What Premier League managers really do during 90 minutes : game-day roles and strategies revealed

Premier League touchlines erupt with energy every weekend as managers orchestrate their teams through 90 minutes of high-stakes football. While fans focus on goals and spectacular saves, a parallel drama unfolds in the technical area where managers employ strategic psychology to influence match outcomes. Since the 2023/24 season, Premier League managers have spent an average of 23% of game time outside their designated technical areas—a telling statistic about their hands-on approach to game management.

In Short

The psychological battlefield of the technical area

The technical area represents more than just a designated standing spot—it’s a psychological command center where Premier League bosses battle stress and emotions while attempting to influence players’ performances. Managing a Premier League match involves extraordinary pressure, with millions watching and results potentially worth tens of millions in prize money and future revenue.

According to sports psychology experts, many managers deliberately position themselves at the edge of their technical area to maximize their visibility to players. This strategic positioning allows for clearer communication during crucial moments, especially when high-stakes matches like Manchester City versus Liverpool require immediate tactical adjustments.

Emotional regulation forms another critical aspect of touchline behavior. When Crystal Palace faced Brighton in March 2025, three red cards transformed the match into chaos. Yet Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler remained seated in his dugout for much of the second half despite his team chasing an equalizer—demonstrating how some managers believe projecting calm can help players maintain focus during turbulent match situations.

Conversely, managers like Pep Guardiola actively prowl their technical areas, gesticulating constantly and delivering animated instructions. This contrasting approach aims to energize players through passionate engagement rather than composed restraint. Neither style guarantees success, but both represent deliberate psychological strategies to influence on-field performance.

Tactical communication and sideline dynamics

Premier League managers employ various communication methods during matches, with each boss developing distinctive patterns based on personal preference and team needs. Some managers operate as the dominant voice, while others incorporate extensive input from assistant coaches who maintain different relationships with specific players.

Former Premier League manager Nigel Pearson, who has overseen more than 600 matches from the dugout, emphasizes the importance of utilizing coaching staff strategically: “You have players who are quite sensitive and you have to be mindful of how those players will accept information. At Bristol City, for instance, with people like Curtis Fleming and Jason Euell, they are both totally different types of personalities. Use the right people to make the connections.”

Touchline communication extends beyond player interaction to crucial exchanges with match officials. During the 2024/25 season, tactical fouls and contentious VAR decisions have prompted intense sideline reactions as managers attempt to influence future decisions. Fulham’s Marco Silva demonstrated this when protesting a challenge on Rodrigo Muniz that went unpunished, leading to a direct intervention from referee Chris Kavanagh.

The introduction of VAR has added another dimension to touchline behavior. Studies have shown that managers’ heart rates can jump significantly during video reviews—from resting rates around 60 beats per minute to over 100—revealing the physiological impact of these high-stakes moments. Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou famously displayed his frustration during a four-minute VAR check by mimicking a game of rock-paper-scissors to illustrate what he perceived as the arbitrary nature of such decisions.

Personal branding through touchline presence

Premier League managers carefully craft their matchday personas through deliberate choices in appearance, positioning, and behavior. The classic tracksuit versus suit debate represents more than mere fashion preference—it reflects how managers wish to be perceived by players, fans, and opponents.

Research on authority figures suggests that formal attire like suits projects greater authority and credibility, while tracksuits may communicate higher sport-specific knowledge and team integration. This psychological dynamic explains why managers like Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca typically opt for tailored suits, while others like Jurgen Klopp have embraced more casual tracksuit approaches throughout their careers.

Beyond clothing, physical positioning communicates distinct messages. Managers who regularly step outside their technical areas—despite Premier League regulations against this behavior—do so for strategic reasons. This positioning allows them to escape the sensory overload of crowded dugouts where assistant coaches, substitutes, and staff members create a cacophony of opinions and suggestions.

Authenticity emerges as the fundamental principle underlying effective touchline management. Sports psychologists highlight that players can easily detect theatrical or contrived behavior that differs from a manager’s training ground persona. When managers maintain consistent behavior patterns regardless of match circumstances, they build trust with players who then become more receptive to tactical instructions during critical moments.

The most successful Premier League managers understand that their touchline presence must reflect their genuine personality while adapting to match dynamics. Whether prowling anxiously like Guardiola, maintaining stoic composure like Hurzeler, or balancing between extremes, these tactical maestros recognize that their touchline conduct directly influences player psychology and, ultimately, match outcomes that can determine championship races and relegation battles alike.