Staying patient
Coley looks for right opportunity after UEFA Pro Licence success
Published:Thursday | December 28, 2023 | 12:12 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
WHEN MIGUEL Coley left Jamaica in 2017, he dreamt that he would be coaching an established European club in five years.
Although things have not worked out that way for the former Jamaica College coach, he continues to make significant strides, coaching in Asia.
Recently, Coley took a step closer to making his dream a reality after completing his UEFA Pro Licence, the qualification needed to coach professional football in Europe.
Coley coaches at first division club Umm Salal, however, after four years as Winfried Schäfer’s assistant across numerous Asian clubs, he is awaiting the right opportunity.
“When I was in Jamaica I was thinking that maybe by 2023 I would be at one of the top clubs in Europe.
“It is very difficult because many of the clubs are now gearing towards having big-name [former] professional players as their head coach.
“But where I am at now, I think I am at a good place. It is just for the right opportunity to come,” he said.
According to Coley, aligning himself with the right agent to offer him proper representation is also crucial.
“It is about those things, aligning yourself properly. Once you get that opportunity, the sky is always the limit.
“But the most important thing is to be qualified and to have the experience, and not many coaches have the experience that I have,” he reasoned.
Coley also assisted Schäfer during his stint as Reggae Boyz coach from February 2014 to September 2016 before following the German into Asia.
In Asia, Schäfer and Coley teamed up with Saudi Arabian club Esteghal, then Baniyas in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Al-Khor in Qatar before the latter moved to Umm Salal.
However, getting to this stage has been no easy task. Apart from the long and arduous courses, Coley said he has had to work to establish himself as a respectable coach in the region.
BUILD REPUTATION
“When they saw me as a Jamaican coach they started to talk about (Usain) Bolt and Bob Marley. So you have to really come here and cement yourself in a short space of time.
“I have been here six years to really cement myself. For persons in the federation to recommend me for a Pro Licence means I happen to be doing something good.”
With Asian clubs looking more to European big names to fill their coaching slots, he noted the he is not opposed to working outside of Asia.
“The objective now after being in the first division for so many years is to get a head-coaching job. It could be Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Qatar. I am also looking in Concacaf.
“I have gotten a lot of opportunities in Concacaf, but it is to be director of football. But it is not something that I really want. I like being on the field.
“So when a coaching job comes up, I will consider one of them. But it has to be a good project. You want a good project that can be beneficial to the country or club and yourself. So I cannot say I am only going to focus on Asia. I have to look also outside for the best opportunity.”
Coley is now the first Jamaica-born coach to hold a UEFA Pro License badge, however, he insisted that he never set out to be the first, only to achieve his goals.
“For me it is not even about being the first. I have my objectives I want to achieve, and you just have to go for it, and it is very difficult.
“So it is not a race to be the first, second, or third. It is just that you have your goals and your objectives and you want to inspire other coaches,” he said.