Invited by his friend and new club president, Andy Kohlberg, Steve Kerr joined the shareholders of the RCD Mallorca football club a year ago.
While in Spain, the Warriors coach had promised to “watch La Liga matches all year round” and he talks about his involvement in the Balearic team, currently 10th in the championship.
“I spoke with the players this morning and we talked about the team culture, the importance of the effort of each player, every day in training, the mutual support, the enthusiasm” does he share with Brand. “That’s what’s going to build a club culture. I wasn’t a great player, I was a substitute, but I think I had a big impact, just with my attitude on a daily basis. And that’s a common denominator in all the great teams I’ve been a part of: a rock-solid team identity. That’s what I wanted to pass on to them.”
A club that is progressing on and off the pitch
But how can we create an identity in the medium term and therefore show patience when there are ups and downs in European football?
“That’s a good question. It depends on the circumstances, where your team is, where they’re playing. Most fans want to see what’s happening there. I admire the improvement Mallorca has made every year, for example. Not only in the performances on the pitch, but also in the stadium, in the infrastructure. It’s clear that the owners, led by Andy and his team, are building something very strong, a culture and a robust organisation. I think as long as the fans continue to see hope, they can be asked to be patient.”
For Steve Kerr, who draws inspiration from football in his playing systems, there is not much difference between the two sports when it comes to professional athletes. “In professional sports, coaching is pretty much the same. It doesn’t matter if it’s football, basketball or any other sport. It’s about getting a group of people together to play together with their different personalities and egos. We all have egos. And getting everyone to push towards the same goal, that’s what the virtues of a coach are all about.”
