Jermain Defoe hopes he can be a trailblazer for black managers as he targets promotion with National League side Woking. The former England striker was announced as the permanent successor to Neal Ardley on Sunday, his first managerial role. He has previously been part of an interim coaching staff with Scottish giants Rangers in 2021 as well as working in the Tottenham Hotspur academy. "I don't want to sit here and say, right, we need to achieve this, we need to achieve that," Defoe added. I think you always have to back yourself, whether you're a player or a manager or a coach."

Source: BBC April 01, 2026 18:55 UTC