Sport And Exercise Psychology: A Critical Introduction

Figure 7.1 Team spirit helped the

European team to victory over the

USA in the 2002 Ryder Cup

Source: courtesy of Inpho Photography

In addition to believing that team cohesion can be developed (see later in the chapter
for some practical techniques in this regard), many athletes and coaches claim that
individual performers must learn to subordinate their skills and efforts to the goals of the
team. For example, Thierry Henry, the Arsenal soccer star and Professional Footballers’
Association player of the year in 2003, proclaimed that “you can’t have the individual
ahead of the collective. Never” (cited in Winter, 2002b, p. 21). This view supports the old
coaching adage that “there is no I in team”. But what happens when the captain of a team
challenges the authority of its manager? An interesting case study of this problem
occurred in May 2002 shortly before the World Cup soccer finals in Japan and Korea
when Roy Keane, who was then the captain of the Republic of Ireland team, was sent
home after a heated argument with his manager, Mick McCarthy. This incident happened
in Saipan, the location of the team’s training camp for the finals.
By way of background, the relationship between Keane and Mick McCarthy was
never cordial. For example, look at Figure 7.2 and consider the body language between
these men.

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