Interview with Man Utd legend Andy Cole about Black History Month 2022

The Treble winner, 51 today, speaks passionately about role models and the influence of black players in an in-depth conversation with club journalist Sam Carney that you can read below. 

Cole feels particularly strongly about the lack of opportunities for black coaches and managers in English football, pointing to the fact his great friend Dwight Yorke could not find a route back into the game. As Andy explains, Yorkie’s eventual chance came on the other side of the world with Australian club Macarthur FC and, like every Red, he was delighted to see him win a domestic cup earlier this month.

Watch or read Coley’s interview in full here…

Firstly Andy, can you sum up just how important Black History Month is, and who were your black role models when you were growing up?
“Yeah, it is very important and I agree that we deserve more than a month, but it is what it is. It is very important. I think you always look at your father as a role model because, ultimately, when you are growing up he is the provider. So I would say my dad, who passed away in June. In footballing terms, Cyrille Regis was my biggest inspiration and he was one of the reasons why I wanted to play football. We have all got role models and he was definitely mine.”

And were there people like John Barnes and perhaps Ian Wright later on?
“I think John is a lot of the younger generation’s idol, younger than my generation, but I respect John 100 per cent. I think he was a fantastic player. But for me it was more Cyrille Regis. Wrighty is more of a friend. Obviously I look at him and what he has achieved in his career as well, but my role model was Cyrille Regis.”