Considering Chris Hughton, Robin Fraser and Major League Socccer coaching diversity

As we approach Black History Month in February, it’s worth mentioning that Major League Soccer just lost its only black manager.

Highly respected Robin Fraser (pictured), recently dismissed from Chivas USA, held the distinction previously of being the only black head coach in MLS. (There are only two Latino managers in MLS, which seems even more surprising considering the player makeup, but that’s another topic.)

Related, this is an interesting piece from Goal.com on the challenges of being a black manager in England. Alex Labidou talked to Norwhich’s Chris Hughton about the lack of management diversity in England’s game. You’ll notice a lot of parallels from the NFL and how it struggles with diversity. Same deal: lots of black players, not nearly the same percentage of black coaches.

Says Labidou:

But what might stand out even more about Hughton’s progress is that he is currently the Premier League’s only black manager, and one of only four black head coaches – along with Charlton’s Chris Powell, Notts County’s Keith Curle and Barnet’s Edgar Davids – in England’s top-four divisions (that’s out of 92 possible positions). Considering that over 30 percent of players in England’s top four divisions are minorities, the fact that just over four percent of their coaches are not white is a growing concern for the country.