Look around the crowd at a football game. They’re predominantly male, a mixed bunch, drawn from a variety of ages and backgrounds.
A large proportion hail from the world of commerce, from business. Some, from the top. It’s evident in their patter, in their dress. In London, a substantial amount will work in the City.
While they follow the ebb and flow of the game, and applaud and rage, they don’t stop to think how what they’re witnessing could be applied to their day jobs. They should. In front of their eyes, at every match, is being played out a managerial drama that would grace the smartest c-suite and tax the cleverest management consultants.
Watching the players, not for their footballing skills but for their mental attributes, and how the manager interacts with them, would teach lessons in leadership, fortitude and resilience. A few years ago, I went to a ‘Q&A evening’ with a Premier League manager. His team were doing OK, they were winning most of the time. But every now and then they would suffer a surprising defeat. A side they would be expected to beat would come from nowhere and apply a thumping.
It was holding them back, putting them mid-table when they ought to have been higher. Asked what was wrong, the boss didn’t hesitate. “Easy, we lack a leader on the pitch. We’ve a good squad, good players, but right now, not one of them is a leader. We need a leader.”
That person, he said, would not be the most skilful or the sharpest goalscorer or the most stubborn defender – although they could be any of those and more. No, they had to display inner steel, they needed to show resolve, discipline and determination when it mattered – and crucially those qualities had to rub off on others.
When those lesser teams went in front, he said, you saw heads drop, players would argue among themselves, structure would crumble, one or two of them would behave impetuously, and as for the carefully thought through game plan designed to exploit the opposition's weaknesses, that would be forgotten. A loss would ensue, and with it, an inquest, at which all those points would be raised and agreed.
But the next match, the same would occur. They did not possess a strong enough character who could hold it together, who would drive and galvanise. That required a special individual and having tried and failed with the existing players, they were going out into the market to find one.
It’s what defines the great managers. Much has been written about Jurgen Klopp these past few days, since his shock announcement that he would be quitting Liverpool at the end of this season.
Plenty has focused on his natural ebullience, his warmth and good humour, his obvious passion – for Liverpool, the club and the city – and his ability to get on with the highest and lowliest of folk. There’s one video clip of Klopp that never fails to inspire and raise a smile – it’s of him dancing on tables in a bar with supporters after a victory, hugging and jigging, and belting out Liverpool anthems.
You could be forgiven for supposing that is Klopp, that‘s all there is, the fist-pumping and running along the touchline. In truth, he is happiest in the peace and quiet, away from the hurly-burly. “My car knows only one way – home to here, here to home.”
And he is thinking constantly, about the assets at his disposal and what makes them tick and how to get the best out of them, not for now, but ahead. Not for nothing did he refer to his Champions League-winning team and the first Liverpool side in an era to triumph in the most prestigious tournament after so many victories before, as “mentality monsters”.
It was Klopp who coached the lesser known Andrew Robertson to dominate the great Lionel Messi, the night Liverpool came back from a 3-0 first-leg defeat to humble the mighty Barcelona 4-3 in the Champions League semi-final.
At Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson was the same. The doughty Glaswegian extracted stellar performances galore from who, within football, was labelled as the "difficult-to-manage" Eric Cantona. The Frenchman scored 71 goals in 177 appearances, winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups, and earning the nickname from the United fans of "King Eric".
Ferguson’s tactic was not to try to restrict him as others had done, but to show faith in him, to trust and believe in him. Cantona was allowed free rein, to roam around the pitch, to strut, always with his collar up, to intervene when it suited him, to do his own thing.
He was short-tempered, but Ferguson made no attempt to curb that, believing the emotion made him the player he was. So when Cantona launched a kung fu kick against an opposition supporter, and the football establishment erupted, Ferguson stood by his player.
When Cantona retired, like Klopp also right at the top, Ferguson wrote him a letter. It’s an extraordinary document, long and full of love, one friend to another. Along with thoughts about how he planned to try to replace Cantona, he shares the constraints of what he had to work with. It’s open, warm and intimate.
“As I close this letter, I would like to hope that we will have a chat, a drink, or a meal together soon. I know the club has written to you about the forthcoming dinner and I hope you will manage it, but that is not the most important thing, for me it is to remind you how good a player you were for Manchester United and how grateful I am for the service you gave me. I will never forget that and I hope you won’t either.”
Ferguson continues: “You are always welcome here and if you just pop in unexpectedly for a cup of tea, no fanfare, just for a chat as friends, that would mean more to me than anything. Eric, you know where I am if you need me and now that you are no longer one of my players, I hope that you know you have a friend. Good luck and God bless. Yours sincerely, Alex Ferguson.”
Klopp knew how to bring on youth. “I am not saying I am the best manager in the world, but I’m quite good and I am one of those really interested in structure. We are not marionettes, we cannot be thrown away each day. If you do not change the people, without solving the problems, then the next person will have the same problems. Work on solutions, work on the future. That’s what we do.”
It was at those meetings, to discuss the future, that Klopp realised he wasn’t leading them, that he was asking himself what the future lay for him and where he would be. That was when he knew it was time to go.
It’s the hardest decision of all, stepping down while at the top. But in many ways it’s the shrewdest. History is littered with those who didn’t, who stayed on too long. Those running businesses, take note.
Chris Blackhurst is author of ‘The World’s Biggest Cash Machine – Manchester United, the Glazers and the battle for football’s soul’ published by Macmillan.
Company%20Profile
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Profile of RentSher
Started: October 2015 in India, November 2016 in UAE
Founders: Harsh Dhand; Vaibhav and Purvashi Doshi
Based: Bangalore, India and Dubai, UAE
Sector: Online rental marketplace
Size: 40 employees
Investment: $2 million
Email sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Naga
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Three-day coronation
Royal purification
The entire coronation ceremony extends over three days from May 4-6, but Saturday is the one to watch. At the time of 10:09am the royal purification ceremony begins. Wearing a white robe, the king will enter a pavilion at the Grand Palace, where he will be doused in sacred water from five rivers and four ponds in Thailand. In the distant past water was collected from specific rivers in India, reflecting the influential blend of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology on the coronation. Hindu Brahmins and the country's most senior Buddhist monks will be present. Coronation practices can be traced back thousands of years to ancient India.
The crown
Not long after royal purification rites, the king proceeds to the Baisal Daksin Throne Hall where he receives sacred water from eight directions. Symbolically that means he has received legitimacy from all directions of the kingdom. He ascends the Bhadrapitha Throne, where in regal robes he sits under a Nine-Tiered Umbrella of State. Brahmins will hand the monarch the royal regalia, including a wooden sceptre inlaid with gold, a precious stone-encrusted sword believed to have been found in a lake in northern Cambodia, slippers, and a whisk made from yak's hair.
The Great Crown of Victory is the centrepiece. Tiered, gold and weighing 7.3 kilograms, it has a diamond from India at the top. Vajiralongkorn will personally place the crown on his own head and then issues his first royal command.
The audience
On Saturday afternoon, the newly-crowned king is set to grant a "grand audience" to members of the royal family, the privy council, the cabinet and senior officials. Two hours later the king will visit the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred space in Thailand, which on normal days is thronged with tourists. He then symbolically moves into the Royal Residence.
The procession
The main element of Sunday's ceremonies, streets across Bangkok's historic heart have been blocked off in preparation for this moment. The king will sit on a royal palanquin carried by soldiers dressed in colourful traditional garb. A 21-gun salute will start the procession. Some 200,000 people are expected to line the seven-kilometre route around the city.
Meet the people
On the last day of the ceremony Rama X will appear on the balcony of Suddhaisavarya Prasad Hall in the Grand Palace at 4:30pm "to receive the good wishes of the people". An hour later, diplomats will be given an audience at the Grand Palace. This is the only time during the ceremony that representatives of foreign governments will greet the king.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
