‘I don’t like what football has become’ – Jorge Sampaoli reflects on role of manager

Jorge Sampaoli in an interview with L’Équipe has commented on how he believes modern football’s obsession with the result, over the coaching process, has damaged the status of the manager. 

This became a recurrent theme throughout the interview, as theformer Marseille coach reflected on how “ it’s a coach’s strategy that makes everything come together .” A concept he believes stands in complete contrast to how football currently operates. 

Sampaoli explains, “ I don’t see enough harmony in current football, I see too many individual interests . I see people’s hysteria more than harmony. As a coach, we have to fight against this .” 

Sampaoli is deeply frustrated with the changes that he has experienced in the game since beginning his coaching career in 1991. “ What bothers me is that when you don’t win, due to reasons that a coach can’t control, you abandon your idea, as if it wasn’t valid .” 

In his view, the result has become more important to the manager than the process of development or of implementing a coherent strategy. This has led managers to chase results rather than to reflect on their processes, something that has only weakened the position of the manager in the modern game. “ The position of the coach is depreciated. I don’t accept it and I try to fight against it .”

Despite his disappointment with how the game has changed during his time managing, the coach remains a man sought after by clubs across the world. Olympique Lyonnais and Ajax recently have attempted to coax the Argentine back into the game following his sacking from Flamengo in September last year. 

Whether he would take another opportunity within a landscape that he has grown frustrated with, Sampaoli responded with his mantra: “ I don’t