In the ever-evolving world of football, the coaching market is a dynamic landscape where dreams are realized, and careers are shaped. It’s a realm where clubs and coaches alike come together in pursuit of shared aspirations and ambitions. But the process isn’t clear, transparent, or perhaps the Coaches don’t understand what is actually required to be an option for that place.

Let’s try to put this together and understand better the perspectives, considerations and premisses from each side!

“It’s essential to establish a shared vision and a sense of unity from the outset, fostering a culture of teamwork and mutual accountability.”

From the Club’s perspective, and I believe we all agree these to be the premisses involved, hiring a Coach is not merely about finding someone to lead the Team – it’s about identifying a visionary strategist, someone that can turn into a master motivator, and a cultural fit who can inspire greatness both on and off the pitch. Clubs seek coaches who bring a winning mentality, tactical innovation, and a commitment to excellence, aligning with the club’s ethos and long-term objectives!

On the flip side, Coaches entering the market must carefully consider their aspirations, values, and career trajectory. It’s not just about landing any job – and we have already covered this before with the accepting/refusing a job opportunity here https://tactictalks.org/2024/03/04/what-concerns-should-a-coach-have-before-taking-the-job/ – it’s about finding the right opportunity that aligns with their coaching Philosophy, personal goals, and desired Level of challenge. Therefore, Coaches should assess factors such as Club stability, Resources, and support Infrastructure to ensure a conducive environment for success.

Moreover, both clubs and coaches must prioritize effective communication and transparency throughout the hiring process. Clear expectations, mutual respect, and open dialogue lay the foundation for a strong working relationship built on trust and collaboration.
It’s essential to establish a shared vision and a sense of unity from the outset, fostering a culture of teamwork and mutual accountability (this is a powerful word in the real world, but one that most people tend to avoid).

All the above seems amazing and logic but, the question is: does it all goes through all this stages before signing?

Probably not, in most cases. 

And here, there’s no single guilt. Everyone involved has their own fault in the continuous cycle of bad signings, early layoffs, etc. 

“How many Clubs are clear to set their Philosophy and Values? How many Clubs are known to believe in some kind of Game Methodology, or Model? How many Clubs do you know to have a designed Player Path and Role Player Model for each position?”

To start, and I start here only because a Club should be the result of a joint thinking process, with multiple people (assuming intelligent people) surrounding and supporting each other, it should start with the Club. How many Clubs are clear to set their Philosophy and Values? How many Clubs are known to believe in some kind of Game Methodology, or Model? How many Clubs do you know to have a designed Player Path and Role Player Model for each position of the field?

Now, let’s flip the coin and think about the Coaches.

As any individual seeking for success in this career, Coaches are prone to mislead themselves in the most various ways. To start with the individual itself, to know yourself, your believes, your values and objectives are the first steps. Why you feel that one way to attack is better than other? What are the main differences in Tactical Systems, Pressing Models, Attacking Strategies? What spaces and blanks are left if you decide one over the other (because nothing is perfect)? Can you read the game? Can you understand each players needs and strengths? And then, on the ladder of life, how many accept works they don’t understand the complexity of it? Or that they don’t feel comfortable working with X or Y, but accept it anyway? Or simply put, they don’t believe it can actually work?

Many, many questions…

And this is why is so important to start with YOU.
Prepare yourself, study, win, lose, try, make mistakes, learn.
Know yourself first.

Ultimately, we all know that the Coaching market in Football is far from being perfect (and we are not talking about the Educational System… yet!) and represent a tapestry of dreams and aspirations, where Clubs and Coaches intersect in pursuit of aligning greatness. 

By embracing the journey with humility, passion, consistency and resilience, we can navigate the twists and turns of the market with grace and determination.

In your opinion, would this facilitate the next search for the Head Coach??

Let me know!