This is a tough one.

No easy answer, or right one probably.

It’s very subjective, different from person to person.

However, some guidelines must be there – right ?

Leadership in Football is multifaceted. 

From Tactical guidance on the field to Strategic Vision in the Boardroom. 

Let’s start on the Coaching side, where Leadership Styles range from Authoritarian figures who rely on Control and Structure (ie. Diego Simeone, José Mourinho in his prime or even Pep Guardiola at some extent), Democratic Leaders as Carlo Ancelotti or Zidane, to Transformational Leaders like Luis Enrique, Ruben Amorim or De Zerbi (and probably Pep Guardiola at another end!), who try to inspire through a shared Philosophy, deep Tactical Understanding, and Emotional Intelligence. 

What are the differences here? 

An Authoritarian Coach is (normally) more rigid on their Approach, leading the team for success in a determined way, with clear rules that must be followed by all – team is above all.

Someone more Democratic wants to be accepted by all, liked by all, understood by all.

I would say that it’s unrealistic expectations, however, there’s no right path

You may’ve seen that I positioned Pep Guardiola on both ends, he’s Authoritarian in the way he wants his team to be positioned and play, but he’s also very Transformational and able to inspire others.

Probably, the magic is within the mix of different elements.

The truth is that, effective Coaches today blend Empathy, Clarity, and Adaptability to manage diverse Teams and high-pressure environments.

Here, is also important to understand the Profile of the Young generations, that have a stronger need for purpose above all, and probably easier disconnected. 

A great example may be Luis Enrique (PSG), that personifies the young spirits’ needs, of both freedom and control, positioning and constant movement, but even on the approach to days-off, to holidays, rest, etc.

In the Business field, though, Leadership demands a broader lens — combining multiple skills on  Financial Expertise, Talent Management, Communication, and Long-Term Planning. 

Modern Football Executives must be simultaneously Collaborative, Visionary, Inspiring, Hard-Working and Resilient. 

Whether as a Sporting Director aligning Recruitment and Playing Identity or Players Profile, or a CEO driving Brand Growth and Sustainability, Leadership involves building Systems that compound over time — from Youth Academies to Commercial Partnerships.

Let’s think about some examples:
. Developing Youth Academies – A super-heavy investment, in exchange for top-notch facilities and developing talented players on the long-run. The challenge is now to have the right Staff to make it happen!

. Data Driven Decisions – A less heavy investment, in comparison to building an entire new Academy, but also more constant, durable, although one that normally tends to have more immediate returns, if done properly. Either by investing in Platforms or Staff, implementing these strategies has been proof of multiple successes.

. Local Dominance – There are multiple examples of Clubs whose identity is strongly connected to their gens, roots and values. This market penetration Strategy can be seen as innovative and transformational, specially in areas where others are following a similar path of internationalization of their brand, or market.

. Multi-Club Ownership – Creating a supportive-net of Experts spread around the Globe, from Coaches, Scouts, Doctors or Managers that work for multiple Clubs almost simultaneously, promoting both an efficient use of Human and Financial Resources of the Clubs (ie. Transfers, Talent Pipeline, etc)

There are multiple examples, probably more than these stated here.

However, you understand the point I’m making here – guaranteeing Sustainability and Financial Efficiency, while being innovative and impactful.

True Football Leadership means creating a unified Culture across all Departments — where Coaching, Scouting, Operations, and Commercial work toward a common goal. 

It’s not about Charisma alone, but about aligning People, Resources, and Values behind a clear Strategy. 

Regardless the location, Football needs Leaders who Inspire, Align, and Evolve.

And the only way to get there is by bringing people back to Football, through better examples, Transparency and Passion for the Game.

That’s my job!