In the world of fan clubs, the chairman’s chair is not just a management position, but rather a true test of character and ability to lead under relentless pressure. Every decision, every contract signed and every word said is met with a magnifying glass by fans who are not satisfied with anyone but the top. Between the ambitions of the fans, the pressures of the media, and the challenges of economic and artistic reality, the club president finds himself at the center of the storm, either steering the ship steadily towards the podium or being tossed around by waves of criticism and anger. This highlights the importance of the club president’s role in creating success. Or bear the consequences of failure.
Regarding the role of club presidents and fans’ perceptions of club presidents, Mohammad Al Yousef, an expert in sports history, told Okaz: “It has become a recurring scene in the sports world for club presidents to be held responsible for the decline in the level of popular clubs and the accompanying rise in public anger.Fans essentially demand clear accountability for the reasons for failure. Clubs with a wide base of popularity are always under pressure, because the ambitions of the fans are not limited to the limits of participation, but rather exceed them. “Continuous competition for the championship, and any technical or managerial decline is interpreted as a flaw in senior leadership. ”
He explained that the fight for the club president’s position raises legitimate questions. In other words, is the goal to serve the organization or to gain fame and limelight? Therefore, the job of club president is not an honorary position or a gateway to media appearances, but rather a heavy responsibility that sometimes requires sacrificing time, effort, and money. Several experiences have proven that the predominance of personal ambition over the public interest leads to hasty decisions, internal conflicts, and divisions that directly affect the stability of the team.
clear standards
Al Yousef said that there are clear criteria to bring club presidents closer to the hearts of fans, the most important of which are honesty and transparency in presentation, effective communication skills and systematic organizational activities, and that presidents who win championships or achieve tangible results leave their name in the memory of fans. Since the public measures success in terms of results, a championship is not just a cup to decorate the coffers, but rather a symbol of the success of a management phase that was able to combine sound planning, technical support and financial stability.
He pointed out that lack of experience, leadership qualities and weaknesses of character are among the factors that exacerbate problems within the club’s system. CEOs who lack decisiveness and strategic vision find themselves at the mercy of pressure from the media, fans, and even the board. This hesitation is reflected in contractual decisions, crisis management, and dealing with players and technical staff, creating an unstable and tense environment.
Results are the measure of success
Al Youssef stressed that the true criterion of success for a club president remains positive results and achievements. This is because it reflects the quality of government work from the bottom to the top. Teams that compete consistently, show fighting spirit, and have a clear identity on the field often have organized management work and thoughtful support behind them. Frequent turnover of technical staff and repeated failures are indicative of management deficiencies that require a comprehensive review.
Regarding the financial aspects within the club, Al Yousef said: “The role of the club president is not limited to following up on results, but rather extends to addressing the club’s debts and player demands, as well as ensuring sustainable financial resources. Late payment of dues has a negative impact on morale and affects the team’s performance. A successful president balances sporting ambitions with financial capacity and strives to build investment partnerships that guarantee the club’s long-term stability.”
Al Youssef concluded his speech by stressing that being president of a club is not an honor but a duty, and that while fans may be angry and critical, in the end he stands by players who work honestly and achieve results. The chair does not create value for a president, but rather true value is created by hard work, smart decisions, and the ability to lead an organization toward the podium with consistency and sustainability.
In the world of popular clubs, the chairmanship is more than just a managerial position; it’s a true test of character and ability to lead under relentless pressure. Every decision made, every contract signed and every statement issued is scrutinized through a magnifying glass by fans satisfied only with the top. Amid the aspirations of supporters, media pressure and the challenges of financial and technical realities, club presidents find themselves in the eye of the storm and must either steer the ship steadily towards the victory podium or be tossed about by waves of criticism and anger. This highlights the importance of the club president’s role in creating success or enduring the consequences of failure.
Regarding the role of club presidents and the perception of fans, sports history expert Mohamed Al-Yusuf told Okaz, “With the growing anger of fans, blaming club presidents for the poor performance of popular clubs has become a recurring scene in the sports world. Clubs with widespread popularity are under constant pressure as their supporters’ ambition extends beyond mere participation to ongoing competition for the Championship. Any technical or administrative decline is interpreted as a failure of upper management. ”
He explained that the fight for the club president’s position raises legitimate questions. “Is the purpose to serve the organization or to gain fame and attention?” Therefore, serving as a club president is not a ceremonial position or a gateway to media exposure, but a heavy responsibility that requires sacrifices of time, effort, and sometimes money. Some experience shows that personal ambitions that overshadow the common good lead to hasty decisions, internal conflicts, and divisions that directly affect the stability of the team.
clear standards
Al-Yusuf pointed out that there are clear criteria to bring the club president closer to the hearts of the fans, the most important of which are honesty and transparency in communication, the ability to engage effectively and systematic organizational activities. Moreover, presidents who win championships or achieve tangible results leave their names etched in the memories of their supporters. Fans measure success by results, so a championship is not just a trophy on a cabinet, but also a symbol of a successful management phase that combines sound planning, technical support, and financial stability.
He pointed out that lack of experience, leadership qualities and weak personalities were factors that exacerbated the problems within the club’s system. Presidents who lack steadfastness and strategic vision are susceptible to pressure from the media, fans, and even the board. This position is reflected in decisions regarding contracts, crisis management, and dealing with players and technical staff, creating an unstable and tense environment.
Results as a measure of success
Al-Yusuf asserted that positive results and achievements remain the true measure of success for the club president. These fundamentally reflect the quality of management operations. Teams that compete consistently, show fighting spirit and have a clear on-field identity are often backed by organized management practices and well-thought-out support. In contrast, frequent changes in technical staff and repeated failures are indicative of poor management and require a comprehensive review.
Regarding the financial aspects within the club, Al-Yusuf said: “The role of the club president is not limited to monitoring results, but also extends to addressing the club’s debts and player demands, as well as ensuring sustainable financial resources. Late payment of dues has a negative impact on morale and affects the team’s performance. A successful president is one who balances sporting ambitions with financial capacity and strives to build investment partnerships that guarantee the club’s long-term stability.”
Al-Yusuf concluded his remarks by emphasizing that leading a club is an honor, but also a responsibility, and that although fans may become angry and critical, in the end he stands by the players who have worked sincerely and achieved results. The chair does not create value for the president. Rather, true value is created through hard work, smart decisions, and the ability to steadily and sustainably lead a company toward a podium of victory.
