Leadership Lessons -- Manchester United is a Good Case Study Material

Manchester United Football Club ( ManU ) has been in the news for all the right reasons for the last two decades—claiming silverware, making money , great following , known for its comebacks from adversity in its games , never say die spirit and so on and so forth .. Only right reasons.. They had a long run at the Top and leading them was their ex Manager Sir Alex , who held firm the club for the past 26 years.

Things have changed quite dramatically ever since he took up retirement at the end of the last season ( 2013). His replacement had a big job to do : Fill in to his Big shoes… Not an easy task ..

Now ManU , post the leadership change is known for all the wrong reasons :

1. Struggling in the league – currently placed sixth ( seventh after another home loss on March 16th ) with diminishing chances to qualify for the next year Championship League. Clearly they also have no chance of retaining the Premiership title they won last year.
2. Loosing matches so easily—just not away games but home games – For the first time , teams like Newcastle , West Bromwich and Everton beat ManU at Old Trafford – This is unheard off for the last two decades or more.
3. All the teams in the league , now believe that they can beat ManU—Fear factor that these teams had on ManU simply gone .
4. Lack of self belief – ManU was one team that could come back from the dumps in each of its matches. They would be down by two goals with ten minutes to go but you can expect them to put in three goals in the last ten minutes and win the match. Today , they simply cannot do what they did till last year.
5. A win has become so difficult ! This is so true.. If ManU wins a game it is news !

What a change in the fortunes ?

So did anything changed ?

1. Was there a change in the composition of the team ? Nah …. It was the same team and bench for most of the matches.
2. Did they loose out any star or key players ? No –
3. Did their supporters desert them ? No.. Not yet .. they turn up in full strength waiting for good times to start again.
4. Did the opponents become stronger – May be Yes for the top four or five teams but lesser known teams are in the same category as they were last year –
5. The performance of the team was such that , football Pundits are now predicting a loss for ManU , even before they played any of their match this season. Such was the dip in reputation and skills and form

Only One change
Change of the Manager-
David Moyes, the Scot who took over from Sir Alex ( a Scotsman himself ) was the only change . The fortunes of ManU has just slipped and dipped as Moyes stepped in to the role.
Moyes is no muck to the job. Over the last several years , he at his old club did what in football parlance would be said as a “decent job’. It was clear that he had to step up a big mile. This is where it matters.

Here are some reasons why Moyes is struggling :
He is not Sir Alex and so he needs to be himself. Moyes should not care about what others think because he is at United because of his ability. He is good enough. He was the man chosen and now he has to believe in himself.
You have to be the BIG game Man – most of issues get settled when you deliver in the Big games . Moyes carries an inferiority in the big games
Carrying Conviction in what he does—So important
Being consistent
Taking tough decisions
Being tactical
Playing mind games and managing the media well
Existing support team management:: Mike Phelan, Rene Meulensteen and Eric Steele had accumulated more than 20 years' experience with United's first team between them but left when Moyes took over in a move which surely he must now regret. They would have helped him a great deal.. Beware to retain your team as you take over !

Will Moyes succeed – Yes , sure he will. United as a team and club will get its act right soon. And that is what every United supporter ( including me will want )

The key takeaway was Leadership change and transition has to be carefully planned , especially when you are bringing in someone from outside to replace a legend like Sir Alex. Personally , I thought the transition could have been phased. Moyes could have come in as a Asst Manager to Sir Alex and that could have given him a closer look at the Club and helped him to settle down as Sir Alex exited.

Clearly a potential case study for many researchers in today’s world on Leadership Change Management