Jermain Defoe has admitted that he initially had doubts about entering the world of coaching but insisted that he is now determined to become a trailblazer for black coaches in the English game.
While the proportion of black and ethnic minority players has continued to grow through all levels of the English game over the last few decades, the same cannot be said of coaches.
In fact, one can count on a single hand the number of black managers who have got a job at a relatively high level, with those numbers taking a further hit when Darren Moore and Troy Deeney by Huddersfield and Forest Green respectively earlier this season.
Defoe admitted that he takes inspiration from former Tottenham defender Chris Hughton, who started his coaching career as an assistant at White Hart Lane before going on to have a distinguished managerial career across the Premier League and the Championship.
The 41-year-old, who has spent the last 18 months at Hotspur Way as a coach for the Under-18s, told Yahoo Sport: “For me going into management and hopefully getting an opportunity, it can show the next generation that if you do want to become a coach, look I’ve done it.
“I look at someone like Chris Hughton, who has had a long career in the game. I was with Chris at Tottenham when he was assistant and he’s managed Newcastle and Brighton, big clubs.
“He’s had a fantastic career so I look at that and I know there has not been many. Troy Deeney recently lost his job, Darren Moore too and Patrick Vieira was obviously at Palace.”
Jermain Defoe intends to take his opportunity
The former England striker admitted that he did have his doubts about entering the profession but is now confident that he will be able to forge a strong career in coaching.
Defoe added: “At one point I did think, ‘what is the point of going into it? Am I going to get an opportunity?’ For my journey, with what I am doing at Spurs, the badges I have got, I would like to believe I will get an opportunity.
“I don’t want a job because I am black and it ticks boxes, I want to get a job because I am good enough and I’ve done the hard work I needed to do. I am more than confident that when the opportunity comes, I will do well.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It is great to see that Tottenham are doing its part to give a pathway to aspiring black coaches to break into the top level of the game. After helping Chris Hughton do so, the club gave a platform to Yaya Toure to do the same and Defoe will hopefully follow suit and soon get a big break.