An Powerful Event when Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"He is a quality coach that understands the game inside out, and that's what matters most.

"But, as Chelsea's pioneering black footballer, it would be dishonest to claim this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the words of the former Chelsea winger, the man who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea named RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, to be their next manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are within a multi-club BlueCo which also owns Chelsea.

There have been only twelve of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including individuals holding interim positions – in the Premier League since it began 34 years ago.

"What really strikes me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he knows this area," continued Canoville.

"When children see someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that champions equality… that's impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every aspiring individual 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 Does the Statistics Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's inaugural black head coach.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English manager in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other present top flight gaffer of colour.

The lack of ethnic minority managers across the English game is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

According to the BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of Premier League players come from black heritage.

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

At senior coaching positions, based on figures provided by 11 clubs, the figure stands at two percent.

Across all coaching roles – including senior roles – from those same eleven clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He's certainly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea head coach, and we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists loads of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented communities... they want the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to break those barriers down."

Additionally, Rosenior will become the fourth permanent British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's other big five divisions regarding homegrown representation.

16 out of twenty first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 of the 20 in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German and 10 of the 18 are French.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English coaches with a youth development pedigree are, in some way no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It's really inspirational to young English coaches in the system to see someone land that job with his background and everyone hopes he will be really well."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as West London clubs, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded an MBE in that year's Honours List for his services in combating inequality within the sport and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence ability arguing that roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: how vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to West London this summer.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He vowed his support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney said this week he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

The Blues had the top flight's first black manager in Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|