Strategy and Culture in the Three Largest Portuguese Football Clubs

This work analyzes the relationship between organizational culture and the strategy of football clubs. It provides a comparative analysis of how the three largest Portuguese football clubs manage their strategy in the following areas of study: change; leadership and control; and rivalry, competition, and dynamic capabilities. With regard to organizational culture, the following areas are considered: historical and cultural analysis; organizational culture and socialization; and idiosyncratic resources. The work seeks to contribute to understanding how strategy and culture are related in football in general and in the clubs studied in particular. In addition to the conceptual understanding of the relationship between strategy and culture, this work seeks to analyze the topic in a context that is usually little explored, although rich for empirical analysis of the topic. It also makes a practical contribution by showing how football clubs can use their cultural sphere to improve their strategy and how strategy can help strengthen the organizational culture of these clubs.