England coach Sven Goran-Eriksson shared some management tips with delegates at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) conference in Harrogate last week.

Drawing on the obvious football analogies, the soccer boss said that teams should have clear goals, understand their instructions and have respect for each other, their leaders and their colleagues. The England soccer team’s success stemmed not just from its talented players but from the support staff who made each victory possible, he said.

“The kit man is so important. If the kit man has a bad day then we all do. Everyone deserves respect – that includes the man driving the team bus, everyone.” Eriksson said that England captain David Beckham epitomised these qualities and supported the England team’s entourage as well as the players on the pitch. Beckham also supported new recruits such as 17-year-old striker Wayne Rooney, he said.