By Emmanuel Adeleke
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling have been listed among the most influential black people in British football.
The annual Football Black List recognises the efforts of black figures working in various areas of the game.
Crystal Palace manager, Patrick Vieira, and Burnley boss, Vincent Kompany,.are included in the coaching category.
Pundit and ex-England player Lianne Sanderson is also on this year’s list.
The Football Black List, first published in 2008, highlights black industry professionals who are positive influencers.
The names in the eight categories are decided by a panel of experts with representatives from the Premier League, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers’ Association, EFL and anti-racism group, Kick It Out.
Deji Davies, Les Ferdinand and Jobi McAnuff are also on the 2022 list. Davies is a non-executive director at Brentford and the only black board member at a Premier League club, Ferdinand is the only black director of football in the game, while McAnuff is a Football Association board member.
Co-founder of the Football Black List, Leon Mann, said: “I am particularly proud to see the list now feature board members, and managers at the top of the game but clearly we still have a long way to go to see better representation in football.
“However, we are highlighting those leading the way. We are proud of these individuals and the impact they are making.”
There is also Ugo Ehiogu’s ones to watch category, which identifies talented, young people in the industry under 30.
See full list below:
Players
Andre Gray, Aris and Jamaica
Bukayo Saka, Arsenal and England
Charlotte Lynch, Leyton Orient Women
Marcus Rashford, Manchester United and England
Raheem Sterling, Chelsea and England
Administration
Deji Davies, Brentford
Jobi McAnuff, the FA
Les Ferdinand, QPR
Maheta Molango, PFA
Sarah Gregorius, Fifpro
Coaching and management
Aubrey Rogers, Liverpool
Danetta Powell, Birmingham City
Patrick Vieira, Crystal Palace
Paul Nevin, West Ham United and England
Vincent Kompany, Burnley
Commercial
Akinola Fashola, West Ham United
Akua Agyemfra, Merky and The Balley Consultancy
Freda Ayisi, Content creator
Liseli Sitali, Sky Sports
Sofia Thomas, Juno Sports Tax
Community and grassroots
Andrew Lovelace, Watford Ladies
Habib Olorukoba-Oseni, Cray Wanderers and Welling United Deaf
Kerry Phillips, Saving Souls
Simon Hyacinth, FURD
Trisha Lewis, Romance
LGBTQ
Dr Michael Seeraj, Charlton Athletic Community Trust
Lianne Sanderson, talkSPORT
Media
Carl Anka, The Athletic
Fatou Jeng, BT Sport
Jemma Archer, Whisper Productions
Pippa Monique, The Football Mum Podcast
Nelson Kumah, BBC Sport
Practitioners
Ciaran Baxendale, Football Beyond Borders
Iffy Onuora, Premier League
Lauren Impey, PGMOL
Michael Hamilton, AFC Wimbledon
Dr Paul Campbell, University of Leicester
Ugo Ehiogu’s ones to watch
Cordell Lake-Benjamin, Palace for Life Foundation
Debra Nelson, Football Beyond Borders
J’nae Ward, Refresh Sport Consultancy and Productions
Siham Abdullahi, Buzz 16
Tyra Mills, Kinetic Foundation
