An Emotional Event when Rosenior Shatters Obstacles

"He is an excellent manager that understands football back to front, and that's the crucial factor.

"But, in my role as the Blues' pioneering black player, I would be lying to claim this news does not affect me."

These were the words expressed by Paul Canoville, who made his groundbreaking first appearance for the Blues' first team as a substitute back in April 1982.

On Tuesday, the club appointed RC Strasbourg manager Rosenior, aged 41, as their new manager following the exit of manager Enzo Maresca.

The French club is within the Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital-owned BlueCo that also owns Chelsea.

Statistics show a mere 12 of African or Caribbean heritage head coaches – not including individuals in temporary caretaker positions – in the Premier League since it began thirty-four in the past.

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

"Whenever kids see a figure like Rosenior managing their club, someone who looks like them, who's from their ends, who comes from a family that fights for what's right… it is profound and shows them that opportunities exist.

"Indeed, it is a huge step for the club, for the capital, for all young person dreaming big.

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

What Do the Data Show?

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit was appointed Chelsea head coach back in the nineties thereby becoming the Premier League's inaugural African heritage manager.

Twelve years later, in 2008, Paul Ince was appointed as the first black English boss in the top flight when he took over Blackburn Rovers.

The Hammers' boss Nuno Espirito Santo is the only other current top flight boss of colour.

The shortage of ethnic minority managers throughout the English game is matched by a lack of representation at executive level.

According to a Black Footballers Partnership 2023's study, forty-three percent of top-flight footballers are from black backgrounds.

However, analysis from Kick It Out found only 3.2 percent of executive and leadership management teams across most Premier League clubs are from minority ethnic communities.

Regarding first-team coaching level, according to data from eleven clubs, the figure is 2%.

For all coaching positions – encompassing head coaches – from those same eleven clubs, the figure is just 5%.

"He's certainly made history by virtue of him being announced as a 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 within ethnic minority communities... they want the opportunity to show their capabilities. It is imperative to continue to work hard to dismantle those obstacles down."

Furthermore, Rosenior is set to become one of only four full-time English managers currently in the Premier League – alongside Sean Dyche, Eddie Howe as well as Scott Parker – which trails the continent's remaining big five divisions in terms of national representation.

16 of the 20 top-flight managers in Serie A are Italian, Eleven of the 20 are Spanish, Twelve in the Bundesliga are German while Ten of the 18 in France.

Current Chelsea caretaker manager Calum McFarlane said: "I'm sure all young English coaches 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 – his appointment is on merit'

His father, Leroy, Rosenior Sr., played for clubs such as Fulham, the Hammers as well as Queens Park Rangers, and his managerial career peaked with a brief spell in charge of then-League One side Brentford FC back in 2006.

Two years ago, he received a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Honours List for services rendered to tackling inequality in football and wider society.

When Rosenior Jr retired from playing he pursued his father's footsteps. He began writing articles for a national newspaper, where in 2017 he addressed the under-representation among managers. He highlighted that race does not determine ability arguing that opportunities should be given based on qualification.

He further expressed the view he would repeat: that vast lack of diversity results in misunderstandings regarding footballers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

In a podcast with The Athletic FC, Rosenior highlighted the way his leading forward, Emmanuel Emegha, had been described as "hard to manage" and "passionate", noting that he understood the Netherlands international of Nigerian descent. The striker is expected to follow him with a move from France to West London this summer.

In subsequent Guardian columns, he also confessed he was "ashamed" upon hearing a staff member utter a homophobic slur. He vowed his support for the Premier League's inclusion campaign and wrote an open letter to Donald Trump while he was in office, accusing him of "overt" racism.

Rosenior has since built his reputation as a manager – initially with Hull City, then Strasbourg – with Wayne Rooney recently stating he was "as good a coach as I've ever worked with" following their collaboration with Derby.

The manager bid his farewells to his former club earlier this week before signing a long-term deal with the Blues.

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

Elliott has since worked in multiple senior positions, including the FA's diversity and inclusion board|