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Vincent Kompany’s recent health scare serves as a stark reminder that football management remains an all-consuming occupation that takes a heavy physical and mental toll. Writing for BBC Sport, former manager Tony Pulis reflects on the inherent dangers of the profession, recalling historical health issues among prominent bosses and the relentless stress that comes with the job.
The Early Struggles and Relentless Pressure
Pulis noted that he has always been aware of the dangers of his job, citing instances like the tragic death of Scotland manager Jock Stein in 1985 and various heart conditions suffered by managers such as Graeme Souness, Sir Alex Ferguson, Gerard Houllier, Joe Kinnear, and Harry Redknapp. He also pointed to a 25-year-old experiment where former Leicester boss Dave Bassett and Bolton manager Sam Allardyce reached critical heart rate levels while wired to monitors during a match.
Reflecting on his first management job at Bournemouth in 1992, Pulis admitted that his personal management of himself was initially very poor. Wanting to make all footballing decisions at his club, he handled everything from scouting and signing players to organizing staff at all levels while staying within financial constraints, all while maintaining his core responsibility of coaching the first team on the training ground.
The workload caused him to neglect his diet, often eating fast food on motorways or relying on half-time pies while driving to watch players. At the same time, the pressure to win and deal with relentless criticism directed squarely at him created immense stress, a dynamic that Pulis notes has not changed for modern managers who face constant scrutiny from the public and media.
Finding a Release Valve Through Fitness and Routine
The turning point for Pulis arrived in 1994 just before leaving Bournemouth, following a blunt conversation with an Australian triathlete who warned him that his job was harming his fitness and that stress levels could severely impact his life. Realizing the compromises he was making, Pulis resolved to put his own fitness first in any future role.
He established a routine of working out early every morning before breakfast at his club, maintaining his physical health through demanding periods. While managing Gillingham in 1999, he ran his first London Marathon, which led to numerous charity challenges over the years, including cycling from John O’Groats to Land’s End, walking up Mount Kilimanjaro, and rowing from Tower Bridge to the Eiffel Tower. He found that physical exhaustion greatly improved his sleep and prevented him from lying awake worrying about work.
Pulis also protected his mental health by completely avoiding press coverage about himself or his team, working hard with trusted staff, and switching off through family time. Sundays were strictly dedicated to spending the entire day with his children, serving as an essential release valve in his routine.
Modern Support and Advice for Young Managers
When speaking to young managers today, Pulis advises them to maintain their enthusiasm for self-care because the constant stress makes neglecting health dangerous. He contrasts past eras—when managers frequently drank too much and ate poorly at all hours—with the present landscape, noting that there is significantly more support available now.
Organizations like the League Managers’ Association now offer frequent health testing through the ‘Fit To Manage’ programme, and medical staff at most clubs ensure that coaching staff are looked after alongside the players. Although a manager’s life can still feel lonely, Pulis concludes that the available help is on a completely different level compared to the start of his career.
