Director of Football role

[Andy_Porter]

I think A. Cole and Ballack came in after Jose left, and I know for a fact Deco was bought by Scolari.

 

Jose signed Ashley Cole and Ballack was signed same summer as Shevchenko (06 I think) while he was still there. Scolari signed Deco although he was one of Mourinho's boys at Porto.

[Legod Third Coming]

Who is their DoF?

 

Not old Monkey Heeed?

[doughnutman]

Who is their DoF?

 

Bloke called John Rudge. I think he does exactly what we'd hope from a DOF, stays in the background providing a link between the board and Pulis, letting him get on with it but also organising the scouting etc allowing Pulis to concentrate on first team matters.

[Clifford Nelson]

Simon Clifford? Now theres an interesting shout !

 

First time I've been confused with him. Nothing I like to be repeated.

[Badger]

Bloke called John Rudge. I think he does exactly what we'd hope from a DOF, stays in the background providing a link between the board and Pulis, letting him get on with it but also organising the scouting etc allowing Pulis to concentrate on first team matters.

 

John Rudge is the ex Port Vale manager isn't he? No wonder it works well for them then, he's got a wealth of football experience,contacts in the game and is not so high a profile - or an egotist - to cast a shadow across Pulis.

[Legod Third Coming]

John Rudge is the ex Port Vale manager isn't he? No wonder it works well for them then, he's got a wealth of football experience,contacts in the game and is not so high a profile - or an egotist - to cast a shadow across Pulis.

 

I wonder who appointed Rudge?

[Clifford Nelson]

I can tell you all one thing with absolute confidence: AP will NOT be consulted about the appointment of a Sporting Director for one very simple reason. It will be AP's boss!

 

SPs takes charge of the strategic sporting vision of the club. The manager manages his playing staff to fit in with that vision and suggests players to be bought and sold, also to fit with that strategic vision. The strategy is the terms of reference which is used in such discussions. New managers are chosen depending on how well they fits in with that strategy, and not for the glint in their eyes, or their level of tough talking or chest thumping. Motivational qualities are great, but not outside the strategic box.

 

The reason it usually doesn't work in Britain is that the basis for the Director isn't understood. We are after all a pragmatic nation. So therefore the Director is waiting for the manager to leave so that he can take over. That is under no circumstances what we want.

[dune]

Should we consult Rupert for suggestions?

[alpine_saint]

Should we consult Rupert for suggestions?

 

Yeah, Martin Johnson will do a great job.

[david in sweden]

I wonder if this will happen..no doubt Pards will be consulted etc so i could not imagine it would be anyone who would fit/be manager material anymore..

 

no doubt people will say "dont want to rock the boat" etc...but if all are happy then there is no boat to rock is there

 

 

Personally, I always thought that this was a " belt and braces " measure on behalf of a club's Board. If you are lacking in football knowledge, (which many club Chairmen are) lack any vision and are a little uncertain about where your club is going (which Boards often are)... then you "buy in " an old established name ; famous ex-manager or former player, and give them a salary to sit on the Board and give advice.

The DOF job is to sit and wait for that day when the Board lose confidence and sack the manager, and don't have the embarrasment of handing over team selection to the reserve team coach, the guy in charge of the boot room or the groundsman.

 

In short the DOB is an insurance policy to keep the fans happy, and help in recruitment of the NEXT manager- should there be a need.

 

Thankfully, I don't think that we are in that position yet.

[Clifford Nelson]

Personally, I always thought that this was a " belt and braces " measure on behalf of a club's Board. If you are lacking in football knowledge, (which many club Chairmen are) lack any vision and are a little uncertain about where your club is going (which Boards often are)... then you "buy in " an old established name ; famous ex-manager or former player, and give them a salary to sit on the Board and give advice.

The DOF job is to sit and wait for that day when the Board lose confidence and sack the manager, and don't have the embarrasment of handing over team selection to the reserve team coach, the guy in charge of the boot room or the groundsman.

 

In short the DOB is an insurance policy to keep the fans happy, and help in recruitment of the NEXT manager- should there be a need.

 

Thankfully, I don't think that we are in that position yet.

 

That is exactly what the role shouldn't be and why it fails at british clubs.

[derry]

That is exactly what the role shouldn't be and why it fails at british clubs.

 

I think there is a conceptual gap in what you are talking about and the general understanding of the hybrid D of F that happens here. I don't think many understand that the SD will be the managers boss and he will report directly to him and he reports to the Chairman not the Manager.

[Clifford Nelson]

I think there is a conceptual gap in what you are talking about and the general understanding of the hybrid D of F that happens here. I don't think many understand that the SD will be the managers boss and he will report directly to him and he reports to the Chairman not the Manager.

 

I think you're right, but I can't understand it. Who'd ever heard of of a manager being assisted by a director. There seem to be a belief around that a manager needs to be the dictator of the club before it's any good. I wonder where these people work.

 

Nevertheless I was encouraged with the performance on Saturday. Schneiderlin did a grand job from a deep midfield role, and Lallana and Puncheon in the mains stayed wide, at least when Puncheon was on the left wing. He is very definitely left footed. It will be interesting to see if we maintain this tomorrow. As you know I'm not the greatest 4-4-2 fan, but it looked like there was some thought behind it this time.

[Professor]

Looking at some of the examples quoted on here of clubs with a DoF it looks like the role is mainly to represent the chairman where there is a chairman who isn't hands on himself. The new SFC seems to have a very hands on chairman which doesn't leave much space for a DoF.

[Legod Third Coming]

I think you're right, but I can't understand it. Who'd ever heard of of a manager being assisted by a director. There seem to be a belief around that a manager needs to be the dictator of the club before it's any good. I wonder where these people work.

 

Nevertheless I was encouraged with the performance on Saturday. Schneiderlin did a grand job from a deep midfield role, and Lallana and Puncheon in the mains stayed wide, at least when Puncheon was on the left wing. He is very definitely left footed. It will be interesting to see if we maintain this tomorrow. As you know I'm not the greatest 4-4-2 fan, but it looked like there was some thought behind it this time.

 

I think people look at the most successful football clubs in England and recognise that the vast majority do not have DoFs and wonder why they're such a great idea?

 

English clubs dominate European football and yet we should somehow follow a European model... seems a bit bonkers to me...

 

Then take Europe's top managers: Ferguson, Mourinho, Hiddink, Cappello, Ancelotti... which of them needs/ed a DoF 'above' them? Really and truthfully.

 

For clubs like Real Madrid with a 'sporting pedigree' where they expect a manager to last one season because the President changes annually, there is a genuine rationale for some stability. Elsewhere, I'd like to see the evidence that it is a necessity.

 

And anyone who uses a Dutch team as a model needs a bloody Dutch Oven... they've won jack-sh** for years!

[Thedelldays]

 

Then take Europe's top managers: Ferguson, Mourinho, Hiddink, Cappello, Ancelotti... which of them needs/ed a DoF 'above' them? Really and truthfully.

 

!

funny that..as most of them regularly do have a DoF type above them.

[Legod Third Coming]

funny that..as most of them regularly do have a DoF type above them.

 

No mate, I think you'll find most of them have 'Technical' or 'Sporting Directors' who work for them not above them...ie. they are not answerable to those people, they simply negotiate transfers which is fair enough.