An Historic Milestone when Liam Rosenior Transcends Barriers

"He is a top tactician that knows the game back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

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

Those are the words of Paul Canoville, the man who made his groundbreaking debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute in April 1982.

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

Strasbourg are part of the multi-club BlueCo that also controls the London club.

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

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is that he was raised and developed his game not far from here, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"When kids observe a figure like Rosenior in charge of the team they support, a person they can identify with, from a similar background, who comes from a household that fights for equality… it is powerful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is a huge moment for the club, for the capital, for every young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, provide him with the necessary tools, and allow him to do his work."

What Exactly Does the Data Reveal?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach back in the nineties and became the Premier League's inaugural African heritage head coach.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering English black manager in the top flight after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current Premier League gaffer of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour throughout English football is matched by an absence of diversity at executive level.

As per the BFP 2023 report, forty-three percent of top-flight footballers come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, analysis by the equality organization found only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding first-team coaching level, according to figures provided by 11 clubs, the figure is two percent.

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

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of him being announced as the Chelsea manager, and we hope to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged that there exists a wealth of ability present in the ethnic minority groups... they want a chance to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to persist in work hard to break those barriers down."

Additionally, the new appointee is set to become one of only four full-time British head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails Europe's remaining big five divisions in terms of national managers.

16 of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while Ten in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers from an academy background will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, rooting for Liam.

"It's truly inspirational to young English academy coaches to see an individual get such a role with that profile and we hope he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with the likes of West London clubs, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month spell at then-League One side Brentford in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered in combating inequality in football and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he pursued his father's footsteps. He started penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine ability and said roles must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he would repeat: how significant under-representation results in a failure to understand of players with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his star striker, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "emotional", but said he understood the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him with a move from Strasbourg to Chelsea this summer.

In subsequent newspaper articles, he also confessed to being "embarrassed" to hear an unnamed staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Premier League's Rainbow Laces initiative and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump during his first US presidency, condemning his "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as 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 with the Blues.

The Blues had the Premier League's first black manager with Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

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