A Significant Event when Rosenior Breaks Boundaries

"He is a top manager that knows the game intimately, which is the crucial factor.

"But, as Chelsea's first black player, I would be lying if I said this moment doesn't move me."

These were the words of Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team off the bench in the spring of 1982.

This week, Chelsea named Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, as their next manager following the departure of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within a Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo which also owns the London club.

There have been only 12 black managers – excluding those in interim positions – in England's top flight since it began 34 in the past.

"One thing that impresses me regarding Rosenior is that he grew up and played locally, he understands this area," added Canoville.

"When kids observe someone like Liam managing the team they support, someone they can identify with, from a similar background, from a family that champions what's right… it is powerful demonstrating that opportunities exist.

"So yes, it is an enormous step for the club, for the capital, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, provide him with what he needs, and let the man get on with the job."

What Does the Statistics Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea manager back in the nineties and became the top flight's first African heritage manager.

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

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current Premier League gaffer from a minority ethnic background.

The lack of ethnic minority managers throughout English football is matched by a lack of diversity in the boardroom.

According to the BFP 2023's report, 43% of Premier League players come from African or Caribbean heritage.

However, research by Kick It Out revealed only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams at most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

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

For all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from the same eleven clubs, the statistic is just five percent.

"He has undoubtedly broken barriers in terms of him being announced as the Chelsea head coach, and as an organization, we hope to see more of that," stated Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor.

"We know that there exists a wealth of talent present within black and underrepresented communities... aspiring coaches desire a chance to show their capabilities. We need to continue to striving to break those obstacles down."

Furthermore, the new appointee is set to become one of only four full-time British head coaches presently managing in the top flight – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – a number that lags behind the continent's other major leagues regarding national managers.

16 out of twenty top-flight managers in Serie A are Italian, 11 in La Liga in Spain, 12 of the 18 are German while Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

The present Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt every young English coaches with a youth development pedigree are, to some degree no matter who you support, rooting for Liam.

"It is truly inspirational for young English academy coaches to witness an individual land such a role with his background and everyone hopes he does highly successful."

'Let's not forget – he's there due to ability'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, played for the likes of Fulham, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career culminating in a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

Two years ago, he was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire in that year's Honours List for services rendered to tackling discrimination in football and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr hung up his boots he followed his father's footsteps. He began penning a column for The Guardian, where in 2017 he acknowledged the lack of diversity among managers. He pointed out that ethnicity does not influence coaching skill arguing that opportunities should be given on merit.

He further expressed a point he would repeat: that vast under-representation leads to a failure to understand of players from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" or "emotional", noting that he could relate to the Dutch international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London in July.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed to being "ashamed" to hear an unnamed coach make a discriminatory remark. He pledged support for the Premier League's inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to the former US President during his first US presidency, accusing him of "overt" racism.

He has subsequently made his name as a manager – first at Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their time together with Derby.

Rosenior said his farewells at Strasbourg earlier this week prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal with the Blues.

Chelsea boasted the Premier League's pioneering black manager with Gullit as well as the first black captain named Paul Elliott.

Elliott has since worked in multiple executive roles, among them the FA's equality board|