The Road to Fame and Fortune: Insights on the Career Paths of Young Irish Professional Footballers in England

Bourke, Ann

doi:10.1080/1367626022000030949

Cited by 30 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…These younger players will (typically) have to leave their family behind in their home country at an age where parental support, guidance, and direction are perceived to be an important factor in enabling an athlete to cope with performance challenges and/or setbacks (see Cô té, 1999). Similarly, Bourke (2003) recognized that, during this time, young migratory players may be particularly vulnerable to experiencing a ''culture shock'' (i.e. exposure to an array of psycho-social and cultural concepts such as isolation, self-doubt, and homesickness) that may lead to feelings of fear, helplessness, irritability, and disorientation (Nesti & Littlewood, 2011).…”

Section: Labour Migration In Soccermentioning

confidence: 98%

An examination of the migratory transition of elite young European soccer players to the English Premier League

Richardson

Littlewood

Nesti

et al. 2012

Journal of Sports Sciences

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The migration of soccer players has increased in recent years. In this study, we examined the experiences of elite young soccer players as they engaged in a migratory transition from their home country to an English Premier League (EPL) club. Five young players, who made the migratory transition between the ages of 16 and 24, were interviewed. Data were analysed using the principles of content analysis. Verbatim text was then aligned to the emergent themes. Results indicate that young migratory players face the initial frenzy that is associated with an approach from an EPL club before going through a "decision" phase, followed by a period of "migration" and "acculturation" before establishing (or not) their "home from home". The challenges of leaving home and family while trying to establish themselves as a professional player in an environment that (still) appears to be beset with (traditional) English soccer culture (i.e. high tempo, ruthless, macho, and aggressive) are recounted. While the player's family was a significant source of social support, there is still a need for qualified personnel (e.g. sports psychologists) and/or appropriately trained international recruitment staff and football agents (i.e. in areas of social, psychological, and/or performance lifestyle) to support young players through their migratory transition.

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Section: Labour Migration In Soccermentioning

confidence: 98%

An examination of the migratory transition of elite young European soccer players to the English Premier League

Richardson

Littlewood

Nesti

et al. 2012

Journal of Sports Sciences

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“…While these typologies suggest some of the motives that have been found for business expatriates are applicable to sports expatriates as well (e.g., location, career, foreign experience, and push factors), none of these studies move beyond the formulation of these types based on the qualitative data or their own experience to assessing what the most important motives are. One exception is the study by Bourke () who surveyed young Irish professional footballers in England. She found four career‐motives at the top of the list (improved career prospects, opportunity to make money, opportunity to play more international games, and better quality league).…”

Section: Motivations Of Sports Expatriatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…She found four career‐motives at the top of the list (improved career prospects, opportunity to make money, opportunity to play more international games, and better quality league). The motivational factor “foreign experience” (Doherty et al, ) was also present; the opportunity to travel was also an important reason to move, and players viewed the move to England as an “exciting adventure, and one not to be missed” (Bourke, , p. 385). She further mentions a rather unique motivation to move to England, namely the fact that their football hero played in England.…”

Section: Motivations Of Sports Expatriatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A large body of literature focuses on the adjustment of expatriates—several meta‐analyses outline the “centrality” and “criticality” of expatriate adjustment for successful international assignments (e.g., Bhaskar‐Shrinivas, Harrison, Shaffer, & Luk, ). Similarly, sports expatriates also face challenges when moving abroad to play (Bourke, ). The sport management literature has paid much attention to “transitions”—for example, the entry into elite sport (Bruner, Munroe‐Chandler, & Spink, )—to which an international transfer adds a new element.…”

Section: Challenges Of Sports Expatriatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Going abroad to play: Motivations, challenges, and support of sports expatriates

Bakel

Salzbrenner²

2018

Thunderbird Intl Bus Rev

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Professional athletes moving abroad for their career is a novel phenomenon in international human resource management (IHRM). This exploratory article charts the motivations of sports expatriates to move abroad to play, as well as adjustment challenges and sources of support. A survey was conducted with 77 professional athletes in 10 different sports. The main motivations to move abroad were interest to experience life abroad, followed by the search for new challenges. In terms of challenges, different coaching style and communication issues were most often mentioned. Support was mainly informal, through team mates rather than professional providers. Our article contributes to the literature because it is one of the first studies focusing on sports expatriates from an international HR perspective. Our study provides information on a vulnerable group of expatriates; they are young in age and under extreme performance pressure. Sports expatriates need all the support they can get, and yet, little professional support is offered. K E Y W O R D Schallenges, international human resource management (IHRM), self-initiated expatriates (SIEs), sports expatriates, support

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“…Irish clubs are now compensated for the loss of players via compensation under a FIFA ruling implemented in 2001, although professional football in Ireland still struggles to compete with the interest levels given to Gaelic football and rugby as spectator sports or generate sufficient revenue to provide an alternative to the English Premier League. 5 Both Seamus Kelly (2011) and Anne Bourke (2002Bourke ( , 2003 have also looked at the recruitment process and the factors which influence young Irish footballers' career choices. 6 Major studies on Irish migration to Britain have given these players scant consideration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The migration of Irish-born footballers to England, 1945–2010

Curran

2014

Soccer & Society

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This article will look at the experiences and achievement levels of Irish-born post-war football migrants to England using player interviews and secondary sources. The problems of cultural adaption, 'bullying' and anti-Irish abuse will be examined. The majority of Irish footballing migrants between 1945 and 2010 have not played in English football's top division or gained senior international honours. Increasing recruitment of foreign players means that the number of Republic of Ireland-born footballers featuring in top-flight English football, and gaining senior international caps, has declined significantly over the last two decades. In addition, there has also been a decrease in the number of Northern Ireland-born footballers playing at the highest level of English league football since the 1986-1995 period. Despite this, there are no plans in place at government level or within Irish football's administrative bodies to create an alternative structure to English professional football strong enough to prevent Ireland's aspiring players from migrating at an early age and without sufficient education to fall back on should they fail to make it in the game.

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The Road to Fame and Fortune: Insights on the Career Paths of Young Irish Professional Footballers in England

Cited by 30 publications

References 10 publications

An examination of the migratory transition of elite young European soccer players to the English Premier League

An examination of the migratory transition of elite young European soccer players to the English Premier League

Going abroad to play: Motivations, challenges, and support of sports expatriates

The migration of Irish-born footballers to England, 1945–2010

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