Former players and managers - general discussion

Yep, Hughton I think is the no.1 example of a black manager whose achievements have been consistently undervalued. Whether that’s because he’s black, it’s hard to say, plenty of managers get sacked in circumstances where you feel that might have been a bit harsh. But he’s certainly shown himself to be extremely capable and deserves to have been given a better shot than he has, imo.

5 Likes
3 Likes

What a player he was

4 Likes

Ince at Blackburn who were a solid premier league team at the time. Had done well at MK Don’s earning him a shot in the Premier League but was out of his depth. Since then has struggled to the point his name no longer gets mentioned to available jobs.

I overstated Powell at Charlton as I thought they were still in the Premier league under him. Turns out they had already been relegated before he took over. But he also has managed Derby County but again they were relegated when he took over.

1 Like

Darren Moore is the other obvious one.

Houghton is an impressive guy and certainly seems capable of doing good work. Some of the other high profile and outspoken black candidates looking for jobs like Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell and Paul Ince can barely string a coherent sentence together and I wouldn’t hire them for a bar job nevermind a football team.

Heskey is someone who comes across as capable of doing a decent job somewhere high up, whether it’s a management role or a role in the FA as he was clamouring for this week.

2 Likes

Err ok couple of issues.
One no way was Blackburn a big job. Two Ince had only got his first chance in coaching because of Wise (just as lacking as Ince but happily walked into jobs for awhile) and impressed in jobs in League two before finally being given a shot in the Premier League. That was by the way the first black British manager in the top division. He also, at that stage, was one of or possibly the shortest reign of a permanent manager in the Premier League too. I may not like Ince or particularly rate him but if he’s the best example of black ex players given chances in management then there are definitely issues in the game.

2 Likes

He was simply trying to say black British managers aren’t given that kind of time frame to start getting results.

1 Like

Ole at utd is probably a better example.

4 Likes

Giggs, Lampard, Gerrard, Ole (although not British), the Neville brothers. Meanwhile Black British managers, if they get a job at all, it’s going to be in the lower leagues.

1 Like

You’re not comparing like with like though. How many black British former players of equivalent stature are trying to get into management right now? Lots of white British former players start in the lower leagues.

3 Likes

Are you asking me or ARD,i’m hoping it’s ARD btw.

1 Like

ARD. Breathe easy.

2 Likes

I think the obsession with having ethnic minorities in certain jobs really funny. Everybody should have equal access that goes without saying, but it’s almost like forcing people into jobs that they’re probably not interested in.
We need more female mechanics or more male beauticians.

I mean which black ex top quality footballers want to go into management and are not getting the chance?

Loads of ex black footballers work as pundits, so there’s no racism/prejudice there.

2 Likes

How many bother when they know the best they’ll get is league two if they’re one of the lucky ones? They’re just not taken seriously. If they want a career after they hang up their boots it’s almost always punditry. Why wasn’t Ferdinand ever offered the chances Giggs and Neville got? Or Ian Wright or someone? What did Rooney and Lampard do to be handed chances on golden platters that Defoe or Ledley King didn’t? It’s hard because tribal bias can get in the way but there’s a lot of intelligent and insightful black former players that it’s just not worth them even trying to make that career. You can argue that if they really wanted it they’d start low and work up but can you really consider it a level playing field?

1 Like

Ledley king is Mourinho’s assistant.

Defoe is still playing.

Ferdinand turned down coaching roles, presumably because earning money as a pundit is easy and stress free.

2 Likes

And Alex Dyer is the manager of Kilmarnock in Scotland,
and Steve Clarkes assistant manager at the Scottish national team

2 Likes

It took King 6 years to get a coaching role. How many did it take Gerrard, Lampard, Giggs?

Defoe still playing like Rooney yeah.

And what level were the offers at? As I said the argument can be used that maybe they should pay their dues and work their way up like Ince did but it’s not exactly a path that screams out “chance of success” is It?

1 Like

Vieira is currently managing Nice, Kompany’s managing Anderlecht, whilst Sol Campbell and Paul Ince were given managerial starts at equivalent levels to Teddy Sheringham and Dennis Wise.

2 Likes

No, it didn’t take King 6 years. He coached at Tottenham’s academy, then became a club ambassador, and now is assistant.

The rumour was that Mourinho wanted Ferdinand at United. He also said:

I’ve had some calls, not for first team jobs,” he told Standard Sport. “I’ve had quite a few calls from different areas in football.

There was nothing that I was ready for now. I’m committed to BT and my charity work.

I don’t get your point about Defoe.

Barnes was given the same opportunity as Gerrard. Well, better actually, as Celtic were better and he didn’t do a stint as an u18 manager first.

There are fewer high profile black footballers from that era. King, Ferdinand and Cole are the only ones with a similar stature to Gerrard, Lampard and Giggs. King is Tottenham’s assistant, Cole works for Chelsea’s academy and Ferdinand is happy being a pundit.

2 Likes

You really, honestly, don’t believe there’s a problem and an uneven playing field I guess we will have to agree to disagree.