Scapegoating coaches doesn’t help team

A study of top British soccer teams indicates that clubs that keep managers have more on-field success than those that often change their leadership.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham and Loughborough University said a lack of success on the pitch leads Premium League teams to blame and fire coaching staffs at a higher rate than winning teams.

The research, outlined in a release from the universities, looked at data from Premier League teams from 1992 through 2004.

The Premier League was formed in 1992 but the 20-team roster changes, with poorer-performing teams relegated to lower leagues, a switch that can cost a team more than $115 million in revenue.

Since 2002 the average tenure of team managers has gone from 3.12 years to 1.38 years for the most recent data period, the researchers said. They said fear of demotion from the Premier League leads team ownership to be more likely to fire coaches.

Our research illustrates that alongside the obvious examples of Arsenal and Manchester United, those Premiership clubs who retain the services of their manager for a longer period of time are more likely to have successful results, said Loughborough University business school lecturer Paul Hughes.