Seedorf blames racial bias for lack of managerial offers

The Milan legend had to leave Serie A after his short stint in charge of the Rossoneri.

Clarence Seedorf has opened up on his difficult managerial stint at Serie A.

The former midfielder spent around 14 years in Serie A, starring for Sampdoria and Inter, and Milan.

After ending his incredible spell with the Rossoneri, Seedorf returned to San Siro to kick-start his managerial career at his former club.

Milan managed to collect 35 points under Seedorf, winning half of their games between his arrival in January 2014 and the end of the season.

However, his performance didn’t convince the club to keep him beyond the 2014-15 campaign.

The four-time Champions League winner ended his managerial spell at Milan after only five months. He waited for two more years, only to take charge at the Chinese side, Shenzhen FC.

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‘Football reflects society’

Speaking at the Turin Sports Festival, the former Real Madrid star blamed racial bias for his lack of managerial opportunities in Italy.

“I wondered why I have not had other opportunities in Italy, I have two children born here,” he said (via Pianeta Milan).

“I don’t think it’s a racist country, I’ve always supported this and I think I understand how it is. There are racists, but [the country] isn’t.

“If one looks at what happened, there is little basis to understand that those who arrived [as head coach] after me at Milan immediately found a team [after then leaving Milan], and I didn’t even have one proposal. After 20 years in Italy… or they told me they didn’t want to offend me with a proposal.

“Send me a proposal, then I decide whether to be offended or not. It’s not only in Italy, there are few black coaches anywhere.

“I got my first serious proposal in China. I took it because I like to travel and I make every project an important thing.

“However, it is disappointing to see that after the experience at Milan, in which you do well, you do not receive a call.

“Football reflects society. I make it a life mission to create equality and inclusion. It should be the strength of the company.

“The world is now connected, there is no longer any way to keep people out. You are next to someone who does not resemble you, but who is more of your country than yourself, knows more… It was a difficult moment, I was aware of it, but I didn’t think it would happen with me.”