English Football Risks Losing Black Coaches

Football Risks Losing a Generation of Black Managers

English football is in danger of losing a generation of black, Asian, and mixed-heritage coaches, according to a stark warning issued by anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out.

Following the recent sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo by Nottingham Forest, there are currently no black managers in the Premier League—a regression that has triggered renewed concerns about the lack of diversity in football leadership.

The Data Behind the Diversity Crisis

The issue is long-standing. A 2022 report by the Black Footballers Partnership highlighted a clear imbalance:

• 43% of Premier League players were black.

• Only 4.4% of former black players transitioned into managerial roles.

• In executive and ownership positions, representation drops to 1.6%.

These numbers underscore a structural barrier preventing former players of colour from advancing into top roles in the footballing hierarchy.

“We Cannot Lose Another Generation”

Samuel Okafor, Chief Executive of Kick It Out, emphasized the urgency:

“This is an issue that has been around for over a decade… We cannot lose another generation because of a lack of coordinated action.”

Okafor highlighted that many former players from minority backgrounds have abandoned coaching dreams after encountering repeated blocks in recruitment processes that lack transparency and fairness.

What Is Being Done?

Several initiatives have been launched to address the issue:

Football United Strategy

Kick It Out launched this initiative in 2025 to align club leadership demographics more closely with local community representation.

FA Leadership Diversity Code (2020)

• Signed by 50+ clubs (19 from the Premier League).

• Aimed at increasing diversity in coaching, leadership, and operations.

• FA Rule N (introduced in 2023) now requires clubs to publish workforce diversity data biannually, covering age, gender, sexuality, disability, and ethnicity.

Premier League’s No Room for Racism Action Plan (2021)

• Funds the Professional Player to Coach Scheme and Coach Inclusion & Diversity Scheme.

• Over 80 coaches from underrepresented backgrounds have been supported.

• 75 coaches gained full-time employment since launch.

Breaking Barriers, But Still a Long Way to Go

Despite these programmes, progress remains painfully slow.

“We know diverse talent exists. Clubs must be transparent and fair,” Okafor reiterated.

Crucially, while the FA can encourage and support diversity programmes, it has limited power over club-level hiring decisions.

Historical Firsts and Recent Milestones

• Ruud Gullit – First black Premier League manager (Chelsea, 1996).

• Paul Ince – First black British manager in the Premier League (Blackburn, 2008).

• Ashvir Singh Johal – First Sikh manager in English professional football (Morecambe, 2025).

These individual milestones are significant, but systemic change has not followed at the pace necessary to ensure true equity in football leadership.

What Needs to Happen Next?

Experts and campaigners are calling for:

• Transparent and accountable recruitment at all club levels.

• Mandatory diversity targets, not just voluntary codes.

• Mentorship and fast-track pathways for underrepresented coaches.

• Enforced oversight by football governing bodies on hiring decisions.

The fear is clear: if decisive action isn’t taken soon, football could lose another generation of talented coaches simply due to lack of opportunity, not lack of ability.