The football industry through traditional management theories

Professional football is more than just an elite sport, it is also a rapidly developing indus- try, and can, therefore, be analysed as such. Using traditional micro- and macroeconomic management theories, this study aims at presenting football in a managerial way, while displaying its unique aspects. The English Premier League is used as the sample on which the analysis is conducted. First, through the PESTEL analysis, all factors affecting the in- dustry are discussed, with emphasis on the economical, social and legal factors that have shaped football to its current form. Second, the Porter’s five forces examination of the microeconomic forces within the industry is presented, where the unique relationships the sport has with its suppliers, customers and rivals is analysed, with focus on the com- plex relation between football and the media. Through this microanalysis, the question of whether football can be considered a monopoly is answered. Finally, the stakeholder theory is employed to study the various interest groups of the sport, examining their power, legitimacy or urgency in relation to football.