Chris Hughton Quotes

Chris Hughton

Profession : Footballer

Birth : December 11, 1958

What I do know as a manager, as a person, is that you have to try and be honest with everyone around you. If I leave a player out, they deserve an explanation. It's about communication, about being clear in what you want.

Chris Hughton

We have seen a lot more black and minority ethnic coaches at grass-roots level, academy level, development level, but of course at senior level there is a massive void. That is something that has to be addressed and there has to be a pathway for them.

Chris Hughton

I speak to black and ethnic coaches who ring me, or write to me, for some advice. There is a frustration from a lot of young, very able, black coaches to find that pathway that will get them into full-time positions.

Chris Hughton

I was brought up in a football environment where we saw a lot of racism - whether it was abuse from other players or huge groups of supporters in away matches.

Chris Hughton

We don't see enough women in the boardroom.

Chris Hughton

I remember going to stadiums and huge sections of the stand gave you racial abuse. It was never nice but it wasn't a surprise - particularly when I was first at Spurs.

Chris Hughton

I certainly believe in a type of Rooney Rule - in legislation that doesn't give black and ethnic individuals a job but, at least, puts them in the frame.

Chris Hughton

Ossie Ardiles got the job at Tottenham. I knew Ossie well and he brought me back as his reserve-team coach. That was my intro into coaching. Over the years I have known lots of other potential coaches who couldn't see a pathway. They couldn't see role models. There were so many BAME coaches who would apply for jobs and not even get an interview.

Chris Hughton

When I was a player the mentality was black people would make good players but weren't captain material or managerial material. That stereotyping existed.

Chris Hughton

Racism doesn't go overnight. It's over a period of time and education.

Chris Hughton

When the game is played by such a high percentage of black and ethnic minority players and we're looking at the percentage of managers and coaches, at the top level it is minimal.

Chris Hughton

All we want eventually to see is more black and ethnic coaches involved at the higher levels of the game. Anything that promotes that is something very much worthwhile.

Chris Hughton

I feel there has to be a concerted effort that we encourage, in whichever way, more black and minority ethnic coaches to take their badges at the higher levels.

Chris Hughton

As a manager, a coach and a player, you want to be at the top end of the table.You want to be challenging.

Chris Hughton

It's tough when you are fighting relegation.

Chris Hughton

There is no better feeling than knowing you are pushing for something.

Chris Hughton

If you said to me there's a top quality player who you can bring in and we are confident he will add to your squad, but you have to work with him a bit and he can be a bit fiery, then you feel if you are bringing him into a good group the group can take care of that.

Chris Hughton

When I signed for Spurs, I was the only black player in the team.

Chris Hughton

When I played and got abused by another player, called a 'black so and so,' I always said 'that's out of order' but I tried to ignore it. I'd be thinking: 'You're not going to bring me down to that level.' But there were occasions when something was said and the next tackle went in a lot firmer.

Chris Hughton

The percentages of black and ethnic players compared to those in management is a massive gap. We have to make sure we work hard enough to resolve that.

Chris Hughton