Should I Stay or Should I Go? The Impact of Social Networks on the Choice to Play for a National Team in Football

Abstract

In the course of their careers, elite athletes are faced with crucial decisions. This applies particularly to adolescent athletes who additionally have to cope with a variety of age-related developmental tasks. For young top football players with a migrant background, this can be even more challenging as they often attract the interest of national associations. From a network-theoretical perspective, it can be considered likely that the decision to join a top national association is not taken independently of the players’ networks. This article addresses the role of network actors within the players’ decision-making process. Our analysis is guided by constructivist network theory and based on a qualitative research approach that used guided expert interviews as its core research tool. Ten interviews with German-born youth internationals with a migrant background were conducted. The present analysis reveals several network actors such as family, coaches and players’ agents involved in the ‘national team question’. Evidently, most relevant networks of players with a migrant background are sports-related. These networks turned out to be highly functionalized and leave only limited room for manoeuvring. At the same time, the interviews reveal ‘structural holes’ within the players’ networks and indicate a considerable need for the optimization of talent counselling.

“It's My Country I'm Playing for”—A Biographical Study on National Identity Development of Youth Elite Football Players With Migrant Background

“…In contrast to previous analyses that asked for the role of national identity and network actors for the national team question of German-born international youth football players with a Turkish background (Seiberth's et al, 2017 ; Seiberth et al, 2018 ; Seiberth and Thiel, 2021 ), the aim of this analysis was to explore the national identity development stories of these players. By conducting and analyzing 10 expert interviews and biographical mappings, we constructed a typology of narratives, namely “going with the nomination(s),” “reconsidering national belonging,” and “adding up chances”, that players rely on when constructing their personal stories.…”

“…Furthermore, the increasing commitment to elite sport usually leads to a decreasing contact frequency with the family. At the same time, the contact frequency with elite sport actors (such as coaches) rises (Seiberth and Thiel, 2021 ).…”

“…Looking at Germany, public discourses on national belonging have primarily focused on German-born international players with Turkish background 1 who—with regard to their international career—had the option to choose between playing for Germany as their country of birth and Turkey as their ancestors' country of origin. Knowing that the German Football Association (DFB) competes with the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) for German-born players with Turkish background on a junior level, it is obvious that these highly talented junior players are confronted with the question of which nation they want to play for within their international (junior) football career (Seiberth's et al, 2017 ; Seiberth and Thiel, 2021 ).…”

A survey on football network analysis

“…By analyzing the global transfer network, Velema found that most transfers occurred domestically[59]. Seiberth and Thiel studied the transfer network for young top football players with migrant backgrounds[60]. Wand considered a transfer network with only non-zero fee transfers[61].…”