Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Former England keeper James eyes coaching role in England

FORMER Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James says lockdown has given him plenty of time to indulge in his passion for art and also plot a move into management.

The 49-year-old, capped 53 times, cut his managerial teeth with Kerala Blasters in south India, but now believes it is time to look closer to home.


James, whose father is Jamaican, is impressed by the Premier League's support of the Black Lives Matter movement and England forward Raheem Sterling's comments about under-representation in coaching roles amongst the BAME community, although as a lover of statistics, he admits the situation is complicated.

"Solely looking at Raheem's comments, I think someone has to be looking into opportunities that are available," James told Reuters.

"It's not just saying there are 92 clubs and 92 jobs available, so there should be X amount of positions available for Black or Asian coaches. The question is how many qualified coaches from that community are there?

"The British population, it's something like 15 or 20 percent non-white. So, like for like in football, would you expect around 15 or 20 in coaching positions in football?

"I'm not sure the data exists but how many qualified coaches are there to fill those roles? Out of those how many actually go for those positions?

"I'm a Pro Licence holder and I'm now considering looking for jobs with regards to management in English football, whereas I haven't in the past. I might be one of those statistics that hadn't applied for something."

RIGHT PLAN

James was a player/coach at Icelandic club IBV Vestmannaeyjar under former Portsmouth team mate Hermann Hreidarsson and obtained his UEFA A Licence during a spell on the coaching staff at Luton Town.

He then managed Kerala Blasters in 2018.

"I've been offered jobs in Asia but now I fancy putting myself forward for a job in England because my world has changed. COVID has given me time to think about things.

"We need to formulate what the right plan is going forward. But in any industry you want the best people in the job, irrespective of background."

James, who made 572 Premier League appearances in spells with Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City, and Portsmouth, says he is happy the momentum behind Black Lives Matter has continued in England.

"The difficulty with the BLM issue is that there are a lot of voices, lots of people have different values as to what it means," James said. "Changing is a process, it doesn't get done in five minutes. What I like about the Premier League is they didn't just stop after two weeks."

James is full of praise for Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp who has just delivered their first league title for 30 years.

"He's transformed the way the club is run. When I've been to Melwood (training ground) since he's been there, everyone from the kitchen staff to the coaches and players... (are) on the same page. There's a sense of equality I didn't experience when I was there."

When not planning his return into football, James has used his artistic talents to create a pin design for #PinYourThanks https://www.pinyourthanks.org-- an initiative allowing people across the UK to give thanks for the work of NHS and frontline staff during the pandemic.

James' pin design features an eyeball with the rainbow colours that have become synonymous with the times.

"I've a couple of sisters working in the NHS, my mum was a nurse, my dad worked for the ambulance brigade so it's really close to me. It's a privilege to be asked to design something," James said. "I have put a forgot-me-not in the middle of the pupil. Because it's not just about Covid, it's forever."

More For You

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

Pakistan stands at 109th place out of 147 countries

Britain’s happiness crisis: UK hits record low in global wellbeing rankings

THE UK has experienced a significant blow to its national morale, plummeting to 23rd place in the World Happiness Report for 2025 – its lowest ranking ever – despite being the world’s sixth richest nation.

Released to mark the UN’s International Day of Happiness last Thursday (20), the report provided a nuanced exploration of national contentment that extends far beyond economic measurements.

Keep ReadingShow less
Reconnecting with lost Eid traditions: Bringing meaning back to modern celebrations

Eid offers new ways to mark the occasion

Reconnecting with lost Eid traditions: Bringing meaning back to modern celebrations

REVIVING OLD CUSTOMS CAN ADD MORE MEANING TO FESTIVALS Reconnecting with lost Eid traditions EID celebrations have evolved over time, beautifully blending tradition with modernity. While many older practices remain, new ways of celebrating the special day, influenced by technology and changing lifestyles, are keeping the spirit of Eid alive in a more globalised world. Here are some newer customs that have been fully embraced by modern society in a positive way.

Virtual: In the past, the only way to connect with loved ones far away was through long-distance phone calls, which were limited due to their high cost. Now, Zoom gatherings allow many people from around the world to connect at once.

Keep ReadingShow less
IPL 2025: RCB crush Chennai as Hazlewood stars

Josh Hazlewood in action during the match against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. (ANI Photo)

IPL 2025: RCB crush Chennai as Hazlewood stars

TABLE-TOPPING Royal Challengers Bengaluru thrashed Chennai Super Kings by 50 runs on Friday (28) for a second win in this year's IPL, inspired by a "game-changing" performance from fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

Chasing 197, Chennai wilted despite a late cameo by veteran MS Dhoni who clubbed 30 runs off 16 balls, batting low down at nine in the order.

Keep ReadingShow less
Government vows to block 'two-tier' sentencing guidelines for minorities
Shabana Mahmood (Picture by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Government vows to block 'two-tier' sentencing guidelines for minorities

THE government on Friday (28) pledged it would legislate to prevent judges considering a convict's background, rejecting new "two-tier" sentencing guidelines about to take effect.

The Labour government and the opposition Conservatives both oppose the new guidance -- due to come into force in April -- that would require a pre-sentence report examining a defendant's circumstances before handing out punishment for someone of an ethnic, cultural or faith minority.

Keep ReadingShow less
Top 5 luxury hotels for an opulent Ramadan stay

From Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab to Geneva’s ultra-exclusive Hotel President Wilson, these breath-taking destinations redefine opulence with gourmet Iftars, private Suhoors, and five-star hospitality

iStock

Top 5 luxury hotels for an opulent Ramadan stay in 2025

As the crescent moon signals the arrival of Ramadan, the world's most prestigious hotels bring us experiences that merges spiritual reflection with luxury. For discerning travellers looking to just upgrade their holy month, these five iconic properties offer not just the Iftar experiences but also, memories woven with gold threads of opulence.

1.Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, Dubai - Seven-star dreams meet Ramadan traditions

Keep ReadingShow less