"Director of Football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and causes much debate in the sports media. Dave Bassett described the role as Soccer redirects here. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... A sport consists of a physical activity or skill carried out with a recreational purpose: for competition, for self-enjoyment, to attain excellence, for the development of a skill, or some combination of these. ... David Dave Harry Bassett (born 4 September 1944 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham) is an English football manager. ...

" ..... a buffer. The director of football is answerable to the board but there to assist the manager. He's experienced in football and there to help the board members who don't have that experience."

In theory it means that the manager is left to concern himself with the day to day running of the club, the picking of the team, and the decisions about tactics and training. The director meanwhile looks after the budget, and allocates money for transfers and the youth academy. In sports, a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople. ...

The director is often involved in the selection of the manager, so that the manager knows he has full support from his subordinates. The plus side is that there is an experienced football head watching the scouts, the budget and the academy, allowing the manager to get on with the team. The down side is that the experienced football head often cannot help giving their opinion of the manager's actions. Most directors of football are ex-managers, given a more "senior" role at the club because the board do not want to lose his experience, despite the fact he has not been getting the results.

The director of football's job is sometimes compared to that of a general manager in a North American professional sports organization. The term general manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. ... North American redirects here. ...

Notable Directors of Football

People associated with football who have held the role as Director of Football or Sporting Director include:

• Gianluca Nani: Joined West Ham United in March 2008 as Technical Director. He carries out several responsibilities of a Sporting Director.
• Dennis Wise, the former Leeds United manager, is Executive Director (Football) at Newcastle United.
• Sir Bobby Charlton: Currently at Manchester United. Previously played for the club under Sir Matt Busby, himself a former Director of Football at Manchester United.
• Predrag Mijatović: Served in the position at Real Madrid since July 2006.
• Txiki Beguiristáin: Currently serving in the position at Barcelona.
• Umberto Gandini: Currently performing the role at AC Milan.
• Giovanni Trapattoni: Was appointed to the position as Red Bull Salzburg in May 2006 to work alongside Head Coach, Lothar Matthäus. He served as Manager and Director of Football. Trapattoni has left them as of May 2008 to take over the Irish national team.
• David Pleat: Having formerly performed the role at Tottenham Hotspur, he is now in a similar role at Nottingham Forest.
• Brian Kerr: Took the role at St Patrick's Athletic FC in 2007.
• Ramon Rodriguez: Currently serving in the position at Sevilla FC.
• Damien Comolli: Took over at Tottenham from Frank Arnesen who departed to Chelsea in 2005.
• Anatoly Korobochka: Stepped into the role at Hearts in November 2006. In February 2007 he began filling a dual role after he was appointed interim Head Coach.
• Nick Hammond: Performed the role at Reading since 2003.
• Craig Brown: Formerly performed the role at Fulham and is now serving in a similar role at Derby County.
• Ernie Stewart: The former US star, has fulfilled the responsibilities of a Sporting Director at his former club NAC Breda since May 2006 where he is the Technical Director.
• John Rudge: Currently in the role at Stoke City.
• Willie Miller: Director of Footballing Operations at Aberdeen.
• Lennie Lawrence: The former Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic manager has been working in the position at Bristol Rovers since 2005.
• Barry Fry: Currently serving at Peterborough.
• Ron Atkinson: The former Manchester United, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest manager, had previously performed the role at Coventry City and Kettering Town. He is now in the position at Halesowen Town.
• Alexi Lalas: Currently serving in the similar role of general manager at MLS club LA Galaxy.
• Pierpaolo Marino: Currently serving in the position at S.S.C. Napoli.
• Alessio Secco: Currently serving in the position at Juventus.
• Jim Leishman: Currently serving in the position at Dunfermline Athletic F.C..
• Craig Levein Currently both Director of Football and Manager at Dundee United F.C.
• Mick Wadsworth: Has served as Director of Football and Assistant Manager at Gretna since July 2007.
• Rui Costa: Is currently serving at SL Benfica were he finished his playing career in 2008.

Current season West Ham United Football Club is an English football club based in Upton Park, London Borough of Newham, East London, and have played their home matches at the 35,303 capacity Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904. ... Dennis Frank Wise (born December 16, 1966 in Kensington) is an English football manager and former footballer, currently manager of Leeds United. ... Leeds United F.C. is the only professional association football club in Leeds. ... For the Australian soccer club see Newcastle United (Australia). ... Sir Robert Bobby Charlton, CBE (born 11 October 1937) Ashington, Northumberland is a former English professional football player who won a World Cup medal and the European Footballer of the Year award in 1966. ... Manchester Uniteds emblem Manchester United F.C. (often abbreviated to Man United or just Man U, pronounced man-yoo) is an English football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. ... Sir Matthew Busby (Orbiston, Glasgow May 26, 1909 - January 20, 1994) was a football player and manager, most noted for his spell managing Manchester United F.C. during the 1950s and 1960s As a player, Busby enjoyed spells at Manchester City F.C and Liverpool F.C. and played at... Manchester Uniteds emblem Manchester United F.C. (often abbreviated to Man United or just Man U, pronounced man-yoo) is an English football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. ... Predrag PeÄ‘a Mijatović (Serbian Cyrillic: Предраг Мијатовић) (born January 19, 1969 in Titograd, Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Serbo-Montenegrin former football player and current sports director of Real Madrid. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Madrid. ... Aitor Beguiristáin Mújica (born Olaberria, Guipuzcoa, August 12, 1964), commonly referred to Txiki Beguiristáin, was a Basque footballer during the 1980s and 1990s. ... Futbol Club Barcelona (Spanish IPA: , Catalan IPA: ), known familiarly as Barça (Spanish IPA: , Catalan IPA: ), is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. ... AC Milan is an Italian football club. ... Giovanni Trapattoni (born March 17, 1939) is an Italian football coach, considered the most successful club coach in the history of that country [3], and former player. ... FC Red Bull Salzburg is an Austrian football club, based in Salzburg. ... Lothar Herbert Matthäus (born 21 March 1961) is a German former football player and now manager. ... David J Pleat was (born January 15, 1945 in Nottingham) is an English football manager and former player, who now provides Champions League commentary for ITV and occasional commentary for BBC Radio Five Live. ... Tottenham Hotspur F.C. is a North London association football team, also known by the nickname Spurs. ... This article is about the English football club. ... Brian Kerr, (born in Dublin, 5 March 1953) is an Irish football manager, most noted for managing the Republic of Ireland national side. ... St Patricks Athletic F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Sevilla Fútbol Club is a Spanish professional football club that plays in the top-flight Spanish La Liga championship. ... Damien Comolli joined Tottenham Hotspur FC in September 2005 as Director of Football, with overall responsibility for the medical, academy, scouting and club secretarial departments, replacing the outgoing Frank Arnesen. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... Anatoly Korobochka (born in Odessa,[1] USSR, now Ukraine) is the interim head coach of Heart of Midlothian football club in Scotland. ... Nick Hammond (born 7 September 1967 in Wolverhampton) is the Director of Football at Reading Football Club. ... Reading Football Club are an association football club, based in the English town of Reading, in Berkshire. ... Craig Brown CBE (born July 1, 1940 in Lanarkshire) is a former Scottish professional football player and is currently employed in a director of football-style role at English club Fulham. ... Current season For details on the current season, see Fulham F.C. season 2007-08 Fulham Football Club are an English football team based in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. ... Current season Derby County Football Club are an English football club based in Derby. ... Earnie Stewart (born March 28, 1969 in Veghel, Netherlands) is an American soccer player who was a regular midfielder for the U.S. national team from 1990s until his retirement in 2005. ... NAC Breda is a Dutch football club from Breda. ... John Rudge was a professional footballer and a football manager. ... Stoke City Football Club is a football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, England. ... William God Miller (born May 2, 1955 in Glasgow) is a former professional football player who played only for Aberdeen. ... Aberdeen Football Club are a football team from Aberdeen, Scotland, who compete in the Scottish Premier League. ... Lennie Lawrence, (born December 12, 1947), is a former football manager. ... Middlesbrough Football Club (commonly known as Boro) are an English football club based in Middlesbrough. ... Current season Charlton Athletic Football Club (also known as The Addicks) is a professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. ... Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football team, based in Bristol. ... Barry Fry (born April 7, 1945) is an English football manager. ... Peterborough United Football Club are an English football team currently playing in League Two for the 2007-08 season. ... Ronald Franklin Atkinson,[1][2] commonly known as Big Ron (born 18 March 1939) is an English former football player and manager. ... Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, is an association football club based in Coventry, England. ... Kettering Town Football Club are an English football club based in Kettering, Northamptonshire. ... Halesowen Town are an English association football club formed in 1873, currently playing in the Southern League Premier Division. ... Panayotis Alexander (Alexi) Lalas (b. ... Year founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Full name Los Angeles Galaxy Nickname LA Galaxy Stadium The Home Depot Center (HDC) Carson, CA Coach Ruud Gullit Owner Philip Anschutz (AEG) First Game Los Angeles Galaxy 2–1 MetroStars (Rose Bowl; April 13, 1996) Largest Win Dallas Burn 1–8 Los... Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as simply Napoli or the abbreviation SSC Napoli, is an Italian professional football club based in Naples, Campania that was originally founded in 1904. ... Juventus redirects here. ... Jim Leishman is a former professional footballer and is currently Manager of Scottish Premier League team Dunfermline Athletic. ... Dunfermline Athletic Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. ... Craig William Levein (born 22 October 1964 in Dunfermline) is a Scottish former professional footballer and current football manager and Director of Football. ... Michael Mick Wadsworth (born November 3, 1950 in Yorkshire, UK) is an English football coach, currently assistant manager at Shrewsbury Town. ... Gretna Football Club is a Scottish football club from Gretna, near Annan, Dumfries and Galloway and promoted to the Scottish Premier League in the 06/07 season. ... Rui Manuel César Costa, OIH, usually referred to simply as Rui Costa (pron. ... Benfica redirects here. ...

Past Directors of Football

• Franco Baldini: The incumbent General Manager of England, served in the position at Roma from 1999-2005.
• Avram Grant: Was appointed to the role at Chelsea in July 2007. His appointment was met with disapproval from then Head Coach Jose Mourinho and subsequently Mourinho left the club in September 2007 and was replaced by Grant.
• David Dein: Served as Vice-Chairman of Arsenal between 1983-2007, during which time, he performed the roles of a Director of Football.
• Lawrie McMenemy: Took the role at Southampton in 1993-1997. During this time he worked alongside managers, Alan Ball, Dave Merrington and Graeme Souness.
• Kenny Dalglish: Held the position at Blackburn Rovers from 1995-1996 and then at Celtic from 1999-2000.
• David Pleat: Performed the role at Tottenham from 1998 to 2004, as well as performing three separate periods as caretaker manager.
• Steve Coppell: Took the role at Crystal Palace in 1995-1996 and then in 1998-1999 after two separate stints as manager.
• Sir Clive Woodward: Accepted the role at Southampton in 2005 when George Burley was appointed Head Coach. He left in 2006.
• Murdo Mackay: Held the position at Derby County from 2003-2006. He played huge part in the appointment and removal of George Burley.
• Dave Bassett: Took the role at Leicester City in 2002 after serving as manager the previous season. He left the job in 2004.
• Bob Dowie: Held the position at Crystal Palace from 2004-2006 working alongside his brother Iain.
• Eduard Malofeyev: Held the position for four months at Hearts in 2006. He had a brief spell as interim Head Coach, before leaving in November to join MTZ-RIPO.
• Dick Advocaat: Held this position at Rangers FC for 3 months, after leaving his job as manager, but quickly resigned.
• Valdas Ivanauskas: After serving as Head Coach at Hearts for eight months, Ivanauskas was rumoured to be moving into the position in February 2007. This was never made official and he left the club in March 2007.
• John Deehan: Former Norwich manager, previously performed the role at Northampton and then at Lincoln City from 2006-2007 alongside Head Coach John Schofield.

Keith Alexander: After to previously managing Lincoln City and Peterborough United accepted the role at Bury in May 2007. He was sacked at the same time as Head Coach Chris Casper in 2008. First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Associazione Sportiva Roma (ISE: IT0001008876) is a major professional football club both in Italy’s Serie A and in European football. ... Avraham (Abraham) Avram Grant (‎; born Avraham Granat, 6 May 1955 in Petah Tikva, Israel) is an Israeli association football manager and current First Team Coach of Chelsea Football Club. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix was born January 26, 1963 in Setúbal, Portugal and is a successful football manager. ... David Barry Charles Dein (born 7 September 1943) is the former vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club and former vice-chairman of the Football Association. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Lawrie McMenemy MBE (b. ... Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. ... For other persons of the same name, see Alan Ball. ... David Merrington is a former football manager in England. ... Graeme James Souness (IPA: []) (born 6 May 1953 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager. ... Kenneth Mathieson Dalglish MBE (born 4 March 1951 in Dalmarnock, Glasgow) is a former Scottish international football player. ... Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. ... Current season Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football team based in Glasgow, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. ... David J Pleat was (born January 15, 1945 in Nottingham) is an English football manager and former player, who now provides Champions League commentary for ITV and occasional commentary for BBC Radio Five Live. ... Stephen James Coppell (born 9 July 1955 in Norris Green, Liverpool) is the manager of Reading Football Club. ... Crystal Palace Football Club is an English professional football team based in the London Borough of Croydon. ... Sir Clive Ronald Woodward (born 6 January 1956 at Ely in Cambridgeshire) is a former English rugby union international who was the coach of the England rugby union team from 1997 to 2004. ... Southampton Football Club is a professional English football team, nicknamed The Saints and based in the city of Southampton. ... George Elder Burley (born June 3, 1949 in Cumnock, Kyle, East Ayrshire) is a Scottish football manager and former player. ... Murdo Mackay was Director of Football at Derby County. ... Current season Derby County Football Club are an English football club based in Derby. ... David Dave Harry Bassett (born 4 September 1944 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham) is an English football manager. ... Leicester City Football Club, (also known as The Foxes) is an English professional football club based in the city of Leicester. ... Bob Dowie is a football coach. ... Iain Dowie (born January 9, 1965 in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England) is a football manager and coach, and former professional football player and Northern Ireland international. ... Eduard Vassilievich Malofeyev (Russian: ) (born June 2, 1942 in Kolomna) is a football coach and former international player. ... FC MTZ-RIPO is a Belarusian Premier League football team (formerly known as Traktor Minsk), playing on the Traktor stadium in the city of Minsk. ... Dick Advocaat (born September 27, 1947 in The Hague, Netherlands) is the Dutch coach of the Russian football team Zenit. ... Rangers Football Club is among the worlds most successful football clubs. ... Valdas Ivanauskas (born July 31, 1966 in Kaunas) is the current first team coach of Hearts football club and a former football striker from Lithuania. ... Heart of Midlothian F.C. (most commonly referred to as Hearts) are a professional football club and are a football team in Edinburgh, Scotland who play in the Scottish Premier League. ... John Deehan (born 1957), is a former football (soccer) player who in recent years has had several spells in coaching and management. ... Norwich City Football Club (also known as The Canaries) is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. ... Northampton Town Football Club is a football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. ... Lincoln City F.C. are an English football team currently playing in Football League Two (the fourth tier of the English football league system). ... John Schofield is the current first team coach, caretaker manager & youth team coach of Lincoln City F.C.. His youth academy has produced promising players such as Scott Loach, who was transferred to Watford F.C., and Jack Hobbs, who was sold to Liverpool F.C for £500,000. ... Chris Casper (born 28 April 1975, Burnley, Lancashire) is an English football manager, currently in charge of Football League Two club Bury. ...