Cultured Football #147

Replacing Irreplaceable Klopp. Unusual Business of Running a Football Club. Wannabe-Dictators Heading Football. PR Managers. Crypto Returns.

Feb 03, 2024

By Ryan O'Hanlon for ESPN

Jurgen Klopp’s resignation was sufficiently seismic news that articles are still being written well after the news broke. Most of whom seem to be focusing on how Liverpool will ever manage to replace their irreplaceable coach.

Running a football club has shown me the sport is a rule unto itself

By Jason Stockwood for The Guardian

Pieces by Jason Stockwood - businessman who is current football chairman and joint majority shareholder of Grimsby Town - are always insightful reads. Here he draws from diverse business experience, shedding light on the distinctive traits that set the football industry apart from conventional businesses. Notably, the intricate contract and transfer mechanisms, where players are treated as commodities, stand unparalleled in any other profession. In the unpredictable world of football, success is measured not just in revenue, but in the enduring devotion of fans and the strategic moves of players.

They Run the World’s Biggest Sports, and They Don’t Want to Leave

By Tariq Panja for the New York Times (Gift Article)

Powerful leaders in the world of sport are pushing for changes that would weaken term limits, allowing them to hold onto their positions for longer. This goes against the reforms put in place after past corruption scandals and experts are concerned that it may lead to a concentration of power in the hands of a few individuals. Despite opposition, these changes are likely to be approved due to the benefits and influence these leaders hold.

Bonus Pick: An in-depth interview with Aleksander Ceferin that has to be read to be believed. Including his displeasure his friend Zeljko Pavlica being picked on after the Champions League final debacle of 2022.

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By Luke Davis for The Gaffer Magazine

Forest Green Rovers had built a reputation as one of the most progressive and adventurous clubs out there. Then a relegation and poor choice in picking high profile former players as managers ruined it all.

The Great Crypto Con: why is football falling back in love with the blockchain?

By Martin Calladine for Sporting Intelligence

Football teams are partnering with cryptocurrency companies despite past experiences with scams and fraud. Chelsea signed a deal with BingX, a crypto exchange that does not serve the UK market, and other teams are also getting into the crypto market. Yet clubs are not properly vetting their crypto partners, leading to potential risks for investors and fans especially as the crypto industry is still unregulated and has a history of fraud and money laundering. That, however, seems to matter little when football clubs see money.

Every Saturday, Cultured Football brings you five great football articles you should be reading.

Last Week’s Most Read: With hope in his heart: how Jürgen Klopp rescued Liverpool

By Jonathan Liew for The Guardian

The big story of the week, and one that will resonate for quite some time is that of Jurgen Klopp’s decision to step down from his role as Liverpool manager. It was a move that caught everyone unawares but, once it was out, it opened the floodgates to dozens of articles. This, however, is the best one of them all. “Liverpool are not my club and Klopp has never been my manager, but perhaps the greatest tribute you could pay him is that sometimes I wished he was.”