Patrick Vieira finds it ‘troubling’ that he is the only black manager working in the Premier League and Women’s Super League.
Hope Powell stepped down from her role in charge of Brighton & Hove Albion Women in October 2022, leaving Crystal Palace boss Vieira as the only black manager in the two top-flight divisions.
Vieira, who was named on the Football Black List on Thursday, said on Friday: “It troubles me a lot. It’s difficult for me to understand it.”
The Palace boss added that it was “always good to be recognised as some form of role model”.
He previously called on the FA to be “more ambitious” after a report in October showed the number of diverse candidates hired into senior management roles in English football went down last season.
“I saw the FA’s communication on what they are trying to do and what is their target,” Vieira said before Palace’s 1-0 victory over Southampton on October 29.
“I would like them to be a little bit more ambitious on that side because I don’t think the numbers they want to achieve are high enough.”
Vieira, who managed New York City and Nice before moving to Selhurst Park in 2021, has won 22 of his 67 matches in charge of Palace, who are 12th in the Premier League table.
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