A Significant Event when Liam Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"He is a quality coach that understands football inside out, which is what matters most.

"But, as Chelsea's first African heritage player, it would be dishonest if I said this moment doesn't move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who made his historic debut for the Blues' first team off the bench in April 1982.

This week, Chelsea hired RC Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, aged 41, as their new manager after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

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

Statistics show just twelve of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – excluding individuals in interim positions – in England's top flight since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he was raised and played locally, he knows the local fans," added Canoville.

"Whenever youngsters observe a figure like Rosenior managing their club, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that fights for equality… that's impactful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, this represents a huge step for Chelsea, for the capital, for every young person with big dreams.

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

What Exactly Does the Numbers Reveal?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's first African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the pioneering black English manager in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional present top flight gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by a lack of representation in the boardroom.

As per a BFP 2023 study, 43% of top-flight players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research from Kick It Out revealed only 3.2% of executive and leadership management teams across most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching level, according to figures from 11 clubs, the figure stands at 2%.

Across all coaching roles – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is just 5%.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers by virtue of his appointment as a Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent present in the ethnic minority communities... aspiring coaches want the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. It is imperative to continue to striving to dismantle those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become the fourth full-time British managers presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other big five leagues regarding national managers.

16 out of twenty first division managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 in Germany while 10 in Ligue 1 are French.

Current Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English coaches from an academy background are, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It is really motivating for young English coaches in the system to see an individual get such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does really well."

'Let's not forget – his appointment is due to ability'

Leroy Rosenior, Rosenior Sr., had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a five-month stint at the third-tier club Brentford back in 2006.

In 2019, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling inequality within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He began writing a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not determine coaching skill and said opportunities should be given on merit.

He also made the view he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings of players from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, he explained the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "emotional", but said he understood the Dutch international with Nigerian parentage. Emegha is set to join him with a move from France to West London in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted to being "embarrassed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member utter a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the inclusion initiative and wrote an open letter to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – initially with Hull City, later at Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together at Derby County.

Rosenior said goodbye to his former club earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with the Blues.

The Blues boasted the top flight's pioneering black boss in Gullit and the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott later held multiple senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|