Supervisors info:
Αυθίνος Ι., Καθηγητής, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Θαμνόπουλος Ι., Ε.Ε.Π., ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Purpose: The purpose of the present study was: a) to outline the profile, b) to investigate and record the administrative working positions in Greek professional football, and c) to evaluate characteristics, knowledge, skills and abilities that professional football management staff should possess.
Methodology: To implement this study, the quantitative method used data collected via a questionnaire which was modified for the needs of the study and was checked for its face validity, without need for any further adjustments. Subsequently, via the internet (Google Forms) the questionnaire was sent to n=36 professional football clubs of Greece’s Super League 2 participating in league for the 2021-2022 season. Finally, n=25 clubs (64.9%) participated in the survey.
Results: The results of the data analysis showed that the profile of administrative managers responds to male (f=18, 72%), aged over 45 years old (f=11, 44%), who holds the position of General Manager (f=5, 20%) and a Doctorate/Master Degree (f=8, 32%), was not a football player in past (f=13, 52%), has more than 25 years of experience (f=8, 32%) and has a net salary from 751€ to 1000€ per month (f=10, 40%). Regarding Super League 2 football clubs, they have organization chart (f=20, 80%), a Public Relations Office (f=24, 96%), a General Manager (f=23, 92%), a Secretary (f=23, 92%), and a Marketing Manager (f=20, 80%). In terms of characteristics that managers should possess to excel in his/her duties, the survey showed (in a five-degree Likert scale), that the most important qualifications were personality (MO=4.52), leadership (MO=4.52), experience (MO=4.48), social abilities (MO=4.1) and knowledge in Sports Management (MO=4.08). In contrast, the factors with the lowest resonance were studies in sports management (MO=3.2), age (MO=3.4) and if he/she was a football player in the past (MO=2.96).
