On 18 August 2025, Leicester-born football coach Ashvir Singh Johal was appointed as the new manager of Morecambe F.C., making the 30-year-old the youngest manager as well as the first Sikh manager in England's top 5 leagues. This was a full-circle moment for Singh Johal, who completed his FA Level 1 in 2011, when he was only 16, and completed the UEFA Pro Licence — the highest qualification in football coaching and management — earlier this summer. In an X post announcing this achievement, Johal wrote: "The goal was to one day reach this point. To have done it now, at 30, and as one of the youngest ever to do so, is something I'm incredibly proud of."
Singh Johal's coaching journey began at Leicester City, his hometown club, where he spent 10 years coaching across the full player pathway from U7s to U18s. "I was fortunate to be at the club during one of the most historic periods in its history," he says, "Premier League and FA Cup triumphs, a Community Shield win, and unforgettable European nights in the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. Being at the club, during that time period, in my own city, is something I’ll always cherish and consider a privilege."
Singh Johal began his coaching career at the First Team level when he was appointed as Kolo Toure's First Team Coach at Wigan Athletic in the EFL Championship. He then moved to Italy to serve as Cesc Fabregas' Assistant Coach at Como 1907 Primavera. These early experiences propelled his career and shaped his identity as a coach. Earlier this year, he achieved a major milestone by completing the UEFA Pro Licence with The FA, the highest qualification in football coaching and management, achieving a goal he set for himself when he was just 16, after earning his first coaching qualification, the FA Level 1, in 2011. His appointment as the Morecambe F.C. manager is the culmination of all these steps towards a singular goal.
Singh Johal arrives during a transitional period for Morecambe. Following their relegation from League Two in May, the Shrimps faced a delay in their season after being suspended by the National League for failing to meet compliance requirements.
Singh Johal's appointment as the manager of Morecambe F.C. also comes against a backdrop of reactionary discussions in European politics surrounding identity, citizenship, and belonging. As a practicing Sikh-English person of colour in a prominent position in English football — and by extension, European football — Ashvir Singh Johal challenges prevailing conservative narratives about immigration, assimilation, and who belongs in Europe.
Follow Ashvir Singh Johal here.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
A New Era In Indian Women's Football: Team India Aim For World Cup Glory
India & The World Cup: Tracing The Enduring Cultural Legacy Of Football In Indian Cities
Where India’s Children Play Football – From Railway Tracks To Conflict Zones