Leading the Charge for Change
Nuno Espirito Santo expressed his feelings of honor and privilege in being the only black manager at the helm of a Premier League team. The West Ham coach emphasized that he does not view his unique position as a burden and believes that changes are on the horizon regarding managerial diversity.
He remarked:
I am confident that numerous skilled black managers will soon step into Premier League roles.
The Portuguese coach acknowledged that although his journey involves a degree of “luck,” he feels that many talented coaches are ready to make their mark in the top flight.
While Nuno recognizes the importance of highlighting the lack of representation among coaches from ethnic backgrounds, he is skeptical about the presence of discrimination in hiring for top managerial roles.
The 51-year-old stated:
The distinction among us is not something that clubs consider significant. Success is derived from talent, dedication, and a bit of fortune, leading to projects that prove effective, guiding clubs to make hires.
This perspective, however, is not universally accepted. Delroy Corinaldi, co-founder of the Black Footballers Partnership, previously urged the newly established independent football regulator to tackle biases against black coaches.
The Significance of Role Models
Only a handful of black coaches have held managerial roles—permanent or caretaker— in the Premier League. Chris Hughton, who has managed several top-tier teams, insists the presence of visible role models like Nuno and Port Vale’s Darren Moore, the lone black manager in the EFL’s 72 clubs, is critical.
It appears that matters are worsening rather than improving.
– Hughton shared during the Best of Africa (BoA) Awards, where Nuno was commended for his achievements. Despite the bleak scenario in top management roles, Hughton observed a positive influx of black and ethnic coaches at the under-21 and academy levels.
Deji Davies, a director at Brentford and chair of the Football Association’s Inclusion Advisory Board, echoed the sentiment, stating that while efforts have been made, more progress is necessary. “Almost half of Premier League players are black, reflecting our communities and culture,” he noted during the BoA event.
The Influence of Nuno’s Heritage
Nuno’s African heritage plays a pivotal role in keeping him grounded. Born in São Tomé and Príncipe, he reminisced fondly about his childhood, highlighting the beauty and simplicity of life on the island. He stated:
Seeing the struggles of the people there reminds me of how privileged we are in other parts of the world.
Having begun his football journey in Europe at clubs like Porto and Deportivo La Coruna, Nuno started managing in 2012. His coaching career saw him take the reins at various clubs, including Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur, before landing at West Ham United.
Nuno believes that the first African manager in the Premier League is not far off. He shared insights from his experiences with African coaches, expressing admiration for their work quality and knowledge.
His immediate goal is to steer West Ham away from relegation, but he also harbors ambitions to uplift football in São Tomé and Príncipe, asserting that he desires to return and share his expertise and experiences.
List of Black Managers in Premier League History
- Terry Connor – Wolverhampton Wanderers.
- Nuno Espirito Santo – Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest, West Ham United.
- Ruud Gullit – Chelsea, Newcastle United.
- Chris Hughton – Tottenham (caretaker), Newcastle, Norwich City, Brighton & Hove Albion.
- Paul Ince – Blackburn Rovers.
- Vincent Kompany – Burnley.
- Darren Moore – West Bromwich Albion.
- Hayden Mullins – Watford (caretaker).
- Chris Ramsey – Queens Park Rangers.
- Jean Tigana – Fulham.
- Patrick Vieira – Crystal Palace.
