Who is Ashvir Singh Johal? The first Sikh and youngest manager in Britain's top five tiers

India Today

8 hours ago

Ashvir Singh Johal has made history as the first Sikh to take charge of a professional British football club and the youngest manager across the top five tiers of English football. The 30-year-old has been appointed as manager of National League side Morecambe FC, following the club's takeover by the Panjab Warriors consortium. His appointment comes after the dismissal of Derek Adams earlier this week.advertisementAlthough this is Johal's first senior managerial role, his path to this position has been defined by years of dedicated coaching experience across youth and professional setups. He began his journey into coaching at the age of 16, completing his FA Level 1 qualification while still in school. He spent his teenage years laying cones, teaching PE lessons, and volunteering at Leicester City, where he gradually progressed from community sessions to coaching in the academy. Over a decade, he worked his way from coaching the U7s to the U18s, balancing his responsibilities with A-Levels and later university studies.WHO IS ASHVIR SINGH JOHAL?In 2022, Johal secured his first role in senior football as assistant coach at Wigan Athletic under former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure. Despite the brevity of Toure's tenure, Johal credits the experience as formative, highlighting lessons learned in leadership, professionalism, and team culture. He later joined another Arsenal great, Cesc Fabregas, as assistant manager of the Primavera (U19) team at Como in Italy. There, he continued his development, working closely with Fbregas and gaining valuable insight into tactical clarity and team identity.
His time in Italy was cut short due to Brexit-related work permit issues, prompting a return to England, where he took charge of Notts County's B-team. The role allowed him to bridge the gap between academy and first-team football, offering an important stepping stone in his career. Earlier this summer, Johal became one of the youngest coaches in English football history to complete his UEFA Pro Licence, graduating alongside former England and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. Just over a month later, he was handed his first professional managerial post with Morecambe.Johal arrives at a club facing transition. The Shrimps' season was delayed after the National League suspended them for failing to meet compliance requirements. Their first competitive fixture is now scheduled for this Saturday against Altrincham, following their relegation from League Two in May.Reflecting on his journey, Johal told the BBC in June that he had been preparing for this opportunity for several years. "I've been working hard for the last five or six years. I've known I wanted to be a manager. How do I learn from the right people? How do I be around the right environments? So that when I get the opportunity to be a manager, I'm successful from the start."He added, "This is about Morecambe Football Club. It's about building a team that can perform on the pitch. That's our priority this season."- Ends