Inside the Director of Football.

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Football is an evolving sport taking turns every day, from increased quality football to established teams. Takeovers have built clubs and expanded the spheres of influence to football clubs being a business franchise. The need to expand the hierarchy to accommodate the diversified roles is essential for the success of a football club. This has led to the emergence of new positions that will be able to link the football aspect of a football club and the business aspects of a football club.

Back in time, the managers were in charge of all footballing activities related to a business. Their direct relation to all aspects of Football meant that they left in total control of the football matters. Managers do not stay for long in football clubs. These are most switch to other clubs, resign, or get sacked. Entrusting the football matters of a club to these managers would mean that whenever there is a change in a managerial role in the club, every football aspect of the club will be changed. However, teams are built on philosophies and long-term projects. Therefore, entrusting the footballing activities of a club to the manager means taking the risk of the club's long-term project and its philosophy. This consequently prompts the introduction of the role of a Director of Football.

Who is a director of Football?

A position that has come as a result of football growth. Some clubs may term them as Sporting Directors, Technical Directors, or Director of Football. All these terms have the same role. They work towards the football club's success in dealings. They act as the connection between the managers and the board in stabilizing a football club. The Director of Football brings in expertise in sporting science, coaching, and scouting that are the key pillars to the future of a football club combining both business and sporting.

Roles of a Director of Football

The director of Football is responsible for planning a player's recruitment process by overseeing the overseeing scouting networks and identifying that fit in the team. Together with the current manager, they can work together and establish the best player to fill in a spot that the manager deems weak regarding the team. The Director of Football role is only effective if the club signs a player aligned to the club's long-term project rather than signing a player from their financial standpoint. The director of Football then scouts for the best player to fit in the squad at a cost-friendly price and will prevent colossal spending that may leave the club with financial burdens.

In the process, the director of Football will have protected the club from growing financial risks from poor sporting decisions by avoiding rush decision making and unnecessary signings. Marina Granovskia of Chelsea F.C (pictured) is a perfect fit in such dealings, ensuring that Chelsea leads the pack in profits in player sales and purchases. She is a stunt woman whose NO is a NO and will never go to a deal that she deems unnecessary for the club.

The long-term strategic vision of the club is a vital role of the Director of Football. Everything at the club should be done on a long-term project with relatively short-term success. This comes in the signing of players and allaying down strategies that align with the club's philosophy, building a succession plan for the incoming managers, and ensuring that they apply the style of Football that fits the current squad for the team's continuity. Each club has its philosophy, which should be made clear to the Director of Football at the beginning of the job.

The role does not focus on the first team but narrows down to the youth and academy structure. It is easier to bring in youth into the youth & academy and let him grow into the first team rather than buying one. First, the team's DNA will be engraved in them from the beginning that by the time they enter the first team, it will be about fitting the missing piece rather than starting to engrave the team's DNA into the new signing. Growing the robust Youth and Academy ensures continuity in the club and that the club can seek into its reserves and find a fit. The likes of Messi, Iniesta, and Xavi, who grew into the first team, are excellent examples of players from a strong academy. This was aided by the then Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain (Current Director of Football, Manchester City), who worked together with Joan Laporta and Pep Guardiola in making Barcelona a powerhouse. The tiki-taka was not invented by Pep Guardiola but was sustained by Pep. Txiki ensured that this Barcelona blueprint was maintained and was passed from the previous generation of players into the new ones.

Manchester United appointed their first Director of Football, John Murtough, and seem to have seen the necessity of a director of Football to propel the club and bring back the Winning philosophy that the team had.

Examples of Prolific Directors of Football include Marina Granovskia Chelsea F.C, Txiki Begiristain of Manchester City, Guiseppe Marotta of Inter Milan. Michael Zorc of Borussia Dortmund.