canoville.

"When youngsters see someone like Liam in charge of their club, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a family that fights for equality… it is profound and shows them the path is there.

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

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and let the man do his work."

What Exactly Do the Data Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager in 1996 thereby becoming the top flight's first black manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as 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 only other current Premier League boss of colour.

The lack of managers of colour throughout English football corresponds with an absence of diversity in the boardroom.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023 study, 43% of Premier League footballers are from black heritage.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2% of board and senior leadership management teams at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding first-team coaching positions, according to data provided by eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of his appointment as a Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists loads of ability present in the black and underrepresented communities... they want a chance to demonstrate what they can do. We need to persist in striving to break those barriers down."

Furthermore, the new appointee will become the fourth full-time English head coaches currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's other major divisions regarding national representation.

16 of the 20 top-flight coaches in Serie A are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I have no doubt all young English coaches from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly inspirational to young English coaches in the system to witness someone land such a role with his background and we hope he does really well."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint in charge of the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received an MBE in that year's Honours List for his services in combating discrimination in football and beyond.

After Liam retired from playing he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not determine ability arguing that roles should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he has often stated: how significant under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players from different ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he understood the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear a coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and authored a public message to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first black manager in Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in several executive roles, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|