Kick It Out warns English football risks losing a generation of black, Asian, and mixed heritage coaches after Nuno Espirito Santo’s sacking left the Premier League without a black manager. They urge clubs to adopt transparent recruitment practices and highlight the need for coordinated action to ensure equitable opportunities.
English football risks losing a generation of coaches from black, Asian, or mixed heritage backgrounds, warns anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out. This stark warning comes after Nuno Espirito Santo's recent dismissal from Nottingham Forest, leaving the Premier League without a single black manager.
Image source, Getty ImagesNuno Espirito Santo was the only black manager in charge of a Premier League club at the time of his sacking by Nottingham Forest
The Premier League was last without a black manager between March and August 2023, following Patrick Vieira's departure from Crystal Palace and before Vincent Kompany led Burnley to the top flight. The current situation has reignited concerns about the lack of opportunities for coaches from diverse backgrounds.
Samuel Okafor, chief executive of Kick It Out, emphasized the long-standing nature of this issue. He stated that numerous former players have abandoned their aspirations of becoming coaches and managers due to persistent barriers. Okafor urged clubs to adopt transparent and fair recruitment practices, highlighting the abundance of diverse talent available. He warned against losing another generation of coaches due to inaction.
Kick It Out's recently launched Football United strategy seeks to address the under-representation of diverse individuals in leadership positions within football clubs, aiming to ensure that these roles reflect the diversity of local communities. A 2022 report by the Black Footballers Partnership revealed that while 43% of Premier League footballers are black, only 4.4% of managerial positions for former players are held by black applicants. The situation is even more pronounced in executive, leadership, and ownership positions, where the representation drops to a mere 1.6%.
Historically, Ruud Gullit holds the distinction of being the first black manager to lead a Premier League club, having been appointed as player-manager at Chelsea in 1996. Paul Ince, an ex-England midfielder, became the first black British manager to coach a Premier League club when he took charge of Blackburn in 2008. More recently, Ashvir Singh Johal made history as the first Sikh manager in English professional football after his appointment at Morecambe.
In 2020, The Football Association (FA) introduced the Football Leadership Diversity Code to promote diversity in senior leadership, team operations, and coaching roles throughout English football. The initiative has garnered support from over 50 clubs, including 19 Premier League teams. By signing the code, clubs commit to specific targets:
15% of new executive appointments will be from a black, Asian or mixed heritage background, with 30% female.
25% of new coaching appointments will be black, Asian or mixed heritage and 10% of senior coaching appointments.
50% of new coaching appointments at women's football clubs will be female, with 15% black, Asian or mixed heritage.
Shortlists for interview will have at least one male and one female black, Asian or mixed heritage candidate, provided applicants meeting the job specifications apply.
Despite the FA's efforts to diversify coaching workforces through programs like the England Elite Coach Programme, their influence on club recruitment processes remains limited. Similarly, the Premier League's No Room For Racism Action Plan, launched in 2021, aims to expand opportunities for individuals from black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds. This plan funds coaching inclusion programs and over 80 coaches have utilized the programmes, with 75 going on to full-time employment since the schemes were established four years ago.
These initiatives, while positive steps, highlight the ongoing need for more comprehensive and effective strategies to ensure equitable opportunities for coaches from all backgrounds within English football.