The Coach as the Breaking Point in Football - The Missing Link in Football: Quality Management

Introduction:

In the world of football, the position of a coach is highly exposed and carries immense pressure. Recent examples of coach resignations and dismissals have shed light on the challenges faced by coaches in the sport. This article explores the significance of quality management in football and how it can serve as the missing link to address these issues.

1) Current Coach Examples: Resignations

Prominent coaches like Jurgen Klopp and Xavi Hernandez have recently cited reasons for their resignations that highlight the immense pressure they face. Klopp, upon resigning, mentioned a lack of energy as his reason. Xavi, in a recent press conference, expressed how coaches are made to feel inadequate on a daily basis. This alarming trend reflects the highly exposed position a coach holds in football.

2) Dismissals: The Other Side of the Coin

The behavior of clubs in response to desired results also impacts coaches significantly. If the desired outcome is not achieved, coaches are often dismissed, making them the breaking point in football. According to the UEFA Report of 2023, two-thirds of European clubs have changed their head coaches at least once. Over the past ten seasons, the turnover of head coaches has increased by 13%, with the highest number of dismissals recorded in the previous year. Most of these changes (71% across Europe) occur mid-season, indicating the unstructured nature of coach replacements. On average, head coaches in European top-level football last 1.31 years in their job or until the end of the season.

Research by Strykerlabs highlights the consequences of coach changes: there is no long-term positive development in rankings, teams performed better under the old coach after 20 games compared to under the new coach, and teams without coaching changes were more successful in the medium to long term compared to those with changes during the season. The positive impacts of a coaching change were noticeable for at least 10 games but diminished between 15-20 games. Additionally, the frequency of muscle injuries increased by 2.3 times in the two weeks following a new coach's appointment and remained 1.9 times higher after a month.

3) The Missing Link - The Solution

The solution lies in the development of a sustainable system and quality management within football clubs, with specific emphasis on supporting the coaching staff. Currently, the responsibility for the club's sporting development and player progression primarily rests on the shoulders of the head coach. The sole performance indicator is the result of the weekend game. If things do not go as planned, the solution often involves replacing the coach and starting afresh with new ideas. How can there be stability in a club under this constant cycle? The answer lies in implementing a quality management system, including performance and feedback systems, tactical control, mentoring and coaching, as well as research and development. Such a system would evaluate and optimize game plans, game phases, fundamental principles, training methods, set pieces, and overall methodologies. Additionally, it would emphasize coach development and support, as the quality and competence of coaches directly impact the development and performance of players.

Conclusion:

The role of coaches in football is critical, but their position is highly vulnerable, leading to resignations and dismissals. Implementing a robust quality management system in football can help create stability within clubs and provide support for coaches. By focusing on holistic development and optimizing processes, football clubs can ensure long-term success and enhance the overall performance of teams and players.