--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But there isn’t much else most club…" description: "\"“But there isn’t much else most club managers can do to push their teams up the table. After all, players matter much more. As Johan Cruijff said when ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/simon-kuper-23141_football_but-there-isn-t-much-else-most-club-mana_3115246.jpg" --- # But there isn’t much else most club managers can do to… ![“But there isn’t much else most club managers can do to push their teams up the table. After all, players matter much more. As Johan Cruijff said when he was coaching Barcelona, “If your players are better than your opponents, 90 percent of the time you will win.” There cannot be many businesses…” quote by Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/simon-kuper-23141_football_but-there-isn-t-much-else-most-club-mana_3115246.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/simon-kuper-23141_football_but-there-isn-t-much-else-most-club-mana_3115246.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f0/simon-kuper-23141_football_but-there-isn-t-much-else-most-club-mana_3115246.jpg) > ““But there isn’t much else most club managers can do to push their teams up the table. After all, players matter much more. As Johan Cruijff said when he was coaching Barcelona, “If your players are better than your opponents, 90 percent of the time you will win.” There cannot be many businesses where a manager would make such an extravagant claim. The chairman of General Motors does not say that the art of good management is simply hiring the best designers or the best production managers.”” [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective management in sports hinges on player quality, not just tactics; this principle applies to business leadership. **In simple terms:** Great results come from having the best people, not only strategies. Key Takeaway Prioritize talent acquisition and development. Themes leadership team performance talent management Mood analytical pragmatic Type essay insightful When to use this quote - corporate hiring - sports coaching - project teams Key Concepts human capital competitive advantage Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance talent and strategy? - What steps ensure talent aligns with goals? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on talent can neglect strategic planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Good man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-man/) [Good Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-management/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) ## Related quotes > [Bad sales managers push two buttons: 'more' and 'panic.' Great sales managers have one more button to push: the 'how'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lytle/bad-sales-managers-push-two-buttons-more-and-panic-great-sales/) [Chris Lytle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lytle/) > [“Demand to see life's manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portal-2/demand-to-see-life-s-manager-make-life-rue-the-day-it-thought-it/) Portal 2 > [A player's mentality is very important. The five or 10 per cent where they're not focused because of wanting to go somewhere is enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-pardew/a-player-s-mentality-is-very-important-the-five-or-10-per-cent-where/) [Alan Pardew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-pardew/) > [If I have one skill as a manager, I can make things extremely clear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-horowitz/if-i-have-one-skill-as-a-manager-i-can-make-things-extremely-clear/) [Ben Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-horowitz/) > [It really doesn’t matter how the manager is. If you make a mistake and the manager is calm, you still feel terrible for making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joleon-lescott/it-really-doesn-t-matter-how-the-manager-is-if-you-make-a-mistake-and/) [Joleon Lescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joleon-lescott/) > [“I’m still cringing. Someone is already yelling at me, “Managers owning features?!?!” (And I agree.) You are still a manager, so make it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lopp/i-m-still-cringing-someone-is-already-yelling-at-me-managers-owning/) [Michael Lopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lopp/) > [The manager has to make rotations, otherwise the players will get tired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/the-manager-has-to-make-rotations-otherwise-the-players-will-get-tired/) [Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/) > [“My definition of a great manager is someone with whom you can make a connection no matter where you sit in the organization chart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lopp/my-definition-of-a-great-manager-is-someone-with-whom-you-can-make-a/) [Michael Lopp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lopp/) > [Investors should pay attention not only to whether but also to why current holdings are undervalued. It is critical to know why you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-klarman/investors-should-pay-attention-not-only-to-whether-but-also-to-why/) [Seth Klarman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-klarman/) > [The great secret of good management is to be more alert to prevent a man's going wrong than eager to punish him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-horace-lorimer/the-great-secret-of-good-management-is-to-be-more-alert-to-prevent-a/) [George Horace Lorimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-horace-lorimer/) > [Good managements produce a good average market price, and bad managements produce bad market prices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/good-managements-produce-a-good-average-market-price-and-bad/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [The one thing I seek above all else is understanding. Sometimes I'm so frustrated and I don't get it. But I'm lucky to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-guarini/the-one-thing-i-seek-above-all-else-is-understanding-sometimes-i-m-so/) [Justin Guarini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-guarini/) > [“The economy is in ruins! Bottom line? Good management will defeat a bad economy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-slap/the-economy-is-in-ruins-bottom-line-good-management-will-defeat-a-bad/) [Stan Slap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-slap/) > [You can learn a lot about good management by working under someone who is a bad manager.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-murray/you-can-learn-a-lot-about-good-management-by-working-under-someone/) [Charles Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-murray/) > [Learning, like money, may be of so base a coin as to be utterly void of use; or, if sterling, may require good management…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shenstone/learning-like-money-may-be-of-so-base-a-coin-as-to-be-utterly-void-of/) [William Shenstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shenstone/) ## More by Simon Kuper > [“The theory of the “wisdom of crowds” says that if you aggregate many different opinions from a diverse group of people, you are much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/the-theory-of-the-wisdom-of-crowds-says-that-if-you-aggregate-many/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [Even before 2007, this half of a small island was the richest football country on earth. In 2005-2006 the Premiership's total revenue was about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/even-before-2007-this-half-of-a-small-island-was-the-richest-football/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“It’s sad to say, but it is much easier selling, for example, a crap Brazilian than a brilliant Mexican. The Brazilian gets across the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/it-s-sad-to-say-but-it-is-much-easier-selling-for-example-a-crap/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“Entrepreneurs who dip into soccer also keep making the same mistakes. They buy clubs promising to run them “like a business” and disappear a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/entrepreneurs-who-dip-into-soccer-also-keep-making-the-same-mistakes/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [Football is not merely a small business, it's also a bad one. Anyone who spends any time inside football soon discovers that just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/football-is-not-merely-a-small-business-it-s-also-a-bad-one-anyone/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [Chelsea's players, coaches and agents are now football's wealthiest millionaires. Surely the billions taken from the Russian people by an oligarch in questionable privatisations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/chelsea-s-players-coaches-and-agents-are-now-football-s-wealthiest/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [It seems that soccer tournaments create those relationships: people gathered together in pubs and living rooms, a whole country suddenly caring about the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/it-seems-that-soccer-tournaments-create-those-relationships-people/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“Aulas spotted early that most soccer fans everywhere are much more like shoppers than like religious believers: if they can get a better experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/aulas-spotted-early-that-most-soccer-fans-everywhere-are-much-more/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“Apparently the Germans had a database of 13,000 kicks.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/apparently-the-germans-had-a-database-of-13-000-kicks/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“you are brought face to face with the great question about the soccer coach: Does he really matter? It turns out that coaches or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/you-are-brought-face-to-face-with-the-great-question-about-the-soccer/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“The club is not a business. It's a populist democracy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/the-club-is-not-a-business-it-s-a-populist-democracy/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“Stars of Recent World Cups, or European Championships Are Overvalued The worst time to buy a player is in the summer when he’s just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/stars-of-recent-world-cups-or-european-championships-are-overvalued/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“Because soccer clubs are the only businesses that get daily publicity without trying to, they treat journalists as humble supplicants instead of as unpaid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/because-soccer-clubs-are-the-only-businesses-that-get-daily-publicity/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [“You don't have to be charming to be a fan among fans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/you-don-t-have-to-be-charming-to-be-a-fan-among-fans/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) > [Other than sports, only war and catastrophe can create this sort of national unity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-kuper/other-than-sports-only-war-and-catastrophe-can-create-this-sort-of/) [Simon Kuper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) [Explore all 26 Simon Kuper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-kuper/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But there isn’t much else most club managers can do to push their teams up the table. 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