A prime example of modern leadership is Liverpool manager, UEFA Champions League winner Jurgen Klopp. 

Relationship building, motivation, personalizing your management approach to each player’s personality: attaining group buy-in needed to keep a group of professionals happy and heading in the one direction.

These aren’t necessarily outcomes you can attain by being only being a good coach on the track.

And in the modern game, there are assistants to run sessions. A leader like a head coach has a broader role and influence at a football club in the modern era.   

“Klopp would know the players and would tap into their lives which develops a great bond between coach and player. He is able to facilitate that through really great leadership,” said Skenderovic.

“That co-relationship can get the best out of someone when you can relate to them, especially when things don’t go well.”

Karl Dodd during the AFC/FFA Pro Diploma course

Karl Dodd agrees with Skenderovic that coaches are now seen as culture leaders at clubs and sporting organisations.

And those who understand this leadership concept can shape success, just as a CEO can at any large company. 

“Credit has to go to Sean Douglas for how he is shaping the future of coach education in Australia,” Dodd, the national coach of Guam and a former A-League star in Brisbane, told FTBL.

“He has reviewed previous courses and significantly improved on them, he has brought in top-level consultants for leadership and management, which is what we are really looking for as head coaches.

“The environment that Sean has also created in the pro license allows people to be more open and honest with their reflections which is key for development."

In fact, what these coaches are taking onboard has ramifications for how the game’s leaders should be approaching culture and leadership.

At a time when real leadership at the national administrative level is sorely lacking, this is the sort of mindset the game desperately needs.

But as Skenderovic points out, the changes made in a coach’s attitude and demeanour need to real and not perceived as manufactured or fake. 

“We’re really keen to see how much we take from this course and impact our environments and also football generally in this country," he said.

“We really need to come in now with a different mindset and a different style and nothing to do with the selfishness and poor qualities that surround our game.

“It’s about reflecting upon yourselves. How effective are we at giving feedback for example? When you return to your environment how you can change that mindset and bring about a positive culture and change from within?

“We need to drive that kind of leadership in Australia. And real leadership is real leadership, and that can be applied to many different parts of the game.

“Leaders of football and the impact they can have on the game is very important."

The Class of 2019 could well shape the future of our game for the better on and off the park.