The effect of short-term performance fluctuations on long-term performance: evidence from the English Premier League
ISSN: 1352-7592
Article publication date: 3 January 2023
Issue publication date: 9 February 2023
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the effect of short-term performance fluctuations on long-term performance of football clubs.
Design/methodology/approach
This study did not develop any hypothesis for statistical testing. Instead, a database composing of 24 seasons of English Premier Club clubs’ performance was used to analyse for temporal fluctuations of club performance and examined whether such fluctuations would be substantiated in the long run.
Findings
Findings showed that club performance exhibited a non-unit root nature, which in turn suggested that clubs’ long-term performance was only temporally affected by short-term performance fluctuations, leading to the evidence that club performance tended to return to the club’s long-run equilibrium after experiencing temporary high or low positions.
Originality/value
Findings of this paper provide important information regarding the cost-benefit implications of the reactions of the club management to boost or rectify short-term performance fluctuations by, for example, replacing the club manager or head coach.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the Institute of International Business and Governance, established with the substantial support of a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special administrative Region, China, for its support. They would like to thank also Prof. Graham Kendall, the action editor, and the reviewers for their valuable comments on previous versions of the paper.
Citation
Law, K.K., Yeung, M.C.-H. and Chan, J.H.-T. (2023), "The effect of short-term performance fluctuations on long-term performance: evidence from the English Premier League", Team Performance Management, Vol. 29 No. 1/2, pp. 138-151. https://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-05-2022-0038
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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