Manager (association football)
Encyclopedia
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team
. The manager of a professional club
is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football
. In the majority of countries where professional football is played, the person responsible for the direction of a team is awarded the position of coach
or "trainer".
The manager's responsibilities in a professional football club usually include but are not limited to the following:
Some of the above responsibilities are shared with the director of football
or sporting director, and are at times delegated to an assistant manager or club coach.
Additionally, depending on the club, some minor responsibilities include:
These responsibilities are more common among managers of small clubs.
The responsibilities of a European football (soccer) manager tend to be divided up in North American professional sports, where the teams usually have a separate general manager and head coach
, although occasionally a person may fill both roles of general manager and head coach. While the first team coach in football (soccer) is usually an assistant to the manager who actually holds the real power, the American style general manager and head coach have clearly distinct areas of responsibilities. For example, a typical European football manager would have the final say on player lineups and contract negotiations, while in American sports these duties would be handled separately by the head coach and general manager, respectively.
National team
A National sports team , is a team that represents a nation, rather than a particular club or region, in a sport....
. The manager of a professional club
Sports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football
Football in the United Kingdom
Football in the United Kingdom is organised on a separate basis in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom, with each having a national football association responsible for the overall management of football within their respective country. There is no United Kingdom national football team...
. In the majority of countries where professional football is played, the person responsible for the direction of a team is awarded the position of coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
or "trainer".
The manager's responsibilities in a professional football club usually include but are not limited to the following:
- Selecting a lineup of players for matches.
- Planning the strategy, and instructing the same on the pitchAssociation football pitchAn association football pitch is the playing surface for the game of association football made of turf. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play".All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define...
. - Delegating duties to the first team coach and the coaching and medical staffCoaching staffThe coaching staff is a group of non-athletes tied to a sports team. It is led by a head coach , and consists of one or more assistant coaches, together with other members such as doctors, massage therapists, trainers, and equipment managers....
. - Scouting for young but talented players for eventual training in the youth academyYouth systemYouth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
or the reservesReserve teamLarge professional sports clubs often have far more players under contract than could possibly play in a match. As a result, many of these clubs create second teams composed of players who need playing time, but have little hope of playing on the first team. The players on this second team are...
. - Buying and selling players in the transfer marketTransfer (football)In professional association football, a transfer is the action taken whenever a player under contract moves between professional clubs. It refers to the transferring of a player's registration from one professional association football club to another. In general, the players can only be...
, including loans.
Some of the above responsibilities are shared with the director of football
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
or sporting director, and are at times delegated to an assistant manager or club coach.
Additionally, depending on the club, some minor responsibilities include:
- Marketing the club, most especially for ticket admission, sponsorship and merchandising.
- Growing turnover and keeping the club profitable.
These responsibilities are more common among managers of small clubs.
The responsibilities of a European football (soccer) manager tend to be divided up in North American professional sports, where the teams usually have a separate general manager and head coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, although occasionally a person may fill both roles of general manager and head coach. While the first team coach in football (soccer) is usually an assistant to the manager who actually holds the real power, the American style general manager and head coach have clearly distinct areas of responsibilities. For example, a typical European football manager would have the final say on player lineups and contract negotiations, while in American sports these duties would be handled separately by the head coach and general manager, respectively.
See also
- Caretaker managerCaretaker managerIn association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
- Player-manager
- List of managers and coaches who have qualified for the UEFA Pro Licence