Navigating Player Relationships: Insights from Football Managers and Former Players

Former England defender Anita Asante believes that relationships between teammates can be challenging but not inappropriate contrary to Chelsea boss Emma Hayes’ stance that player-coach and player to player relationships are inappropriate. Leicester City boss Willie Kirk is under investigation by the club for an alleged player-coach relationship. Asante who retired after a long career in women’s football acknowledges the challenges but doesn’t see them as inherently inappropriate.

Everton and Liverpool managers Brian Sorensen and Matt Beard express differing views with Sorensen understanding the potential issues in today’s professional game and Beard not seeing player to player relationships as problematic if they don’t interfere with performance. The Women Super League has seen high-profile player relationships with examples like Jess Carter and Ann-Katrin Berger of Chelsea and Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead of Arsenal.

Mead spoke about the competitive yet supportive nature of her relationship with Miedema during injury recovery. Kate Richardson-Walsh former England hockey captain also shared her perspective emphasizing that player to player relationships are not inappropriate while relationships between staff and players are.