Manisha Tailor, the Head of Coaching Development of Championship team Queens Park Rangers, has announced her resignation from the London club after accepting a position with Tottenham Hotspur.
Tailor has been with QPR for eight years, and in 2021, she became the club’s Assistant Head of Coaching to former technical director and manager Chris Ramsey, making her the first woman and person of South Asian descent to occupy this role in English football.
However, following Ramsey’s departure earlier this year, Tailor was appointed Head of Coaching Development at Queens Park Rangers. In an old interview, Tailor identified Ramsey as one of the most important influences in her work thus far [quotes via Training Ground Guru].
“If it wasn’t for his firm but fair, no-nonsense approach, guidance and mentoring, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Furthermore, Tailor’s contributions to football, an excessively male-dominated sport, were recognized in 2017 when she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to the beautiful game and diversity in sport.
Unfortunately, Tailor’s time with the London ensemble is coming to an end. She will join Premier League team Tottenham Hotspur as an International Development Coach. Speaking on her departure from the Hoops, Tailor expressed her gratitude to the club for assisting her personal and coaching development [comments via Training Ground Guru]
“I have had a memorable journey and will always be grateful for the wonderful opportunities that have been presented to me to aid my personal and professional development,” she stated.
Chris Ramsey, the former Head of Coaching and Technical Director, took me under his wing as a volunteer in 2016. The allyship and transformational leadership, together with the desire to work hard and improve myself, have helped me acquire greater flexibility and resilience, resulting in the trajectory of my career at QPR.
“I want to put on record my gratitude to all the staff, players and parents for their support and wish the club all the very best for the future.”
Writer’s perspective
Queens Park Rangers has failed to recover from a series of poor mistakes made ten years ago, when the team was last in the Premier League. However, Manisha’s narrative demonstrates how right the club has been in other areas of diversity behind the scenes.
In a sport with so few female coaching representation on the men’s side, Tailor’s path is refreshing. She has surely worked tremendously to reach her current position, paving the way for young women and girls who desire to follow in her footsteps. Sometimes you have to go where there is no path and leave a trace. Manisha has done it.
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