Leadership in elite football academy management teams

Purpose In the United Kingdom (U.K.), football academies are required to have an Academy Management Team (AMT); middle management is responsible for ensuring the academy functions effectively and efficiently. This study sought to explore the training and educational requirements for AMT members and suggest practical recommendations for the development of AMT members in the future. Methodology: Recruiting 45 AMT members, a mixed-methods approach was employed using a survey and semi-structured interviews. Findings: Thematic analysis developed themes reflecting large differences in the leadership and management training of AMT members. This is related to the specific concept of interpretation and translation of strategy throughout their own department and the Academy. Practical implications: Leadership and management training for middle managers (AMT) is poorly funded, with current skills primarily developed through previous experience. Those who had undertaken leadership and management training felt better equipped at interpreting and translating information to inform more effective decisions. Training needs ranged from areas such as performance management of staff and allocating resources to managing change and strategic planning within the academy.Research Contribution This study explored the training and educational needs of middle managers (AMT) within elite UK football academies.