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Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate says the authority of football managers has been steadily weakened by modern club structures, despite increasing demands on those in charge of teams.
Southgate believes the growing influence of football, technical and sporting directors has altered traditional power dynamics within clubs, even though he says he has “no issue” with the evolution of the modern game.
Shift From Manager to Head Coach
In recent years, many clubs have moved away from the traditional manager model towards a head coach structure, with long-term strategy overseen by executives operating above the coaching role.
Southgate said this shift has resulted in a gradual loss of authority for those on the touchline, despite the pressures of the job remaining as intense as ever.
His comments come amid a turbulent period for elite clubs, with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea all changing head coaches since the start of the year.
Power Struggles Behind Recent Sackings
Writing on professional networking platform LinkedIn, Southgate pointed to recent departures involving Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, Ruben Amorim at Manchester United and Enzo Maresca at Chelsea.
Although the circumstances differed, Southgate said power struggles involving executives, club staff or players were at the heart of each exit.
Maresca left Chelsea by mutual consent following disagreements with the club’s hierarchy, while Amorim publicly criticised United’s leadership shortly before being dismissed.
“The erosion of a manager’s authority has been a gradual process over many years,” Southgate wrote.
“It has accelerated with the widespread introduction of sporting directors who sit structurally above the head coach and report directly to owners or chief executives.”
‘Head Coaches Face More Pressure, Not Less’
Southgate rejected the idea that the head coach model reduces workload or responsibility.
Instead, he argued modern coaches face increased demands due to larger squads, expanded backroom teams, advanced data analysis and growing media and commercial obligations.
He also highlighted the complexity of managing players who operate as individual brands, alongside the financial stakes involved and relentless scrutiny from both traditional and social media.
“The opposite is true,” he said. “The pressures have never been greater.”
Why Southgate Insisted on the Title ‘Manager’
Despite accepting the need for modern football structures, Southgate said titles matter.
He revealed that when offered the England role, he insisted on being called manager rather than head coach to reflect the authority and control required to succeed.
Southgate managed England from 2016 to 2024, leading the team to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final.
“Players are not magnets on a tactics board,” he added. “They are human beings, and managing that reality is at the heart of modern football leadership.”
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