- Clarence Seedorf believes there are unequal opportunities for black managers
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Clarence Seedorf insists football has a problem when it comes to equal opportunities for black coaches and has called for more action to be taken.
“Unfortunately, there is an opportunity gap for black coaches. It’s still a problem,” Seedorf told Mail Sport. “I haven’t been working[asacoachsince2019]but I haven’t had many more offers. What’s that like for someone with my career?
‘I’m not saying that a good playing career necessarily takes you to good clubs, but the lack of opportunities is a problem. I’m not the only one. Look at players like Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, etc.
“We are talking about legends who have a coaching licence and who want to coach. This is a sport for everyone and we want to see equality in football, just as we want to see equality in society,” added the 48-year-old.
The Dutchman is the only player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs and took over as AC Milan manager in 2014 after retiring but was sacked four months later by his former club. He has not had a coaching role since 2019, when he was in charge of Cameroon.
AC Milan icon Clarence Seedorf believes football struggles to offer equal coaching opportunities to black coaches
![Milan legend Clarence Seedorf insists football is struggling to create equal coaching opportunities for black managers... and urges more must be done to tackle the issue 7 The midfield legend spent 10 impressive seasons in Milan](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1725097217_466_Milan-legend-Clarence-Seedorf-insists-football-is-struggling-to-create.jpg.webp)
![Milan legend Clarence Seedorf insists football is struggling to create equal coaching opportunities for black managers... and urges more must be done to tackle the issue 9 He took over as coach of the Rossoneri in January 2014, but was sacked four months later.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1725097220_756_Milan-legend-Clarence-Seedorf-insists-football-is-struggling-to-create.jpg.webp)
The Dutch legend had an illustrious career, playing for top-flight clubs such as Milan, Inter and Real Madrid and would later manage the Rossoneri.
A 2022 report by the Black Footballers Partnership (BFP) found that while 43 per cent of Premier League players are black, less than five per cent of professional football managers in the top four divisions are black.
‘Another study commissioned by the BFP earlier this year found that non-black players were 50 per cent more likely to become managers than black players over a 30-year period.
‘That report specifies that a black manager is 41 percent more likely to be fired than a white manager, when factors such as performance are equal.
“I wish journalists would do more research into why there is such a disparity between the number of black players and coaches,” Seedorf said. “Racism is not an opinion. We now have evidence of what it means and how it works.”
“Unfortunately, this is a battle that we all have to win. There is some progress in FIFA and UEFA regarding these issues. Equal opportunities are what is important,” he added.
![Milan legend Clarence Seedorf insists football is struggling to create equal coaching opportunities for black managers... and urges more must be done to tackle the issue 11 Sol Campbell took over as Southend United manager in October 2019, but his tenure ended in June 2020.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/Milan-legend-Clarence-Seedorf-insists-football-is-struggling-to-create.jpeg.webp)
![Milan legend Clarence Seedorf insists football is struggling to create equal coaching opportunities for black managers... and urges more must be done to tackle the issue 13 Patrick Kluivert, Seedorf's teammate at Ajax and in the Dutch national team, was in charge of Adana Demirspor from July to December 2023.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1725097223_647_Milan-legend-Clarence-Seedorf-insists-football-is-struggling-to-create.jpeg.webp)
Seedorf says players like Sol Campbell (left) and Patrick Kluivert (right) have had a lack of opportunities in management.
![Milan legend Clarence Seedorf insists football is struggling to create equal coaching opportunities for black managers... and urges more must be done to tackle the issue 15 Former Arsenal teammates Patrick Vieira (left) and Thierry Henry (right) have also turned their attention to coaching.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1725097226_126_Milan-legend-Clarence-Seedorf-insists-football-is-struggling-to-create.jpeg.webp)
Former Arsenal teammates Patrick Vieira (left) and Thierry Henry (right) have also turned their attention to coaching.
![Milan legend Clarence Seedorf insists football is struggling to create equal coaching opportunities for black managers... and urges more must be done to tackle the issue 17 Seedorf has urged that more be done to address the issue of unequal training opportunities for black managers.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1725097229_635_Milan-legend-Clarence-Seedorf-insists-football-is-struggling-to-create.jpeg.webp)
Seedorf has urged that more be done to address the issue of unequal training opportunities for black managers.
Seedorf took other jobs at Shenzhen FC in China in 2016 and Deportivo La Coruña in Spain in 2018, but neither of his jobs lasted more than a year.
Since being sacked by Cameroon five years ago, he has worked primarily in media and will be part of Prime Video’s Champions League coverage this season.
“It’s a privilege to continue to be close to the pitch and to be able to follow both young and established talents. It’s a great feeling,” he said.
“But we need to raise awareness and put more pressure on the people making these decisions to make sure there is more equality in the game.”
Clarence Seedorf spoke to Mail Sport courtesy of bet365as part of its global partnership with the UEFA Champions League
![Milan legend Clarence Seedorf insists football is struggling to create equal coaching opportunities for black managers... and urges more must be done to tackle the issue 19 The former AC Milan midfielder had not held a coaching position since 2019, but says he is a](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/08/1725097231_635_Milan-legend-Clarence-Seedorf-insists-football-is-struggling-to-create.jpeg.webp)
The former AC Milan midfielder had not held a coaching position since 2019, but says it is a “privilege to continue being close to the pitch”