Nice article. My approach to mentor my students in NUS is close to that of Jose Mourinho. And yes, I am a Chelsea fan. One thing that I like about his management style goes in the following: he does not believe in star players, only in a tactically disciplined team who can execute the plan to beat his opponents. Of course, I am not the “Special One”, and it is always in our interest to expose the students to different kinds of mentors so that they can pick out the best of us and also weed out the weakest of us.

A famous line from Mourinho goes in the following:

“I am a winner because I’m good at what I do and because I am surrounded by people who think they are.”

On another note, a “shameless” marketing from my own part, I just published an economics paper on football managers and it has been publicized by Cambridge University in this URL.

I am very glad that you mentioned the point about the perceived significance of each member on the team. Sometimes I agree that the striker is getting way too much glory for their work. If you noticed, the defensive midfielder (aka the anchorman) is very important to the team because he wins the ball from the opponent while the opponent is attacking and then passes the ball for the creative ones to attack. It may seem like a simple job but many teams have failed miserably when this job is not done well (think Real Madrid when Claude Makele left for Chelsea).

Looking at business/startups, I have always been conscious of the contribution of those on the team that performs this “anchorman” role. He/She usually is not outspoken, silently making sure that all the things in the company runs smoothly, like getting the invoices out on time, making sure emails are replied, being secretary at meetings, etc. Supporting crews are important to the company and it is important that their roles are celebrated and lauded. Imagine if their roles are not fulfilled, it will be mayhem in the company.

Kee Peow has taken his interest in soccer and apply it in business and make it very fascinating.

To add to his point, a great team do make a big difference especially if it comprise of members that willing to make sacrifice to achieve the goal.

This is what I observe from the world cup. A successful startup is just like a team in world cup. Despite there are indifferences between each team member, they put aside their indifferences and ego to help the team to win the goal. Despite all of the roles of the members are important as a sum to achieve their goal objective, some roles are just simply perceived to be better recognized and higher value than others. For example, it is quite often a striker earn more recognition and is rewarded as the “genius” who conceived the goal and all attention is just highlight on him when he goal. But in truth, it is his other team members who help him to set up the opportunity at the right time and right place to conceive the goal. Without the support of his team member, the striker will be heavily marked and unable to fulfil his role effectively. It is through his team members that his marker will temporailty distracted from his duty.

However, ultimately, those golden “Award” and “monetary” award goes more to the striker often. However, if all team strength been equal, the goalkeeper will be then perceived as the next important.

In other words, those team members is willing to risk injury and sacrifice their career to help other (striker, winger, midfielder) to win the goal although they know that credit will not belong to them, but to goal scorers.

In the team, there also very strong respect for each individual and despite some disappointment and poor performance, they still respect each other overall. Afterall, there is always up and down in soccer match. Sometimes, it just luck at play.

Moreover, the team member is willing to up additional roles despite risking their reputation. The member also learn to accept responsibility and accountability. For example, the penalty kick to decide winning goals is indeed very high pressurised one, but yet the member is willing to accept their “fate”. Despite they are highly trained, they are not infallible. How many times did we see top footballers disappointed at last moment ??? But yet, those supporter still keep their faith in them.

There still much to learn from soccer in term of teamwork, team motivation etc

Soccer is still very much a creative sport in term of skill, tactic and strategy.