Former Barcelona player and African footballing legend, Samuel Eto’o stated that the chances of African coaches succeeding in Europe are limited.
According to him, coaches from the continent of Africa still face discrimination while undergoing training and hunting for jobs. Many players from Eto’o’s era like Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Frank Lampard have begun their coaching careers but the ones from Africa have been unable to do so due to inability to secure coaching licenses.
Samuel Eto’o, who is 37 now is still playing professional football in the Qatari Stars League for Qatari SC. He has had a short stint of coaching with the Turkish outfit, Antalyaspor where he served as a caretaker player-manager in the 2015/16 season.
Speaking on the issues of racism still existing in the European coaching sphere, Eto’o was quoted, “Many black former players don’t get the coaching license, but there are also many who do have this. There is a lack of trust. That trust doesn’t exist and we are seen as second-class citizens.”
Eto’o plans on succeeding into the managerial path just like his European peers after he hangs up his boots. The 118-time Cameroon international further added, “Still, I won in Europe as a player so I have to win in Europe as a coach.”
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