Ten steps to become an association football manager

Managing a football team, guiding a club through victories, football tactics, and developing footballing talent, is a prestigious but challenging career.

Achieving success as a Football Manager involves a series of steps, blending educational qualifications with practical experience and personal growth. This guide delves deeper into each pivotal step, offering a roadmap for aspiring football managers.

The role of a football manager transcends beyond mere game strategy; it encompasses leadership, inspiration, and the seamless blending of individual talents into a victorious team.

This guide provides a comprehensive approach to navigating this complex yet rewarding career path.

Whether you want to become a full-time football coach for a professional club, or you want to take on the chance to become a football manager, our complete guide on how to become a full-time football coach has you covered.

Step 1. Immerse yourself in the world of football

The first step on your journey to becoming a managerial phenomenon starts by reading, listening and watching football across all levels. Listen to the best football podcasts every day, buy and read the best football tactics books, and watch as much football as possible.

Playing football, whether at amateur or professional levels, offers invaluable insights into team dynamics, football tactics, and the physical and mental demands of the sport, although nowadays managers don't need to have played at a high level to succeed. But playing can give you firsthand experience of what players like and dislike, what they react to, and the time of effective team management that players respond to.

Try to attend local youth matches, watch your local semi-professional club play, and start watching foreign football to see if you can pick out formations, tactics, and set-piece plays and scout individual players who catch your eye.

Extra tip: Start to immerse yourself in the world of Football Manager. These games can mimic real-life situations that face a coach, from squad building, and developing talent, to in-game tactics. Check out our guide to the best wonderkids to sign at the start of your next Football Manager save.

2. Go to university to study sports management, sports coaching or sports development

Formal education in sports management, sports coaching, sports development, or sports psychology can provide a theoretical framework for the business, science, operational, and psychological aspects of elite sports. Universities and colleges offer specialised degrees that cover sports ethics, team management, sports marketing, psychology and injury prevention, equipping aspiring managers with a broad skill set and a deeper understanding of the sports industry.

Whilst degrees are not necessary for somebody who wants to be a journeyman, going from grassroots management to the top of the game, they can offer a fast track to getting in the door at bigger clubs, especially those in the English Football League and comparative international leagues.

Extra tip: Organisations like the English FA and the PSFA offer courses in talent identification, scouting, and performance analysis which will give you valuable skills to becoming an elite coach.

3. Achieve professional recognition through UEFA Licenses

The UEFA coaching license pathway is a cornerstone for any aspiring football manager, offering structured training and accreditation from UEFA C, UEFA B, UEFA A and UEFA Pro levels. These courses cover coaching methods, player psychology, team tactics, and leadership, providing recognised credentials that are essential for advancing in the managerial hierarchy within European football. All clubs will ask you to have at least a UEFA C license, which can be obtained at your local Football Association in whatever country you reside in.

Don't be put off by the price of the higher levels, the UEFA C and UEFA B can perhaps be funded by yourself, and as you progress in your career your club will help you to obtain your other licenses.

Extra tip: You must obtain your Safeguarding Children in Football qualification to manage at any club, and also it can help to become a qualified referee to help your understanding of what referees are being asked to look at.

4. Start gaining your football coaching experience

Experience is the crucible in which theoretical knowledge is tested and honed. Starting your coaching career with youth or amateur teams allows for the practical application of strategies, understanding player development, and building leadership skills. This real-world experience is critical for developing a personal coaching style, understanding the nuances of team management, and starting to blend the skillset of the players with your football tactics.

Extra tip: Watch local academy football, understand what the coaches are asking of the players based on their age level, and start to speak with coaches about how they approach coaching players with varying talent, skill and sociocultural backgrounds.

5. Expand your professional network

The football industry thrives on connections and relationships. Engaging with a network of peers, mentors, and professionals through seminars, coaching clinics, and industry events opens doors to opportunities and provides a support system for career growth. Networking is not just about finding the next job; it's about sharing knowledge, and experiences, whilst also staying abreast of industry trends.

Group learning opportunities with organisations such as the PSFA and the UEFA licenses will allow you to network with your cohort. Stay in touch with them and follow their journey on platforms like X or LinkedIn, as you never know what the future holds for you or your peers.

6. Craft your coaching philosophy

Building your football coaching philosophy is the hallmark of great managers, reflecting their approach to leadership, in-game strategies, and player development. This philosophy guides decision-making, influences team culture, and sets the tone for your managerial identity. Developing and refining your coaching philosophy is an ongoing process that evolves with experience and reflection.

7. Commit to lifelong learning

Football is ever-evolving, with new tactics, technologies, and philosophies emerging regularly. Continuous professional development through workshops, seminars, and further education keeps a manager's knowledge current and competitive. Embracing a culture of learning ensures that you stay at the forefront of football management innovations. At this point, you are beginning to craft your own philosophy and views of how football should be played, but at the same time, you need to have the humility to learn from your mistakes to grow as a coach.

8. Hone your leadership and communication skills

Experts suggest that modern football management nowadays is more about the psychology of players and the group. Effective management is rooted in clear communication and strong leadership. The ability to articulate vision, strategies, and expectations while inspiring and motivating your team is crucial. Leadership workshops, public speaking courses, and practical experience can enhance these skills, making you a more effective and respected manager.

Extra tip: Listen to podcasts outside of your normal football bubble to gain experience from different sectors. Podcasts such as WorkLife with Adam Grant (TED Podcasts), The High-Performance Podcast with Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, and The Knowledge Project Podcast.

9. Embrace, understand and master technology and data analytics in Football Management

Modern football heavily relies on data analytics and technology for player scouting, performance analysis, and strategic planning. Familiarising yourself with the latest tools and methodologies in sports analytics can provide competitive advantages, offering detailed insights into player capabilities, team performance, and opponent strategies. Paid scouting and stats platforms such as HUDL, Wyscout, and Opta can give you a world of data and player information.

Extra tip: Embrace new technologies and skills with an open mind, and seeing as data analysis is the future of sports, learn as much as you can about how stats are gathered, how they are used and what they tell you (and fail to tell you) about a player's performance on the pitch or in training.

10. Seek mentorship and professional guidance

Mentorship from seasoned professionals can accelerate your development as a football manager, offering insights into the intricacies of the profession, career advice, and personal growth opportunities. Establishing a mentor-mentee relationship within the football community can provide guidance, support, and invaluable industry knowledge.

Whilst football managers and coaches are incredibly busy when they're in a job, when they're out of a job they typically have a lot of free time. Consider finding ways to reach out to football managers or coaches who may be out of work through platforms like X or LinkedIn, and see if you can get a 30-minute meeting with them. Typically, from our experience, if you're open to people that you're looking for help and guidance from people you admire, you'll be surprised by how willing people will be to help you.

The journey to becoming a successful Association Football Manager is intricate, demanding a blend of passion, education, and hands-on experience. By following these detailed steps, aspiring managers can navigate their way through the complexities of the profession, building a career that is both rewarding and impactful.

The path requires perseverance, continuous learning, and a deep commitment to the beautiful game, culminating in the ultimate goal of leading teams to triumph.

Whilst these steps may signify just the very beginning of your journey, if you follow them and stick at them, you could one day be coaching full-time at the highest levels of football in the men's, women's or youth's game.

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