A Emotional Event when Rosenior Overcomes Obstacles

"Rosenior represents a quality tactician that understands the game intimately, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' first African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this news doesn't move me."

Those are the sentiments expressed by the former Chelsea winger, who earned his historic first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute in April 1982.

This week, the club appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, 41, to be their new manager following the departure of Enzo Maresca.

Strasbourg are part of the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also controls the London club.

Statistics show a mere 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including individuals in interim roles – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

"One thing that impresses me about Liam is he grew up and developed his game locally, he understands this area," continued Canoville.

"When children observe someone like Liam in charge of their club, a person who looks like them, who's from their ends, from a household that champions what's right… it is powerful demonstrating the path is there.

"Indeed, it is a huge step for Chelsea, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"But right now? Let's back Liam, provide him with what he needs, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Does the Statistics Show?

The iconic Dutchman Ruud Gullit became the Blues' manager back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's first black manager.

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

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the only other present top flight gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The scarcity of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by a lack of diversity at executive level.

As per the BFP 2023 study, forty-three percent of Premier League footballers are from African or Caribbean backgrounds.

Yet, research by Kick It Out found just 3.2 percent of board and senior leadership management teams across 17 of 20 Premier League clubs are from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

At first-team coaching positions, according to figures provided by eleven clubs, the figure is two percent.

For all coaching positions – including head coaches – from the same 11 clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He's certainly made history in terms of him being announced as a the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"It is acknowledged there is a wealth of talent present in the ethnic minority groups... they want the opportunity to show what they can do. We need to continue to work hard to break those obstacles once and for all."

Additionally, the new appointee will become one of only four permanent English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's remaining big five divisions regarding national representation.

16 out of twenty first division coaches in Serie A are from Italy, Eleven in La Liga in Spain, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German and 10 of the 18 in France.

The present Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure every young English managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is really inspirational for up-and-coming British academy coaches to witness someone land such a role with his background and we hope he does highly successful."

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

Leroy Rosenior, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career peaked with a brief spell at then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in that year's 2019 New Year Honours for services rendered to tackling discrimination within the sport and beyond.

After Liam hung up his boots he followed a path in management. He began writing a column for The Guardian, and in one piece he addressed the under-representation among managers. He pointed out that race does not influence ability arguing that roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He further expressed a point he has often stated: that vast lack of diversity results in a failure to understand regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Netherlands player with Nigerian parentage. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from Strasbourg to West London in July.

In further Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear a staff member utter a homophobic slur. He pledged support for the Rainbow Laces initiative and authored a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "blatant" prejudice.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – initially with 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 with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at Chelsea.

Chelsea boasted the top flight's first black boss with Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held multiple senior positions, including the Football Association's diversity and inclusion board|