An Moving Event when Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"Rosenior represents an excellent tactician that knows the game inside out, and that's the most important thing.

"But, in my role as Chelsea's first black footballer, I would be lying to claim this appointment fails to move me."

Those are the words expressed by the former Chelsea winger, the man who earned his groundbreaking debut for the Blues' first team off the bench back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new manager after the departure of Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the multi-club BlueCo that also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show only twelve black managers – not including those in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four years ago.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is he grew up and developed his game not far from here, he understands the local fans," continued Canoville.

"When kids see someone like Liam managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, from a household that champions equality… it is profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is a massive step for the club, for London, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Exactly Do the Statistics Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the top flight's inaugural black manager.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other current top flight boss from a minority ethnic background.

The shortage of managers of colour throughout English football corresponds with an absence of representation at executive level.

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, 43% of Premier League footballers come from black heritage.

However, analysis by Kick It Out found just 3.2% of board and senior leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

At senior coaching positions, based on figures provided by eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

Across all coaching roles – encompassing head coaches – from those same 11 clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of talent present within black and underrepresented communities... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to persist in striving to break those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become the fourth full-time British head coaches currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's other major divisions regarding homegrown representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga in Germany and 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every aspiring British managers from an academy background will be, to some degree no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's really motivating for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness an individual get such a role with his background and we hope he will be highly successful."

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

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a five-month stint at then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in the Honours List for services rendered in combating inequality in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not determine ability and said opportunities must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: how significant under-representation leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "emotional", but said he understood the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to follow him with a move from France to Chelsea in July.

In further newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed coach make a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the inclusion campaign and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name in the dugout – 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 goodbye to his former club on Tuesday morning before signing a long-term deal at Chelsea.

The Blues boasted the Premier League's pioneering African heritage boss with Gullit and the first black skipper named Paul Elliott.

Elliott later worked in multiple senior positions, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|