Prioritizing Player Well-Being in Football
On a daily basis, Manchester United’s athletes navigate Birch Road towards the club’s training facility, taking care to avoid horses from the nearby riding school and cyclists. After fulfilling autograph requests and passing through security, they park near the conspicuous “Manchester United” sign, all set to commence their day.
Once inside, they store their luxury cars and bags, ready to head into the designated “players’ corridor.” This space features an office with glass walls, equipped with a large desk, chairs, and a wide flat-screen TV, along with phones and laptops. Notably, the door remains open.
This office, however, does not belong to manager Ruben Amorim or any executive. Rather, it is dedicated to the player care team, tasked with ensuring each player has the necessary support off the pitch, helping them focus solely on their game.
The commitment to player care is a growing trend not only at Manchester United but across the Premier League. Clubs are increasingly investing in services that help players optimize their performance by alleviating personal challenges.
The objective is clear: to allow players to leave their concerns behind, enter training with a positive mindset, and dedicate their focus to football.
Understanding Player Care
While the manager directs daily activities on the training field, the player care department is responsible for addressing everything else a player may face, most of which is unrelated to the sport.
“The focus is on the individual as a whole, not just as an athlete,” stated player care specialist Hugo Scheckter. “This encompasses everything outside of football and medical issues that might affect a player. For approximately three to four hours a day, players are on site, while player care covers their outside lives.”
Areas of assistance can include personal development, mental health resources, relocation help, and other operational challenges. “We aim to eliminate life’s stressors so they can concentrate on playing,” Scheckter explained.
The Importance of Player Care Teams
As clubs search for competitive advantages, they are increasingly valuing player care. Architectural firm Foster and Partners, responsible for the £50 million renovation of Manchester United’s training ground, strategically placed the player care office at the entrance of the players’ area.
At clubs globally, player care teams are becoming essential. “They often identify early signs of issues,” one Premier League insider noted. “While coaches and medical staff monitor performance, the player care team delves deeper into the players’ off-field lives, revealing interconnectedness between their personal circumstances and their footballing performance.”
Investment levels in these departments vary widely. Some clubs have just a couple of staff members dedicated to player care, whereas others boast larger teams designed to support both men’s and women’s teams, along with academy players.
The effectiveness of player care departments often hinges on the attitude of the first-team manager. While some coaches may overlook off-pitch concerns, others embrace a more holistic philosophy.
“Club culture plays a significant role in how player care is perceived,” Scheckter noted. “Some managers are indifferent, while others are deeply engaged, participating in management discussions regularly, which is encouraging.”
A collaborative approach during performance meetings can yield considerable benefits. Recognizing that a player’s personal issues might cause unexpected weight loss, for instance, allows the team to prepare solutions, such as arranging meal deliveries when necessary.
Adapting to New Challenges
In today’s global football landscape, there is a growing expectation for player care teams to assist newcomers in acclimating to their new surroundings. It has become common for departments to collaborate with counterparts in rival clubs to provide support for players of the same nationality.
“If a club welcomes a player from Brazil, it’s often beneficial to connect with another local club that has Brazilian players,” shared one Premier League source. “Exchanging information can facilitate smoother transitions and create a supportive community for the player’s family.”
Although the player care teams typically operate behind the scenes, they sometimes take center stage. Following a long winless streak, for example, West Ham’s new manager, Nuno Espirito Santo, credited the player care staff for boosting team morale by decorating the dressing room with childhood photographs of the players. This creative initiative resulted in a triumphant 3-1 victory in their next match.
Ultimately, the aim is the same regardless of the challenges — be it promptness, managing competitive pressures, or even dealing with an overzealous bird. Player care teams strive to ensure that each athlete can perform at their best by addressing various life factors that may affect their game.n
