Leadership in the Modern Game
In an interview with beIN Sports last year, former Chelsea captain John Terry expressed his belief that modern football is severely lacking in terms of leadership. It’s an opinion that we have become used to hearing from ex pros, but is it a fair one?
Over the past 12 months, we have seen Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford take on the UK government with his free school meals campaign. On the blue side of Manchester, fellow England international Raheem Sterling has led the fight against racism. Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson, meanwhile, played a central role in organising an initiative that saw Premier League players donate a portion of their wages to help Health Services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Demonstrations of leadership like the ones discussed above seem to occur far more frequently among today’s footballers than during previous eras. Referencing the work done by Rashford in particular, Sky pundit and United legend Gary Neville recently admitted that players from his generation were more inclined to stay quiet about social issues.
“What you see now in Marcus Rashford and other young players, they want to go above and beyond. A player 20 years ago wouldn't have done this.”
With all this in mind, where does the notion that modern football lacks leaders come from? Is it simply that some people’s concept of a leader is restricted to players who shout at their teammates a lot?
This article will make the case that leadership comes in many forms. Namely; leading by example, leading through empathy, leading with courage, and leading through motivation.
Leading by Example
Basketball coach John Wooden once said that “young people need models, not critics”. Emerging talents with ambition to succeed in football will no doubt benefit from sharing a dressing room with model pros.
Arguably the game’s most dedicated professional, Cristiano Ronaldo spent the early parts of his career at Old Trafford with the likes of Ryan Giggs and the aforementioned Neville, who would have provided him with a masterclass in preparation and recovery.
Current champions of England, Liverpool, also boast a collection of ultimate pros. James Milner is perhaps the best example, with manager Jurgen Klopp stressing the importance of the Leeds born midfielder during last season’s title charge.
“Millie is unbelievably important. He is Mr. Professional. He is a role model for all the young boys, and not just the young boys. He had an exceptional career so far and he looks like he has a few more years in his locker.”
At the age of 35, Milner is still going strong at the highest level. 36-year-old Ronaldo, meanwhile, looks set to win yet another golden boot in Serie A with Juventus. Both Giggs and Neville also enjoyed long, illustrious, and relatively injury-free careers. The dedication of these individuals has clearly reaped great rewards.
While the exemplary leader might not necessarily be the loudest voice in the dressing room, the message their behaviour sends to the rest of the squad is a valuable asset for any club pursuing success.
Leading with Courage
Another example of ‘quiet leadership’, players can also lead by taking initiative in games, constantly asking for the ball, and stepping up when the pressure is on. Some individuals enjoy responsibility, taking pride in being the team’s ‘go-to guy’ in big moments.
While earlier we discussed Marcus Rashford’s off-field bravery, the England star also consistently shows courage on the pitch. A perfect example of this came in Man United’s Champions League quarter-final victory over PSG in 2019. In the last minute of the second leg in Paris, the Reds were awarded a penalty. A miss would have seen United knocked out, while a goal would have taken them through to the semi-finals thanks to the away-goals rule.
Aged just 22, Rashford stepped up to the mark and smashed the ball into the back of the net past Gianluigi Buffon. After the game, former United captain Rio Ferdinand praised the youngster’s mindset.
“When that penalty was given, there wasn’t any other player on that pitch who was going to get that ball. He went there and said ‘this is mine, this is my stage’. That’s the difference between good and top players. This kid is a top player.”
As demonstrated by Rashford’s strike at the Parc des Princes, individuals who lead with courage play a critical role in any successful side.
Leading with Empathy
An arm around the shoulder and some encouraging words can go a long way to helping a player perform at their best. It is perhaps this type of leader, the empath, who has rose to prominence in recent times.
The previously discussed Jordan Henderson is a great example, and with stadiums empty due to covid over the past year, we have been able to hear the midfielder lead his teammates through games with constant messages of support.
Liverpool’s local rivals Everton also have a captain high on empathy. Right-back Seamus Coleman recently opened up on his role in the Toffees dressing room;
“I’ve taken great pride in trying to help the younger lads as I’ve got older. It’s about treating them as people first, making sure they’re alright. I’d like to think if the young lads look back in a few years time, they’ll think - ‘he tried to help me’.”
Amid the highs and lows of competitive sport, every team needs players who will look out for others, recognise when a teammate needs help, and pick them up off the floor when things go wrong.
Leading with Motivation
While this article has so far looked a the ‘softer’ aspects of leadership, the final section will acknowledge the importance of vocal leaders who ensure that standards don’t drop.
Players who lead through motivation, making their voice heard on the pitch, are perhaps the type of leaders John Terry feels are missing from the modern game. Although we have seen that leadership can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, it may be true that personalities like Terry, Roy Keane, and Tony Adams are less common today. But they aren’t completely extinct, and they do still play a vital role in successful teams.
In January 2020, Man United completed the signing of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon. The Reds sat 5th in the Premier League at the time, with a points tally less than half that of 1st placed Liverpool. The pressure was building on manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In the 18 months since then, Fernandes has scored 24 goals and registered 18 assists in the league, helping United to 2nd place. His performances have also been central to the club’s Europa League success this season and he has quickly established himself as United’s most important player.
Goals and assists aren’t the only thing Fernandes has brought to the team, however, with many fans and pundits admiring his ‘winning mentality’. The Portuguese international is highly demanding of his teammates on the field, something his manager appreciates.
“I like a team that has that inner justice where it’s not just the coaches that shout. I want players to take responsibility and put other players in their places when it’s necessary. The players have reacted really well to Bruno.
Once in a while you have to take a rollicking when you deserve one. He’s not just giving out rollickings, he’s also instructing players. We can all learn from his mentality, that winning mentality.”
The image above comes from United’s Europa League semi-final defeat to Sevilla last season. Just a few months after arriving at his new club, Fernandes was comfortable criticising his teammates when he felt they weren’t pulling their weight.
He is the type of leader who helps to enforce a culture of high standards. If anyone starts to relax, or takes their eye off the ball, Fernandes will hold them accountable.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the different types of leaders that exist in a team. There may be less Sargent majors in football nowadays, but leadership traits such as empathy and courage are arguably more prevalent than ever. Furthermore, improvements in preparation and recovery standards mean that today’s game is filled with model professionals for young athletes to look up to.
While the manager is the primary leader of a team and the one tasked with laying down the foundations for success, it is important to have a group of players who can be trusted to lead when the manager isn’t there, including during games. Speaking about the changing room dynamics at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson, Rio Ferdinand said the following;
"He had laid down the law years ago. The machine then works itself. What was great about Sir Alex Ferguson was that he allowed us leaders to run that changing room."