Leadership and group cohesion in professional football: the off-game researcher

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of leadership on the functioning of the group; detect the importance and necessity of cohesion in a professional team of footballers; describe/analyze the relationship between the researcher and club; and point the limitations and obstacles found during field research. Following the guidelines of qualitative research and having as a theoretical reference the field of social psychology, with emphasis on studies of Kurt Lewin and Pichon-Rivière, this research came from analysis of a professional football club. The main difficulties encountered were: impossibility of access to places or situations suggested as methodology; the denials for interviews; and rejection of the applicability of a free choice test. The bonds created and the roles taken harmed attempts of further analysis. Perception of the importance of leadership and group cohesion is present in professional football, with situational and democratic leadership being more relevant in that specific context.