Keith Alexander: A Tribute, by Kick it Out campaigner Leon Mann

By Mirror Football in Mirror Football Blog

Published 16:10 03/03/10

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When you flat line three times, the last thing you do is throw yourself back into the very job that nearly killed you.

But such was Keith Alexander's love of football - and management - he couldn't resist taking up the reins as soon as he recovered from a brain aneurysm in 2003.

After 17 years as a successful manager - mastering the art of working with limited resources - football has lost one of it's most engaging characters. A boss who many feel should have been given greater opportunities higher up the leagues.

For the black community, Keith was more than just the the longest serving non-white manager in the professional game. He was the man who gave us hope that you could make it as a leader in an industry where you faced discrimination, are massively under represented and often feel alone. There was never any time for moaning when it came to Keith, he was intent on leading by example. Getting on with it.

His son, Matt, described him to me as his hero yesterday. The 6 foot 4 towering Alexander was similarly regarded - and will undoubtedly be remembered as such - by our country's most celebrated black players for what he achieved as a pioneering manager.

It was for this reason that he was recognised on the game's "Black List" in 2008 and 2009 - an annual awards evening I set up to recognise the 30 most influential black people in football. For The FA, Premier League, Kick It Out and PFA he was always the first name they would put forward.

His close friend, Paul Ince at MK Dons and Newcastle Manager, Chris Hughton, are now the only black managers in the professional game. A sorry state of affairs given more than 25% of professional footballers are black.

On a sad day for football fans - of all backgrounds - it's worth reflecting on whether either Chris or Paul would be where they are without Keith's shining example of staying in there when things get tough.

British football should not forget Keith Alexander and his contribution to our national game. The next generation of black managers will not.

Leon Mann is a former spokesman for Kick it Out and Football Against Racism in Europe, founder of the Black List awards and currently a producer and journalist for BBC Sport.

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