Outlined up to a minimum of 4 series, BOSS MAN is a hard-hitting drama serial based on the ivory ceiling that appears to stand between countless black ex-pro footballers and managerial jobs, despite their earning the required coaching badges. Shedding light on both the systemic racism of the boardroom and the overt racism on the terraces, BOSS MAN asks serious questions of the supposed meritocracy in "the beautiful game" and encompasses broader themes of black consciousness, identity and exploitation in the age of Black Lives Matter and post-truth populism.
Synopsis:
Cyrus Vertue is a recently-retired black footballer who won 58 caps for England. A born leader, who gained the requisite coaching badges whilst still playing, Cyrus is frustrated by the ivory ceiling that prevents qualified non-white candidates from gaining jobs as club managers.
After unsuccessfully interviewing for countless jobs Cyrus is minded to give up the dream and enjoy the easy life as a TV pundit when he is offered the one post nobody – least of all someone of his background – wants. ForestTown Athletic: a South East London club in both financial and footballing freefall, with a notorious hardcore of racist, hooligan supporters. Against the advice of family, friends and the wider football fraternity he takes the job.
After a rocky beginning, a grudging mutual respect develops between Cyrus and the fans as he turns the club’s fortunes around. However that tolerance is only paper-thin as Cyrus finds his increasing profile as a beacon of minority ethnic achievement continually conflicts with his duty to ForestTown and their crudely fickle support. When his success attracts the interest of bigger clubs and a possible fast-track to become the first non-white manager of the England national team, he earns an escape from his Faustian Pact... only to find a subtler, more systemic racism in the upper echelons of the game which is every bit as pervasive as the explicit variety he left behind at ForestTown.
Cyrus Vertue is a recently-retired black footballer who won 58 caps for England. A born leader, who gained the requisite coaching badges whilst still playing, Cyrus is frustrated by the ivory ceiling that prevents qualified non-white candidates from gaining jobs as club managers.
After unsuccessfully interviewing for countless jobs Cyrus is minded to give up the dream and enjoy the easy life as a TV pundit when he is offered the one post nobody – least of all someone of his background – wants. ForestTown Athletic: a South East London club in both financial and footballing freefall, with a notorious hardcore of racist, hooligan supporters. Against the advice of family, friends and the wider football fraternity he takes the job.
After a rocky beginning, a grudging mutual respect develops between Cyrus and the fans as he turns the club’s fortunes around. However that tolerance is only paper-thin as Cyrus finds his increasing profile as a beacon of minority ethnic achievement continually conflicts with his duty to ForestTown and their crudely fickle support. When his success attracts the interest of bigger clubs and a possible fast-track to become the first non-white manager of the England national team, he earns an escape from his Faustian Pact... only to find a subtler, more systemic racism in the upper echelons of the game which is every bit as pervasive as the explicit variety he left behind at ForestTown.
