Football Faces Crisis: Risk of Losing a Generation of Black Managers

Football is facing a critical crossroads regarding its diversity in leadership roles. Despite the significant contributions of Black players on the pitch, the sport is in danger of losing an entire generation of Black football managers due to systemic barriers, lack of opportunity, and discriminative practices.

Underrepresentation of Black Managers

A 2022 report by the Black Footballers Partnership (BFP) found that while 43% of Premier League players were Black, only 4.4% of managerial roles occupied by former players were held by Black individuals. This stark disparity worsens at the executive and ownership levels, where only 1.6% of roles are occupied by Black professionals. The recent sacking of Nottingham Forest’s Nuno Espirito Santo means there are currently no Black managers in the Premier League, highlighting a gap not seen since mid-2023.

Key Findings on Black Managerial Representation

The BFP report presents several empirical findings:

Table: Overview of Black managerial representation in English football.

Challenges Black Managers Face

• Black managers receive fewer chances to manage and are promoted more slowly.

• Their progress stalls earlier and they face quicker dismissals irrespective of performance.

• Systemic discrimination affects hiring from the bottom rungs of football clubs, impacting managerial pipelines.

• Black former players are significantly underrepresented in coaching staff and assistant roles.

• Clubs are often not transparent about coaching staff demographics, masking ongoing disparities.

These challenges create a high barrier for Black coaches to develop their careers in football management.

Historical Context and Recent Progress

Ruud Gullit was the first Black manager to lead a Premier League club in 1996, with Paul Ince following as the first Black British manager in 2008. However, despite these milestones, movement toward equitable representation has been slow. The highest number of Black managers starting a season in recent history remains eight—representing a mere 11% of the 92 professional clubs in England.

This year, there has been a small increase in Black managerial hires, but at under 1%, progress is minimal. Some positive examples include coaches such as Vincent Kompany at Bayern Munich and Patrick Vieira at Genoa, who have led prominent teams, but these remain exceptions rather than the norm.

The Human Cost: Losing a Generation

Samuel Okafor, CEO of Kick It Out, warns that football risks losing another generation of Black managers, as many former Black players give up due to systemic barriers. They see the career path as more like “all snakes and no ladders,” lacking opportunities to climb the management ranks. This loss would deprive football of diverse leadership styles and role models who can inspire younger generations.

Needed Actions for Change

• Football clubs must implement transparent and equitable recruitment policies.

• Governing bodies should enforce diversity and inclusion targets.

• There should be mandatory disclosure of coaching and managerial staff demographics.

• Leadership development and mentoring programs should specifically support aspiring Black managers.

• Independent regulators should prioritize racial equity in their oversight to prevent further losses.

Conclusion

Football’s failure to adequately represent Black managers not only undermines racial equity but risks depriving the sport of a generation of talented leaders. The time for football to act decisively and inclusively is now—otherwise the game may forfeit the opportunity to truly reflect the diversity that defines its players and fans worldwide.