A Moving Milestone as Liam Rosenior Breaks Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a quality manager who knows the game back to front, and that's what matters most.

"However, in my role as the Blues' pioneering black footballer, I would be lying to claim this news fails to move me."

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

This week, Chelsea appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, as their next manager after the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned ownership group which also controls the London club.

There have been just 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – not including those holding temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since it began thirty-four years ago.

"What really strikes me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and played locally, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"Whenever kids see someone like Liam in charge of the team they support, someone they can identify with, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… that's impactful demonstrating the path is there.

"So yes, it is a massive moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for all young person dreaming big.

"But right now? We must support Rosenior, provide him with what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Do the Data Indicate?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became Chelsea manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.

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

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional present Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

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

As per the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, 43% of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

However, analysis by Kick It Out revealed just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership positions at 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Regarding senior coaching positions, according to figures from eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

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

"He's certainly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as a the Chelsea head coach, and we want to witness more such appointments," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists loads of talent present in the ethnic minority communities... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. We need to continue to work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, Rosenior is set to become one of only four permanent English head coaches presently in the Premier League – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind Europe's remaining big five divisions in terms of national representation.

Sixteen of the 20 first division managers in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, 12 of the 18 are German while Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Chelsea interim boss Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English managers from an academy background will be, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It's truly motivating to up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone land 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, played for the likes of Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, and his coaching stint culminating in a brief stint at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

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

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he pursued a path in management. He began penning articles for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity of black coaches. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence ability and said opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he would repeat: how vast lack of diversity leads to a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" or "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands international with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him in moving from France to Chelsea in July.

In subsequent newspaper articles, Rosenior also admitted he was "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and authored an open letter to the former US President while he was in office, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

Rosenior has since made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "among the best coaches I've ever worked with" following their collaboration at Derby County.

The manager bid goodbye to his former club earlier this week before signing a six‑and‑a‑half‑year contract at Chelsea.

The Blues had the top flight's first African heritage boss in Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several executive roles, among them the FA's diversity and inclusion board|