Despite having achieved more on paper than his European counterparts, Al Wahda coach Pitso Mosimane has conceded that his chances of coaching a European club are slim.
The 59-year-old South African has made no secret of his desire to coach in Europe but has been honest about the prospects of it happening, given how rare it is for a European club to hire an African coach.
In a recent sit-down with Abu Dhabi TV, Mosimane reiterated his stance on coaching in Europe, saying: “Do you think Bayern Munich will come to me? Let’s talk reality – they won’t! Because they’ve got Thomas Tuchel who I know and he spoke very well to me but it’s not me. Let’s not even talk about Bayern, let’s talk about RB Leipzig, Red Bull Salzburg… do you think they’ve got a coach who has got trophies like me? No one in history.”
Mosimane also highlighted the disparity between the opportunities given to African players and coaches in Europe, saying: “Clubs in Europe take African players, there is no team in Europe that doesn’t have African players. From George Weah, Abedi Pele who have all won the [UEFA] Champions League, where is the African coaches? They only have African players. You say let the African coach have the quality – I’m here! Europe doesn’t want me. They don’t have a coach who has my CV.”
The Al Wahda coach concluded by emphasising that “football is not about where you come from, football is not whether you are African, but we need to look at it the way it is. You can run around it, we can escape but Europe doesn’t hire African coaches. My job is to build the trust and the legacy for Europe to say ‘there’s something in Africa, let’s give them a chance’.”
