ABSTRACT
This chapter traces the development of the role of the professional football manager since the game's professionalisation in 1885. It consists of different sections examining key developments in the game's history that have impacted on the role of the manager. In tracing the development of the role of the football manager, the chapter examines the academic literature on professional football in general and football management in particular. During the 1880s, the majority of professional football clubs were managed by committees and boards of elected directors consisting of individuals from the local business community. These committees and boards of directors who managed Football League clubs, in addition to running their own businesses, had a number of responsibilities such as the finance and administration of the club, player recruitment and team selection. The popularity of football during this period was enhanced by the expansion of the newspaper industry.
