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United Kingdom Iffy Onuora has transitioned from a professional football player and manager to a prominent figure in equality, diversity, and inclusion within sports, notably serving as the Premier League's first Head of EDI.
Appointed as the Premier League's first Head of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in 2021. This role involves overseeing EDI matters within the league and promoting best practices among clubs. He also collaborates with external partners like Stonewall and Kick It Out.
Served as an equalities officer and regional coach since 2012, working to promote equal opportunities and diversity within professional football, especially for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic coaches.
Received an honor from the university in 2025, 40 years after studying BSc Social Sciences there, recognizing his achievements and connection to the institution's commitment to social mobility.
Collaborates with Stonewall, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights charity, to lead and deliver equality, diversity, and inclusion campaigns and programs within football through his Premier League role.
Works with Kick It Out, an equality and inclusion organization, to lead and deliver EDI campaigns and programs, aiming to combat discrimination in football.
Iffy Onuora, born July 28, 1967, in Glasgow, Scotland, embarked on a professional football career as a striker, playing for various English clubs. His journey began in youth football with Everton before joining Bradford University F.C. in 1988. He then played for Huddersfield Town from 1989 to 1994, making 165 appearances and scoring 30 goals. This was followed by stints at Mansfield Town (1994-1996), Gillingham (1996-1998), Swindon Town (1998-2000), and a second spell at Gillingham (2000-2002). His playing career also included times with Sheffield United, Wycombe Wanderers, Grimsby Town, and Tranmere Rovers, concluding his playing days at Huddersfield Town in 2004. He scored 133 goals across nearly 500 professional matches.
Following his retirement from playing in 2004, Onuora moved into coaching and management. He secured his UEFA Pro Licence in July 2007, marking a significant step in his coaching development. His managerial roles included Swindon Town (2005-2006), caretaker manager at Gillingham (2007), and acting manager at Lincoln City (2008). A notable international coaching experience was his tenure as head coach of the Ethiopian national football team from 2010 to 2011. In 2012, Onuora transitioned into an advocacy role, joining the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) as an equalities officer and regional coach. This role involved working to improve opportunities for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic coaches within the sport.
A significant career milestone occurred in January 2021 when Onuora was appointed as the Premier League’s first Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. In this role, he is responsible for leading EDI matters at the Premier League and supporting best practices across Premier League clubs. He also collaborates with external partners such as Stonewall and Kick It Out to deliver EDI campaigns and programs. This position highlights his career progression from a professional athlete to a leader in promoting inclusivity and fairness within the football community. In 2025, he was honored by the University of Bradford for his contributions.
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