The Cost of Control: How an Authoritarian Coach Affects Team Cohesion in Professional Football

In professional football, the coach's role is crucial not only in terms of tactics but also in creating an environment that fosters cohesion and teamwork. However, some coaches adopt an authoritarian approach, imposing strict control and expecting total submission from their players. While this style may deliver immediate results, it can have long-term detrimental effects on the unity of the group and, consequently, the team's performance. Is an authoritarian coach truly effective in modern football, or does this type of leadership undermine team cohesion?

An authoritarian coach is one who makes all decisions without consulting the players, establishing strict rules and expecting his instructions to be followed without question or discussion. In this kind of environment, the players' voices are often minimized, and their autonomy is restricted. While the goal of this approach is to create discipline and clear structure, it often proves counterproductive to group cohesion. When players feel they have no voice or space to express their opinions, trust and relationships with the coach are affected. The lack of involvement in important decisions can lead to feelings of distrust and resentment, which erode morale and team spirit. Moreover, the constant pressure to meet imposed expectations without considering individual needs can generate anxiety and frustration among the players.

A successful team depends not only on strategy and tactics but also on the free-flowing communication between players and the coaching staff. An authoritarian coach can limit this communication, as their top-down approach prevents players from sharing concerns, ideas, and suggestions. The relationship becomes one-directional, reducing the opportunity for players to express themselves freely and feel supported. In addition, in an authoritarian environment, players may no longer feel comfortable making mistakes. The lack of freedom to learn from those mistakes can create insecurity, hindering personal growth and the players' ability to evolve in their roles within the team. Players who don’t feel supported or understood by their coach are less likely to take risks on the field, leading to a lack of creativity and, over time, limited performance.

In the short term, an authoritarian coach might be able to maintain discipline and organization within the team, but in the long run, the effects on team morale can be devastating. Players who feel treated as mere cogs in a machine, with little regard for their emotional well-being, can lose motivation and a sense of belonging to the team. Cohesion, which is vital for collective success, is eroded when players begin to see the coach more as an obstacle than an inspiring leader. Additionally, the authoritarian environment can foster divisions within the team, as players may begin to align themselves in factions based on their relationship with the coach. This kind of division can lead to internal conflicts and a lack of unity at critical moments, such as during difficult matches. Teamwork, essential in football, turns into a constant struggle to please the coach rather than a collaborative effort to achieve collective success.