Manraj Sucha is a shining light within the coaching community. Whilst he once had hopes of playing the game professionally himself, his career now is dedicated to ensuring that future generations are equipped to play the game at any level. As a South Asian coach, not only is he an inspiration, he is an example of what we need in the game.

Whilst he has had previous experience of being Head of Performance Analysis at Northampton Town FC and coaching at professional academies such as MK Dons, Luton, Chesterfield and Walsall, Manraj is now on the Premier League Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme (CIDS) – a Premier League programme aimed at increasing the number of female coaches and male Black, Asian and mixed heritage coaches from a variety of backgrounds in English professional football.

The scheme itself, first introduced in 2020, provides coaches with a bursary and 23-month work placement at a Premier League or Category One club. Manraj impressed the club enough to be awarded with a full time, permanent position. The aim is that coaches achieve sustainable coaching roles post-placement. In becoming role models, they can inspire a new generation to also become coaches within the professional game.

Brentford are renowned for being one of the most forward thinking clubs in the Premier League. As the side continue preparations for their reinstated academy, it’s no surprise that there’s a real sense of excitement about the calibre of player the club could produce and how Manraj can play a key role in that.

VERSUS sat down with Manraj to talk about his journey through coaching, how the Premier League has helped him so far on his journey and why his mission is greater than just coaching.

How have you benefited from being on the Premier League Coach Inclusion Diversity Scheme?

I got onto the scheme in 2023 but I have been on the radar of the Premier League for a long time after interviewing for other schemes. Back then, you had to look for clubs yourself which was very difficult compared to now.

The great thing about the scheme is the ability to network with so many coaches across the game and being able to upskill myself in terms of coach education through all of the workshops put on by the Premier League.

Having the ability to constantly learn and improve on a formal scheme is really important. I feel extremely well supported on my journey.

‍How impactful have Brentford been on your career so far?

To get my first full-time coaching role at the club is big for me. The recruitment process was very thorough and intense. So getting through that when I know they are trying to hire the best people enables me to have faith in my ability to do what I do. Not only because I showed I can do it but because the club believed in me too.

‍How does the lack of diversity in coaching make you feel?

I wish there wasn’t a lack of diversity within football. It’s something that needs addressing. You have to be good enough to do the job, but people need an opportunity to show that they can. Research shows  that diverse environments increase success rates, innovation and help bring people together. 

There’s a massive amount of underrepresentation within both playing and coaching. So if there is a lack of players and a lack of coaches, we are then lacking role models and inspiration for future generations. 

It needs to be organically improved, but at the same time, the unconscious biases that exist need to be changed and challenged. 

This is even more evident when looking at South Asians within football. Education is such an important piece in order to move things forward. There will be cultural differences that might make it more difficult to step into the football environment. But how do we overcome some of the misconceptions? How do we ensure diversity across the gatekeepers so that players are not hindered because of their background? That comes with education at all levels.

‍How different do you think your experience of football would have been, if you had a coach like yourself when you were younger?

So I played for and captained Asian teams when I was younger and grew up around people from my community. I played in other teams where I was not perceived as well as I was with the Asian teams and received some direct and indirect remarks because I was wearing a turban. 

In some other cases like my PE teacher, I received a lot of support from people from different backgrounds. Having coaches from my background may have been beneficial, but it’s more about having people who are educated, are fair and give opportunities to everyone. Just like my PE teacher and other coaches in my life were. It is not just about coming from a diverse background, everyone has to have an awareness of supporting people fairly. Your background should not dictate how that happens. 

‍Are you aware of the impact your journey is having?

I try to support other coaches where I can. I don’t try to look at what I do, but hopefully my journey can inspire people not just from a similar background, but all backgrounds.

I’m aware that role models are needed. If I am able to be a role model, I have to appreciate that. 

‍What do you hope to achieve going forward in your coaching journey?

I have goals and ideas of my next steps which the club are aware of. Currently, the club and all the staff here have been super supportive and enabled me to develop in different environments. The main thing is to do my role really well and hopefully push on from here whilst developing as a coach and aiding these young people.

VERSUS: What does being a coach mean to you?

‍Manraj: For me, it’s about providing opportunities and supporting players to maximise their potential.

I saw the benefits of coaching when I was younger and played football. So now, I’m trying to do the same for the younger generation. Within the academy system, you get a lot of talented players who may not achieve their potential and it’s not all down to them.

Sometimes, it could be down to support mechanisms or the environment. The important thing is, good coaching can aid these players. That’s why it is so important to me.

I try to support players in terms of putting them first as people and looking at their development. For me, it’s not just about their technical ability, we have to look at people holistically. 

That could be technical, tactical, physical, psychological, social and many other factors. We are developing people here. That is the most important thing as a coach. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach over 60 players for at least a full season, who have gone on to become scholars or professionals.

‍Why is it important that players have a coach like you?

I think that diversity is very important. I have been in environments where there are no other coaches from ethnically diverse backgrounds. It may often be the first time a young person has encountered anyone from a diverse background - more specifically Sikh, when they have someone like myself as a coach.

For them to be coached by someone like me, provides education within those environments. It may be within football but that experience then extends to their whole life. They may have never met someone from a diverse background that closely, but now they can understand that there is not a massive difference. We are all people.

‍Did you always believe that being a coach was a possibility for you?

When I got injured, I found it difficult to recover physically, and mentally. That took me on a journey of understanding why it ‘wasn’t so easy for me anymore’. I wanted to stay in football and if you are competent at something, you enjoy it, you are more likely to succeed. So I decided to pursue the coaching route. There was also a local coach who was Asian at a club with a wonderful lady who was chair of the youth section, and my uncle coached the Asian team I played for. 

That was beneficial for me and made me realise that I could become a coach. My dad competed in Greco Roman Wrestling all over the world and those role models were important for me. Future generations need to have that too and hopefully I can be that.

‍What has your coaching journey until today been like?

It’s been a long journey. Euro 96 as a home tournament inspired me. I played and did well as a youngster and loved the game. I played in a lot of Asian tournaments when growing up, played for school teams and local clubs, before getting injured during a trial with a professional club, and that took me on a journey. I did make a comeback and played for a brief period representing Panjab FA but coaching had taken over my life. 

To stay in the game, I started coaching. It started by coaching at grassroots level for 6 years as well as in schools and  Development Centres with MK Dons. I volunteered and became a coach at the academy at MK Dons before moving over to Luton Town.

I had done a Masters in Sports Performance which helped me to get an internship as an analyst for the first team at MK Dons, following which I got my first full time job in football as Head of Performance Analysis at Northampton Town first team, back in 2012. 

I then went into teaching, whilst coaching part time,  before deciding to go into coaching full time. I’ve been coaching for 18 years, and in academy football for 12 years, I have held full time roles in community trusts as well, managed in non-league football, to Brentford FC today.