The Confidence Coach's Sports Psychology Reports
McDonald's Grassroots Mum's Campaign
This report was created by Martin Perry, exclusively for the McDonald's Mum's Grassroots Coaching Project.
The aim of Part Two this special Sports Psychology report is to give insight into the football managers that embody the qualities prevalent in a Grassroot's Mum.
The Research
1 - Discipline
Discipline is the code by which a manager educates his players as to what is or isnt acceptable behaviour. Its about ensuring nothing interferes with the winning mentality. Its unemotional. Its clinical. Single-minded. Ruthless. Its about creating clear rules that serve the God Of Winning.
Sometimes the manager who places a big focus on discipline will develop an intolerance of others less committed than themselves.
They will freeze players out if they upset him in any way. Their ruthlessness will overlay any feelings or emotion they have about anyone they may have upset.
On the touchline a glance from the Disciplined Manager is enough to let the unfortunate player know they have broken the code. They will likely substitute the player, then ignore them as they walk past them. The code is everything to this type of manager. Break the code and there will be consequences.
The disciplined manager will often prefer the touchline to the stand, to remind the players of their presence.
Roy Keane (Sunderland FC)
Much of the way in which Roy Keane creates a disciplined culture at Sunderland is done in private. But in March 2007, before an away trip to Barnsley, Keane revealed that he had dropped three players as punishment for missing the team bus on the Friday afternoon.
He ordered the bus to leave on time for the teams overnight hotel. "You have to be on time and respect your team-mates," Keane said, explaining the absence of Anthony Stokes, a teenager signed from Arsenal for 2 million, Swedish international Tobias Hysen and reserve goalkeeper Marlon Fulop.
"I have given players the benefit of the doubt once, twice but not three times," said Keane. "If you work in a factory, as I once did, you have to clock in on time or you'll suffer. I want people to take notice of what we're trying to do and I won't let one or two spoil that.
"I think for the last few seasons Sunderland have been seen as a soft touch, an easy ride for certain players. You've got to draw the line somewhere - and the line has been drawn. They should check their contracts. It's in the small print... you have to be on time."
Keane is generally quiet on the touchline. But his intense focus and occasional finger to side of the head gesture, demands his players remain focused and disciplined. Words are not necessary. Its all in his brooding gum-chewing presence. There will be consequences if standards drop, is the hidden message.
Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United FC)
Just observe Sir Alex Ferguson on match-day at Old Trafford. You wont find him in the stands. You wont see him taking notes. His high concentration levels suggest he stores the games detail in his intensely focused mind.
He stands throughout a match, designed to make clear that incompetence, lowering of standards, or not playing for the good of the team would be granted no quarter.
Sir Alex has never been frightened of making ruthless decisions to axe players if it is the best interests of the football club. The decision to sell Jaap Stam to Lazio in 2001 is a good example of this. The dropping of his trusted goalkeeper Jim Leighton after an indifferent performance in the 1990 Cup Final is a further demonstration of this capacity to make the tough decision.
When David Beckham missed training three times in late 1999, Ferguson was swift to discipline him, nor was he slow to sell Paul Ince in 1995, when it became clear to him that the opinionated midfielder was starting to think he was bigger than the team.
Ferguson said,It doesnt matter to me how high a players profile is. If he is in the wrong he is disciplined. And David was in the worng.Nicky Butt, Phil Neville or Ole Gunnar Solksjaer cannot count on being regulars in our first team but they are model pros who never miss training.
2 - Patience
Patience is the recognition that the development of both individual players and a winning team takes time. The patient manager is one who can manage expectations. Both of himself and others. The patient manager can handle pressure and is equally concerned with player development as they are with results.
The patient manager exudes respect for self, and others. Thus, players are treated like adults and are expected to respond appropriately. It's an inclusive style that allows all to contribute and feel a strong sense of belonging and moral certainty; in many ways like a family. Those excluded, though, are apt to criticise unthinkingly. They may see the patient manager to be weak.
Sven Goran Eriksson (Manchester City FC)
It is Eriksson's readiness to canvas player opinion that is his main distinguishing feature as a manager, and sometimes leaves him open to criticism. An example from his time as England manager, would be his decision to consult his midfield players on whether to play the diamond formation or not in crucial World Cup qualifying matches.
Sven doesn't seek to bend men to his will like the dressing room tyrants of yesteryear. He says, 'When you aren't sure as a manager, you bring in the players, you listen, you explain and you put all your cards on the table. If you think you know everything about football, just because you are a manager, then you are asking for trouble'.
Dario Gradi (Crewe Alexandra FC)
The Patient Manager could have been modeled on Crewe Alexandra and their outstanding leader Dario Gradi. Gradi served as Alex boss for 24 years. His greatest achievements have been in the nurturing of young football talent. The Crewe Academy, now with extensive new facilities, is a model nationally and internationally. Dario, himself, still watches and coaches the young players.
David Platt, the former England captain, was released by Manchester United as a youngster but was taken in by Crewe and developed by Dario Gradi into a player good enough to move on to Aston Villa, Arsenal, Juventus and England and star in the 1990 World Cup.
Platt is not the only well-known player to benefit from the system at Crewe. Others include England internationals Dean Ashton, Danny Murphy, Geoff Thomas, Rob Jones, and Seth Johnson, as well as Luke Varney, Rob Hulse, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon, Craig Hignett, Rob Whalley, Ashley Ward, and Dele Adebola.
3 - Organisation
Organisation is the ability to create a structure that allows players to know what they are doing and why they are doing it. The organised manager is one who pays attention to detail. They like method and consistency.
The organiser won't tolerate deviation from the simple virtues. Keep the form and shape lads. Everyone knows their roles. They have the ability to make something out of nothing. Lets no one get above themselves. Everything is under control. The football may not be pretty under the organizer, but it is usually effective. There is no time for big time Charlie's in the organisers team. The team ethic is everything.
You can recognise The Organiser as the manager who produces diagrams and notes for the sub. to digest before taking the field. Pen and notebook are always at the ready. Some organisers will even have diagrams pinned up in the dug-out. The organiser is fond of constantly pointing to the positions on the pitch he wants his players to take.
David Moyes (Everton FC)
Everton are not challenging for another fourth place Premier League finish by accident. No. Its the result of meticulous work by manager David Moyes. A strong work ethic allied to team shape and discipline, have made Everton very tough opponents.
Moyes is a deeply involved student of the game who looks like a lead character from Band of Brothers and seems to plan his match campaigns like a general. He projects strength and seems to suggest to the players, Put your faith in me and I will lead you. He can be excitable, but usually with cause.The cause.
Mark Hughes (Blackburn Rovers FC)
Mark Hughes has forged his managerial reputation at Wales and Blackburn Rovers. His teams are founded on a very strong work ethic and team-spirit, supported by excellent organization. He transformed the fortunes of the Welsh national team through introducing thorough preparation and organization. He made them feel like international players and they responded. We wanted to treat the players how we would have appreciated to have been treated as players, was his philosophy.
Lawrie Sanchez (Northern Ireland)
Before his sacking at Fulham, Lawrie Sanchez made his name at Wycombe Wanderers and then Northern Ireland. At both teams, Sanchez engineered giant killing acts of some consequence.
At Wycombe he took them to the FA Cup semi-finals. And at Northern Ireland he famously put Sven Goran Erikssons England team to the sword at Windsor Park. On both occasions with limited resources at his disposal. All down to Sanchezs organization and motivational skills. Putting players in the right positions. Not asking them to do what they cant do. Keeping it simple. And maximizing their strengths.
4 - Play & Creativity
The manager who put the emphasis on play and creativity, sees football as more than just a game. Its about the love of seeing players express themselves. The appreciation of talent. More than just the result. This type of manager places an emphasis on attacking football. They have strong ideals on how the game should be played. They will not inhibit creative players, but find ways to integrate their individuality into the team dynamic without compromising it.
This type of manager tends to have no fear of failure, and puts a lot of faith in their players. They encourage their teams to go out and win games rather than trying not to lose them.
Kevin Keegan (Newcastle United FC)
It is no surprise that Newcastle United have turned to Kevin Keegan to revive their fortunes. Keegans attacking philosophy is the perfect match for how Newcastle fans want to see their team play the game. Keegan famously said,They say the skys the limit. But its whats beyond the sky that interests me. This is a man in tune with the need for football to lift the fans off their seats and alleviate the tedium of their everyday working life.
Arsene Wenger (Arsenal FC)
His calm equanimity projects an aura of civility and invincibility onto his team. Even when there is an on-field event which provokes a response it is almost invariably a dismissive/derisive shrug which communicates unconcern and convinces his team that they are on track.
By putting distance between himself and the pitch/players he hands control to them. His detachment emanates from supreme preparation. He knows all is in place. His searching eye offers perception. He angles forward to create engagement and radiate positive values to his team. He recognizes that much of the game is played in the head. Mostly his.
5 Communication
Communication is the ability to say the right thing at the right time, in the right way for the right result. The great communicators are the ones who make lasting impressions on their players. Its there ability to get to the heart of the matter that marks them out.
In the presence of the communicator, others listen and trust what they hear. The communicator is an excellent man-manager, who knows how to bring the best out of each and every player with the right words, said at the right time, in the right way, for the right reason.
Often the great manager/communicators arent seen by their team until match day. This is where they are most effective. At ten to three. Then they earn their money. Well chosen words designed to make their players feel unbeatable.
The great communicator creates a narrative in which others find their role. Has a strong awareness of the history of the football club, its community values and cultural significance. They are able to give significance and meaning to every game and its relevance in the clubs evolution.
Martin ONeill (Aston Villa FC)
One of O'Neill's great strengths is to recruit players who might feel that their talents have not been fully recognised at their present clubs, and are therefore keen to demonstrate their worth. He recognises that one of the most powerful motivating forces is the desire to prove someone wrong.
Chris Sutton and Neil Lennon were good examples of this at Celtic, and it was true for the whole club when he was at Leicester.
O'Neill lifts the player by telling them how much he values them. To the team he is renowned for putting his uncomplicated message across simply, with passion, so the players, and those observing his touchline antics, know exactly what is expected.
Bill Shankly (Liverpool FC)
Shankly took a club that was trying to find a place for itself and gave it an indelible history. He was the boot room philosopher, pulling up his humble roots in a small Scottish mining town and transplanting them in the Scouse Metropolis.
When he arrived in 1959, Liverpool were an uninspiring 2nd division side, by the middle of the 60's he had made them into the most successful club in the land. He developed a special rapport with the supporters which has become the stuff of legend and has helped sustain the club through recent more difficult times. For, as the Kop banner on the day of his funeral proclaimed, 'Shankly Lives Forever'.
Shanklys forte was in handling players. He knew instinctively when to be firm with a player and when to ease up. According to Ray Clemence, Shankly knew how to assess a players mood. He would come into the dressing room and watch how everyone was getting ready and just speak to two or three of them. You could guarantee they would be the one who werent quite there. He knew, just by looking at them, that their minds wasnt on the game.
Jose Mourinho (Chelsea FC)
''Please don't call me arrogant, but I'm European champion and I think I'm a special one" How Jose Mourinho introduced himself to the English press after arriving from Porto in summer 2004. Fortunately for Mourinho, he could back up his words. Mourinhos frankness was a breath of fresh air to English football.
At the end of matches in which the opposition have acquitted themselves well, the Chelsea coach would compliment the manager and publicly shake hands with the opposing players, for he respects their endeavour. Young British coaches like Stuart Pearce, David Moyes and Paul Jewell have sought and received advice from 'The Special One' while others, like Chris Coleman, have been lauded openly by him. Even Sven was been welcomed at Chelsea training sessions because he too is seen to be within 'the group'.
Mourinhos success has been founded on an innate ability to study closely the opposition and adjusts his strategies accordingly. And he manages players exceptionally well, Benni McCarthy and Derlei, difficult characters both, served him loyally at Porto; Cudicini a world class goalie was happy to be second choice at Chelsea. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole improved so much under Mourinho that two of them, at least, were mainstays of the England team.
Brian Clough (Derby County/Nottingham Forest FC)
"If God had meant football to be played in the air he would have put grass on the clouds," said the mercurial Clough, succinctly explaining his football philosophy. His playing career cut short by a broken leg he channeled his thwarted ambition into coaching.
His style was socialist, bizarre. Unique. But it worked because he had found a way to motivate his men. As Martin O'Neill said, 'As a player I was terrified of him most of the time, but I'll tell you something, he was a man who, when you felt you couldn't run any more and that your heart was about to burst, you put in your last ounce of endeavour for.'
He brought unprecedented success to Nottingham Forest and Derby County and many feel he would have been the ideal coach for England; except those at the FA, for whom he would have had to work.
He was natural leader, both brash and kind in equal measure. And if his players were always unsure of him, then so much the better. Clough's view was, 'If I had an argument with a player we would sit down for twenty minutes, talk about it and then decide I was right!'
6 - Confidence Building
Confidence building is the art of being able to draw out the very best of every individual regardless of ability. The managers who are naturally good at this quality have bundles of enthusiasm which rubs off on their players. They look to take positives from everything. The phrase the confidence building manager will use more than any other is ,Well Done.
These are the conditions that promote the growth of confidence. Confidence thrives in the presence of encouragement. Where a manager recognises the players uniqueness and champions it. Sees how good you are and lets you know in such a way that you know too. In the presence of the managers confidence, you have confidence too.
The Confidence Builder positively radiates presence and encouragement. Clapping supportively, lifting the players after a mistake, making it known that they are there for the players, they are almost the twelfth player.
It's the Confidence Builder yelling support to a player who has made a mistake. It's the Confidence Builder puffing out his chest, pushing his hands upwards, asking the lads for one more effort. It's them running down the touchline excitedly after a goal. More likely to wear track-suit than business suit.
Neil Warnock (Crystal Palace FC)
To understand Neil Warnock, we only need to see the transformation in the form of Crystal Palaces Clinton Morrison. Since Warnock took over at Selhurst Park. Neil Warnock has rekindled Morrison's fire. It is typical of Warnock. To focus on a players strengths. To build them up. To remind them of how good they are. To make them feel wanted. To give them a keen sense of belonging.
It's not a difficult managerial technique. But it must come from the heart. And be consistent. And unconditional. Neil Warnock has it in abundance. It transfers to the player like a transfusion of confidence. Injected directly. For the good player who has lost their way slightly, Neil Warnock's confidence remedy is the perfect boost.
Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth FC)
It is not difficult to see why Portsmouth are having one of their best periods in their history. Manager Harry Redknapps enthusiasm for the game remains totally undiminished. This is a man in love with football. And in love with good players. Bubbly, infectious his attitude is contagious. It is impossible not to grow in confidence in the presence of such a manager. He keeps the game simple, and lets good players go and express themselves. Redknapp makes his players feel they are the best and they dont doubt it. Look at how David James has reclaimed his England jersey under Redknapp.
Alex McCleish (Birmingham City FC)
McCleish now managing Birmingham, came to prominence when his Scotland team beat France in Paris in a European Championship qualifying game. McLeish made the most of Scotland's limited resources by drawing on his players' patriotism to foster a 'Braveheart' spirit and says motivating his new charges at City is key to their fortunes.
"We have to instill pride in the players," he added. "They have to realise what an opportunity they have and make the most of it by not letting a day go by without trying to improve themselves. I don't fear failure and we have to be trying to get the players to be the same.
7 - Team-Building
The difference between mediocrity and greatness is the feeling the players have for each other.Team Building is the art of being able to draw a collection of individuals into a cohesive whole that is greater than the individual parts. An all for one and one for all attitude.
Team Builders have an eye for character and temperament. Knowing how a player will integrate into the collective. Anyone who puts their own interests before the collective will soon be asked to leave.
Team Builders understand the dynamics essential for creating collective harmony, and what can destroy that ethos.
Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United FC)
In my business, togetherness is not a nice concept that you can take or leave according to taste. If you dont have it you are nothing. Cliques are death to a football team. Talent without unity of purpose is a hopelessly devalued currency.
Sir Alex Ferguson has built successful Manchester United teams on a strong US and THEM philosophy. He is extremely skilful at being able to create an enemy to keep his teams on the toes. Look at his battles with the BBC. Recently he complained about comments made by commentator Jonathan Pearce during a recent game with Newcastle. Pearce said when Rio Ferdinand scored United's fourth goal, 'It's a Manchester United romp - and they're all getting in on the act'.
Ferguson has taken this comment to represent a dig at Manchester United's Christmas party shenanigans. So unto itself the remark is harmless. But not for Ferguson. It's more than a dig at United. It's another salvo from the enemy. A sly shot from the bows in the war. The war against Manchester United.
It's the chance for Ferguson to reinforce the presence of a powerful THEM. Forces working against his team. Forces that want to undermine United. See them fail. Whether Jonathan Pearce's remarks are innocent or not are irrelevant. For Sir Alex Ferguson they are perfect. They reinforce his belief that there is an enemy to be fought.
David Moyes (Everton FC)
It's nearly two months since Everton's stormy derby match with Liverpool. A game which ended in controversy with Everton being denied a last-minute penalty by referee Mark Clattenburg. A decision which led to harsh, direct comments from David Moyes about Mr. Clattenburg's performance.
Since then Everton have looked almost unbeatable. Interestingly David Moyes puts the turnaround down to events on Derby Day. He recognised that a successful team takes matters into their own hands. They cannot lay the blame of failure at the door of the referee.
So many managers and by default, the players, find an outlet for their frustrations in the referees performance. As if, somehow, a wrong decision has cost them the game. Yes there are instances when referees make big mistakes. But a good team will know that success is totally in their own hands.
When the team takes responsibility for their own outcomes, then each team member becomes responsible for those outcomes There is no hiding place behind the man in black and his assistants. Thus a team of self-leaders develops.
A team of self-leaders quickly becomes a team of winners. And a team of winners usually have no need to blame referees. They are too busy getting on with the job of winning. And that is what David Moyes has turned Everton into.
Jose Mourinho (Chelsea FC)
Respect for self and respect for others is the mantra which binds the team, and nothing must be allowed to unravel it. This is the philosophy of Jose Mourinho. For him the group is everything. Stripped of all its excess, football is about the group. For Mourinho this truth, it is almost ascetic and must not be sullied.
Mourinho has proved an expert in being able to create an US v THEM ethos in his teams. Look at how he waged war on officials, rival managers and the media. For Mourinho, its the notion of everyone being against you. It brings the beleaguered family closer together. It enhances camaraderie. It's a small war. They are the enemy. We are wronged. In adversity it is core values which sustain the tribe. Its sports psychology at it's most primal.
When pressured, Mourinho always references back to his family, an area in which he is safe and unchallengeable. This is his emotional fortress built on unshifting sands. It protects and fortifies him.
Martin Perry: Confidence Coaching & Sports Psychology - 0044 (0) 77897 56425
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