Top 60 Chris Hughton Quotes

If I look at my era, you looked at the black players who were playing then and there weren’t many – Clyde Best… Certainly as each generation has gone, there have been role models for young black players to aspire to.

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.

As a manager, if I saw a female on the line for my match, that would not worry me in the slightest. To get to that level, it means they are deemed to be good enough.

When you play the top sides you cannot afford to be as open as 4-4-2 can leave you. Consequently teams adapt their formation.

Of course you get butterflies as a manager.

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.

You have to be able to get enough points from your away games or it puts difficulty on your home games.

The bosses at Newcastle basically decided they didn’t want me. Ultimately, there isn’t anything you can do about that. The only thing you can do is move on. But I don’t think I’ve anything to prove.

Part of the game is moving on. And you do.

I worked under a lot of ‘top-class managers at Spurs and had to take over as ‘caretaker a couple of times when things were not going well. I know what’s required.

For a player with his talent, it is about doing it consistently week in, week out and over 90 minutes.

It’s always a nice thought to be coming against the best managers.

Racial events in our game, which we are trying as hard as we can to eradicate, are always going to happen. You hope that it is something that doesn’t escalate. Sometimes when times are harder they become more prevalent.

Winning the Championship was my biggest achievement.

Racism holds no place in our game and it holds no place in society. But unfortunately there are going to be incidents.

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

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.

We don’t see enough women in the boardroom.

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.

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.

I enjoyed a wonderful career at White Hart Lane. I had some terrific highs as a player in the eighties and to go from there and have so many years on the coaching staff is something that makes me very proud.

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.

It is harder to win Premier League games playing 4-4-2 without having players of the quality the top teams have.

I’ve lost two jobs, at Newcastle and Norwich, but that’s the nature of the game these days. It doesn’t remove winning the Championship with Newcastle from my record, nor finishing 11th in my first season at Norwich after we went on an incredible run before Christmas.

Jose has managed at some big, big clubs, and at all of those clubs, there is pressure, it comes with the territory. But he has a wonderful way of dealing with that pressure, and when you manage these sorts of clubs, you’ve got to be used to that.

You have to take each player as a separate case and understand how to deal with them, which is not easy when you start in the job and are confronted with a player telling you he has a gambling or a drink problem.

I think the nature of the game can be very unforgiving and of course, the longer you are out of the game – this is a very fast evolving game and particularly with the media we have.

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.

I am naturally very disappointed to have lost my job but immensely proud to have served as Norwich City’s manager.

I always keep busy it gives you an opportunity to go through your coaching methods, your files, to see how other managers are working and re-educate yourself.

As a manager, you manage a team and there are good periods where there are good feelings in the group.

You’re always looking where you could do better.

I have spoken on many occasions about what I felt about a lack of black managers at the highest level. Total inclusion is good for our game and that is what I think everyone wants to see.

It’s very difficult for me to talk about myself, it’s not something I enjoy.

The ideal time to take over a club is always in the summer, but I’d certainly rather take over with four games having gone than 10, 14, 20 played.

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.

My concerns have always been to do the best job I can. But I am conscious that I’m a black manager and I am conscious that there is a profile that goes with that.

It’s tough when you are fighting relegation.

You look back and reflect and there are things you could do better – even when there’s been an ‘experience that was unjust.

I consider Birmingham a proper football club; the tradition and support base that fits the club.

When you look at role models, you tend to look at players who have played at the highest level, your Viv Andersons and so on.

The nature of football can bring out the best in people, but it can also bring out the worst in people.

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

You don’t expect to have a happy changing room when things are not going so well.

It’s true, I did write – but it’s probably not as dramatic as it sounds.

I am immensely proud of my achievements with Newcastle and I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the players, my staff and the supporters during my time as manager.

As a coach you’re able to have better relationships with the players because you’re not picking the team.

I think all you can do is prepare properly for every game but you also have to be realistic. Be realistic about what you are as a team.

If you are a manager who is in your first or second job, the big worry would be where is your next job coming from, but I’m not in that position.

One thing I would always say is speculation is always flattering because if someone is talking about you or linking you to a job then it’s something that is flattering.

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.

Whether it is a classy performance where you are creating a lot of chances or a scrappy one-goal win, it doesn’t matter.

I went through 15 years as a coach at Spurs working under seven, eight different managers. And every time a manager went, you weren’t sure whether you’d still be there. Some people might worry about these things but I never have.

When you speak to potential black and ethnic coaches who want to go into the game, one aspect that they always speak about are role models. They would like to see representation, more at a higher level. And any part I can play in that I am delighted to do.

When we see something as a problem, we have to try and solve it and the best way is generally through education.

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.

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.

Managing in the Premier League isn’t something I am fearful of.

When I started my pathway, black players were often considered to be good wingers, good players, but not captain or management material. It has changed since then, which is pleasing, but we still have so far to go.

If you’re not starting well and not taking the lead, then you’re constantly putting pressure on yourself as a team.