“Rite De Passage” or Passage to Riches?

Abstract

This article focuses on the movement of Nordic/Scandinavian players into English professional soccer. The frequency and form of this sport labor migration is mapped out from season 1946/1947. The presence of these migrants in England has increased considerably during the 1990s. Interview and questionnaire data provide insights into the migrant’s motivation and objectives, migration preparation, and choice of England as a destination. The impact of migration on family relationships is highlighted. Particular personal and professional characteristics of the Nordic/Scandinavian soccer migrant are examined. These players’ experiences and views are considered in the context of a sport migrant typology and the emergence of global professional migration more generally.

Motivators and Problems of Being a Global Migrant (Outsource) Soccer Labor in Turkey: A Preliminary Study

“…Three of these items were found in our study (Table II): mercenary (7 athletes), ambitious (4 athletes) and nomadic cosmopolitan (1 athlete). Although athletes migrate for one or more than one reason, studies shows that money is an important motivators for most of the migrant athletes (Agergaard, 2008;Molnar & Maguire 2008;Reiche, 2015;Stead & Maguire, 2000), like in our study.…”

“…Academicians also stated a variety of motivators (Magee & Sugden, 2002;Maguire, 1996) and problems (Hay, 1998;Schinke et al, 2011;Schinke et al 2013) on being an immigrant athlete in host countries with their studies. They also examine the sport labour migration on variety of sports like soccer (Botelho & Agergaard, 2011;Darby et al, 2007;Magee & Sugden, 2002;Maguire & Pearton, 2000;Maguire & Stead, 1996a;Stead and Maguire, 2000), rugby (Kanemasu & Molnar, 2012), handball (Agergaard, 2008), basketball (Banet-Weiser, 1999;Eastman & Billings, 2001), African student athletes (Lee & Opio, 2011). In sport labour migration studies soccer is the most attractive and lucrative sport in the world especially in European with their sport clubs and national teams.…”

Shooting for Lithuania: Migration, National Identity and Men’s Basketball in the East of England

“…The present study was based upon a relatively small sample of more established migrants among whose command of English was sufficient to enable their participation in an interview, and future study in which data collection is completed in Lithuanian is necessary to ascertain whether the perceptions and experiences of more recent migrants mirror those of our participants. Similarly, the study focused upon the experiences of male migrants, and further insights could be gained by focusing upon the perceptions of female migrants from the same ethnic group either as individuals or as 'migrants by association' (Stead & Maguire, 2000) to both Lithuanian migrants, and other migrant groups from other 'A8' countries.…”

‘Real politic’ or ‘ethically based’: Sport, globalization, migration and nation-state policies

“…Maguire domestic leagues in Scandinavia and the economic rewards available in England. 19 Yet, their decision to move was influenced both by the desire to test their ability against 'the best' and a wish to experience life in different cultures. These Scandinavians can thus be seen as 'nomadic investors' -whose motives to move involved a complex blend of cultural, professional and economic elements.…”