When we think of leadership in sport, the image of a captain lifting a trophy or delivering a pre-match speech often comes to mind.
But leadership in a team extends beyond the individual wearing the armband. Research shows that effective teams rely on a network of leaders, each fulfilling different but equally critical roles (Fransen et al., 2024).
Jose Mourinho emphasized that leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about actions. His teams have thrived on a distributed leadership model where different players assume responsibility in key moments. From my experience working with athletes, the most cohesive teams aren’t those with just one dominant leader, but those where multiple players step up in different ways.
Research categorizes athlete leadership into four key roles: task leader, motivational leader, social leader, and external leader (Fransen et al., 2024).
● The task leader drives performance standards in training and competition.
● The motivational leader keeps morale high, ensuring players stay engaged even in difficult moments.
● The social leader fosters team cohesion, ensuring a strong bond off the pitch.
● The external leader represents the team in media and organizational settings.
As Mourinho’s teams demonstrate, when these roles are recognized and encouraged, teams develop resilience and adaptability.
Understanding that leadership is shared rather than centralized can transform how we view team dynamics. The strongest teams aren’t those with just a great captain, but those with multiple leaders stepping up when it matters most.
