/** * https://gist.github.com/samthor/64b114e4a4f539915a95b91ffd340acc */ (function() { var check = document.createElement('script'); if (!('noModule' in check) && 'onbeforeload' in check) { var = false; document.addEventListener('beforeload', function(e) { if (e.target === check) { = true; } else if (!e.target.hasAttribute('nomodule') || !) { return; } e.preventDefault(); }, true); check.type = 'module'; check.src = '.'; document.head.appendChild(check); check.remove(); } }());

The black coaches leading Orlando Pride to success

Seb Hines in the Orlando Pride dugoutGetty Images

Seb Hines spent 10 years at Middlesbrough during his playing career

Emma Sanders
BBC Sport women’s football news reporter

Englishman Seb Hines says "being a trailblazer comes with responsibility" after he became the first black manager to win a trophy in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) with Orlando Pride.

Orlando won the league title - the NWSL Shield - a fortnight ago, with Marta's penalty setting up a 2-0 win over Washington Spirit that delivered the club's first piece of silverware.

Hines, 36, was born in Leeds and spent 10 years playing for Middlesbrough in the Championship before moving his family to Orlando at the end of his career.

He moved into coaching, starting out in volunteering roles before eventually taking over at Orlando Pride after an independent investigation found abuse and misconduct was "systemic" in NWSL clubs, including at Pride.

Hines has reshaped the club's culture since taking over in 2022 and, alongside assistant coaches Giles Barnes and Yolanda Thomas, has become an inspiration for black coaches in the United States with their recent success.

"I was the first black coach in history to take over in the NWSL," Hines told BBC Sport.

"The league has been going for over 10 years so to be the first shows it has moved forward, but also makes you wonder why other black coaches weren’t getting opportunities before.

"Being a trailblazer comes with a big responsibility because I want to advocate for more black coaches and diversity within the sport.

"It’s a responsibility to fight for more equality globally. It’s less about winning and more about breaking those barriers. I want to continue to give hope to others."

Orlando Pride's success this season means they are already the number one seed heading into the play-offs.

They take on Gotham FC in one of their two remaining regular-season games on Sunday (kick-off 22:00 BST), hoping to extend their unbeaten run for the calendar year.