A Emotional Milestone when Liam Rosenior Shatters Barriers

"He is a top manager who knows football inside out, which is what matters most.

"But, as the Blues' first black footballer, I would be lying if I said this moment fails to move me."

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

This week, the club named RC Strasbourg boss Rosenior, 41, as their next manager after the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is part of the multi-club ownership group that also controls the London club.

Statistics show just 12 of African or Caribbean heritage managers – excluding those holding interim roles – in the Premier League since it began 34 in the past.

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

"When children see a figure like Rosenior 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 equality… that's powerful and shows them the path is there.

"So yes, it is a massive moment for the club, for London, for all young person with big dreams.

"However, currently? Let's back Liam, give him the necessary tools, and allow him to get on with the job."

What Do the Numbers Indicate?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed the Blues' head coach back in the nineties and became the Premier League's first African heritage head coach.

A dozen years on, in 2008, Paul Ince became the pioneering black English boss in the Premier League after taking charge at Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the sole additional current Premier League gaffer of colour.

The lack of managers of colour throughout the English game is matched by an absence of representation at executive level.

According to the Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, forty-three percent of top-flight players are from black heritage.

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

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

For all coaching positions – encompassing senior roles – from the same 11 clubs, the statistic is 5%.

"He has undoubtedly made history by virtue of his appointment as a Chelsea manager, and we hope to witness more such appointments," stated the chief executive of Kick It Out Samuel Okafor.

"We know there is loads of ability that exists in the black and underrepresented communities... they desire a chance to show what they can do. It is imperative to continue to striving to dismantle those barriers once and for all."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become the fourth full-time British managers currently managing in the top flight – joining Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which lags behind the continent's remaining big five leagues regarding homegrown managers.

Sixteen out of twenty first division coaches in Italy are Italian, Eleven in La Liga are Spanish, 12 in the Bundesliga are German while Ten in Ligue 1 in France.

Current Blues interim boss Calum McFarlane said: "I have no doubt all aspiring British managers with a youth development pedigree are, in some way no matter who you support, supporting Liam.

"It is truly motivating for young English academy coaches to see someone get that job with that profile and we hope he will be highly successful."

It is vital to remember – he's there based on talent'

His father, Leroy, Liam's father, had a career with clubs such as Fulham, West Ham as well as Queens Park Rangers, with his managerial career culminating in a five-month spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC in 2006.

In 2019, he received an MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for his services to tackling discrimination within the sport and beyond.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began penning articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that ethnicity does not influence ability and said roles must be awarded based on qualification.

He also made a point he has often stated: how significant lack of diversity leads to misunderstandings regarding footballers with diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.

During an interview for a football podcast, he explained how his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, was labelled "hard to manage" and "passionate", but said he understood the Dutch player of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to join him with a move from Strasbourg to West London this summer.

In further Guardian columns, Rosenior also admitted to being "ashamed" upon hearing an unnamed staff member make a discriminatory remark. He pledged his support for the inclusion initiative and wrote a public message to Donald Trump while he was in office, condemning his "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since made his name in the dugout – first at Hull City, later at Strasbourg – and Wayne Rooney said this week Rosenior was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" after their collaboration at Derby County.

Rosenior said his farewells to his former club on Tuesday morning prior to putting pen to paper on a long-term deal at Chelsea.

Chelsea had the top flight's pioneering African heritage boss in Gullit and the first black skipper in Paul Elliott.

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