A Moving Event when Liam Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"He is a quality manager that understands football back to front, which is what matters most.

"However, in my role as Chelsea's pioneering African heritage player, it would be dishonest to claim this news fails to move me."

These were the sentiments expressed by Paul Canoville, the man who made his historic debut for Chelsea's senior side as a substitute back in the spring of 1982.

On Tuesday, the club appointed Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, 41, as their next head coach after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within a multi-club ownership group that also owns the London club.

Statistics show a mere twelve black managers – not including those in temporary caretaker positions – in England's top flight since its inception 34 years ago.

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

"When children see a figure like Rosenior managing the team they support, a person they can identify with, who's from their ends, from a household that champions what's right… that's impactful and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, this represents an enormous moment for Chelsea, for the capital, for all aspiring individual with big dreams.

"However, currently? We must support Rosenior, give him what he needs, and let the man do his work."

What Does the Statistics Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' manager in 1996 and became the Premier League's first black manager.

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

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo currently stands as the sole additional current Premier League gaffer of colour.

The shortage of managers of colour across English football is matched by an absence of representation in the boardroom.

According to a BFP 2023's report, 43% of Premier League footballers are from black backgrounds.

Yet, analysis by the equality organization revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership positions at most Premier League clubs are held by people from ethnically diverse communities.

At first-team coaching level, according to data from eleven clubs, the percentage stands at 2%.

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

"He's certainly made history by virtue of his appointment as the Chelsea manager, and we want to see more of that," said the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is a wealth of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented groups... they desire the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. It is imperative to persist in work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become one of only four full-time English managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe and Scott Parker – a number that trails Europe's other big five divisions in terms of national managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Italy are from Italy, 11 in La Liga are Spanish, Twelve of the 18 are German while Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Blues caretaker manager Calum McFarlane commented: "I'm sure every young English managers with a youth development pedigree will be, to some degree regardless of allegiance, supporting Liam.

"It's truly motivating to young English coaches in the system to see an individual get that job with that profile and everyone hopes he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there on merit'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as West London clubs, the Hammers and Queens Park Rangers, with his coaching stint peaked with a five-month spell at the third-tier club Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, 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 retired from playing he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he acknowledged the under-representation of black coaches. He pointed out that race does not influence ability arguing that opportunities must be awarded on merit.

He also made the view he would repeat: how significant under-representation leads to misunderstandings of players with diverse cultural and ethnic heritage.

In a podcast for a football podcast, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "difficult" and "passionate", but said he could relate to the Netherlands player of Nigerian descent. Emegha is set to join him in moving from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed coach utter a homophobic slur. He vowed support for the Rainbow Laces campaign and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, 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 he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration with Derby.

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

The Blues boasted the Premier League's pioneering African heritage boss in Gullit as well as the first black captain in Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since held several senior positions, among them the FA's equality board|