Executive View: Can motor retail learn from the Euros tournament?

The leadership of England's football squad in the recent Euros inspires AM's regular columnist Professor Jim Saker, emeritus professor of Loughborough University's business school and president of the Institute of the Motor Industry.

It was interesting to read the comments that were made about Gareth Southgate during the recent Euros. Southgate is a well-qualified coach who statistically is the most successful England manager since Sir Alf Ramsey. 

He was however vilified by commentators in the early stages of the tournament for the way in which the team had played. Yet the team successfully won their group and were eventually beaten in the final by Spain.

It raised the whole issue of how do you judge management performance?

Most managers at a reasonable high level have been through and passed the basic coaching qualifications for the role in which they are going to play. As in the motor industry there are standard courses and training that are attended but this does not guarantee future success.