Opinion: Who'd be a manager?

Jason O'Connor is a former schoolboy international footballer, who played professionally with Peterborough United in the UK and in the League of Ireland with Limerick. He has been coached by Billy Hamilton (Northern Ireland World Cup player 1982) and Sam Allardyce at Limerick, the late Chris Turner and former Ireland international Mark Lawrenson.

It’s widely accepted in football that, with very few exceptions, the only real constant at any club are the supporters.

Players, chairmen and managers all come and go but the fans who are introduced to their club by a parent at a young age, are from the area their club represents or harvest a love for the club that only grows stronger over time, create a bond between individuals and a team that only the supporters themselves can break.

We have all seen over the last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic that even at the highest-level, football just isn’t the same without a live audience. The dynamic has changed and few would argue for the better.

This is, unfortunately, a situation that is out of everyone’s control and has moved fans opinions and chants from the terraces to their keyboards.

The responsibility that comes with being a supporter is often misunderstood. In reality, more often than not, it’s the supporters who hold the fate of players, chairman and managers in their hands and voices.

Without public support, most clubs cannot survive long term. Players’ confidence and performances are affected by fan opinion and ‘sack the board’ chants often leave those at that level wondering why they should continue.

Supporters’ main desire is success for their team and nearly all agree on the chain of command in clubs: the chairman or board appoint the manager, the manager selects the players and the players deliver success on the pitch.

Success in supporter’s eyes is winning cups and league championships, and if a team doesn’t deliver consistently it is normally the fault of the manager, the middle man in the chain.

Fans are passionate and their desire for success breeds expectations. In the football world when passion meets expectation, the outcome can be combustible for a manager who doesn’t deliver in time.

An obvious example is Liverpool and their manager, Jurgen Klopp. Manager of the famous Merseyside club since 2015, the former Dortmund leader delivered a Champion’s League win in 2019.

His first triumph in the competition as manager, but the sixth in the Liverpudlians’ history, meaning the thirst for success on the terraces was more whetted than satisfied.

Klopp’s side qualified for, and won, the UEFA Super Cup but a win like this, while celebrated by fans, only heightened the desire for domestic league success and dominance.

They needn’t have worried as in June 2020 Klopp became the first manager in 30 years to bring the league title back to the Shankly gates.

With this achievement, one would expect exemption from fans' fury for a short period at least, but in less than a year we have seen the fickle nature of football fans as the German tactician finds his credentials being questioned from some corners.

“The high press and tempo game he has employed is now leading to injuries.”

“His transfer dealings have not improved the team.”

“His tactics no longer yield results.”

These are among the arrows being fired from the Kop.

I am a believer in the theory that football is relevant to all levels, meaning that what happens at the highest echelons of the game also happens at amateur levels, just without the same monetary implications.

Cliques in the dressing, an injury to the most influential player, lack of funds and resources to positively affect all aspects of preparing a team and personal life issues. These are some examples of problems that impact managers everywhere.

Opinions on our beautiful game, from supporters in particular, are what makes it so interesting and popular but we must also accept that opinions on team selections, signings and tactics from anyone other than the manager do not carry the same responsibility.  

Those of us outside of any club are not aware of what is happening in between games. Players’ attitude on the training pitch, their ability to follow instructions, their physical and mental condition prior to games can determine the outcome of a match day.

The manager carries the responsibility of so many and at times with the support of so few in an era where it seems that if a team performs well it’s because of the players but if a team performs poorly it’s because of the manager.

Obviously, managers pitting themselves in the English premier league or even a full-time environment in other countries, have the financial security to soften the blow, one might argue.

But as a lot of those at this level are former players who are already financially secure there just might be another driving force behind it all.

Bring the situation down a notch or three to the SSE Airtricity league or below and we might question even further what that motivation may be.

One cannot make the financial argument for taking on such responsibilities, responsibilities that are more localised and are often of their county or even local community.

In these places, the interest levels are often high and sometimes more magnified for those who live in that city or community.

Facebook forums that carry video clips of goals allow just about anyone, who at times don’t even have to name themselves, the opportunity to give their personal analysis.

Online pages with bragging rights, which are often continued at work or in the pub, when permitted, are all part of the reality facing managers at these levels.

This can heighten the attention on managers who are mere volunteers, with jobs lives and families and who have even found themselves being assaulted during games and sometimes when out socially because of their role.

With all this in mind one might ask the question…. Why would anyone be a manager? 

Possibly it’s because the individuals in question have a real love for the game, are of strong character and believe they possess the ability to motivate and lead a group.

Knowing that they are putting their faith and belief in that group to perform as a reflection of themselves and a belief that will possibly be shaken over a season.

A season which can often last ten months with a lot of games, training sessions, phone calls and meetings with opinions is conducted in an environment of social media set by those outside of any managers’ control.

With all this in mind, we might even accept the analogy of football and an intoxicating substance: addictive to the point that, regardless of age, it is something we all struggle to let go of.

The highs and lows, the mixed emotions and uncertainty of it all, coupled with the often unnecessary and negative criticisms aimed at managers, can be summed up best in the words of one of the greatest managers of all time:

 "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that.” – Bill Shankley