Lack of Black managers sparks concern in English football
English football may lose a new wave of Black and Asian coaches if the sport does not change hiring rules, says anti-racism group Kick It Out. The exit of Nuno Espírito Santo from Nottingham Forest means no Black coach now leads a Premier League team. The last time this happened was in 2023, before Vincent Kompany joined Burnley.
Kick It Out’s chief, Samuel Okafor, said many ex-players quit trying to coach due to blocked paths. He urged clubs to be fair and open with hiring. He warned that without strong steps, more talent will be lost. A 2022 report showed 43% of Premier League players were Black, but only 4.4% of coaching jobs went to Black former players. Leadership roles were even fewer at 1.6%.
The FA and Premier League have made rules and schemes to boost diversity, but results remain slow. Kick It Out’s new Football United plan aims to push clubs to reflect local groups and give fairer chances in leadership roles.
