Defoe is eager to be a force for change

Veteran not giving up hope of coaching yet

AS an aspiring young striker, Jermain Defoe was not exactly short of high-profile role models to try to emulate. The sparkling performances of John Barnes, Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright and Andy Cole provided all the inspiration he needed to go on and achieve his own footballing dreams in the English Premier League and at international level.

However, when it comes to contemplating pursuing a coaching career when he hangs up his boots, the lack of those same icons in a technical area have proved something of a deterrent.

With the notable exception of Ferdinand, now sporting director at Queens Park Rangers, those same icons that Defoe looked up to are now conspicuous only by their absence from leading roles in the game.

It’s a glaring omission that has come back into the spotlight as the Black Lives Matter protest has gathered pace.

Until recently, it also prompted 37-year-old Defoe to question whether studying for his coaching qualifications was worth it if, statistically, there was likely to be no job at the end of it.

However, a recent Zoom session coaching the stars of tomorrow at Rangers has reawakened his passion to smash the glass ceiling and use the wisdom he has gleaned over a lengthy and successful career to help others make it in the game.

‘I made it clear, and I know other people have spoken about it (racism),’ said Defoe.

‘Throughout my whole career, we have had all these campaigns and you meet up in pre-season and do pictures and hold up the cards, but then you think: “Let’s be honest, has anything changed?”

‘In terms of managers, I look at the black players who I looked up to like John Barnes, Les Ferdinand — who has an unbelievable role at QPR but he’s the only black person who has got that sort of power in the whole of football, really — and players like Ian Wright, Andy Cole.

‘All these legends who are icons in the game that are not involved in football.

‘It makes you sit there and think: “Is it worth me doing my coaching badges because am I realistically going to get an opportunity?”. That was my thinking.

‘I did a Zoom call the other day for the young players at Rangers and some coaches and parents were on the call and it was like a masterclass on finishing and moving, which was amazing.

‘It’s just unfortunate that I had to do it on Zoom because I’d rather do it in a classroom or like a cinema or theatre room like we’ve got at the training ground, so I can see the reaction of the kids.

‘When you do things like this and get (feedback) it does make you think: “I’d love to give something back” because it helps these kids.

‘And not just the strikers but just everything to do with getting to the top level and staying there.’

Defoe hopes that by making his way in coaching once he retires, he can inspire a new generation of black footballers to seek a similar career path once they hang up their own boots.

‘I’d like to think so,’ said the former Sunderland, Tottenham and West Ham star. ‘If there are any other black players out there that are younger than me and they’ve sat down and thought about being a coach but their mentality is there’s no point in them doing that — they’d rather do something else, maybe a bit of TV work because there’s no (black) managers — then I’d love to get an opportunity when I finish.

‘I don’t want to get a chance because I’m black — but because I deserve the opportunity.

‘That’s how I’m thinking and if I can go on and do something in terms of coaching or managing, then that will pave the way for the next lot coming through.’

However, a career in coaching can wait for now. In the immediate future, Defoe and his Rangers team-mates are aiming to stop Celtic winning ten in a row.

Steven Gerrard is yet to win silverware in his two seasons in charge at Ibrox but Defoe is confident that will change next season.

But the 37-year-old has urged the team to focus on the prospect of becoming champions and Ibrox legends in their own right rather than concentrating on the goal of halting their Old Firm rivals.

‘When I first signed, that (winning trophies) was the main goal, to be honest’ the Englishman told talkSPORT.

‘But as a team, at the end of the day, it’s not about stopping Celtic or whoever it is.

‘It’s us becoming champions and doing something special as a group.

‘Rangers is a massive football club and the demands are you have to win trophies.

‘I am treating this like the most important season of my career, like I always do. It doesn’t matter how old or young you are, every season you want to improve.

‘As a forward, you look at the goals you have scored and, if you can get one more than last season, then you have improved.’