12/21/24
June 23, 2008
Paul Ince is Blackburn's new manager and first black English manager in EPL.: Frenchman Jean Tigana with Fulham and (Dutch/Surinamese) Ruud Gullit with Chelsea and Newcastle are the only other two black managers to have managed in the Premier League. Ince will be officially presented as Blackburn's manager on Tuesday.
posted by worldcup2002 to soccer at 03:39 PM - 6 comments
Yup, other recent famous black English players have been knocking against the glass ceiling longer with even less to show for their efforts.
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:14 PM on June 23, 2008
It's not that much of a surprise, considering it's not that long since 'fans' would chuck bananas at black players.
posted by rodgerd at 07:27 PM on June 23, 2008
Man, I'm glad I re-read that headline. I was going to comment how it made no sense, failing to notice the word "English" in the linked bit...
posted by Drood at 10:47 PM on June 23, 2008
Part of a bad season with Macclesfield, one season with MK Dons, and he's ready for the top flight? I suppose it's better than Newcastle's attempt to get Alan Shearer to be their manager.
posted by igottheblues at 11:24 AM on June 24, 2008
The race issue is a red herring, introduced to stop everyone talking about how bad he's likely to be. He's thick and nerveless - in the Euro 96 semi final, he refused to take a penalty and then sat with his back to the action throughout hoping it wouldn't get to 10-10. As for Barnes knocking on the glass ceiling - bollocks. He got a gig at Celtic in half a heartbeat and with no experience. Not surprisingly, he fucked it up massively, and now he's moaning that he just hasn't been given the opportunities. How much more of an opportunity do you want than managing one of the biggest clubs in the world? With King Ken standing behind you to guide you? He should be blaming himself for not taking the opportunities he was given instead of moaning about the opportunities Keane and Southgate got and implying they got them because they're white.
posted by JJ at 04:14 AM on June 26, 2008
Really? He's the first? I'm sorry for sounding surprised, but -- well, I'm surprised. Well, good on him. Go Rovers.