Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Sports Management, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz: Iran.

2 Department of Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, University of Maragheh, Maragheh: Iran.

10.22124/jsmd.2025.27794.2906

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present research was to provide a qualitative model for the management of professional football clubs in East Azerbaijan Province.
Methodology: The present study is an applied research of qualitative nature, employing the grounded theory method with Glaser's approach. The statistical population of the research consisted of sports management professors, managers of the General Directorate of Sports and Youth, and experts in the field of professional football club management in East Azerbaijan Province. The research sample was selected from among the population members using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The research instrument was a semi-structured interview conducted with 17 experts in the field, which continued until theoretical saturation was reached. The validity of the research was confirmed by relevant experts, and the reliability of the research instrument was obtained at 85% using the inter-coder agreement method.
Results: The research results indicated that the postmodern perspectives, resource management, environmental and spatial management, legal aspects management, organizational management, revenue generation management, communication and media management, resource management, social responsibility management, public relations management, organizational culture management, fan management, and brand management were the 12 key categories in the management of professional football clubs in East Azerbaijan Province.
Conclusion: The management of professional clubs can vary for each region and province depending on local conditions, and the results of this research can serve as a model for the management of professional football clubs in East Azerbaijan Province.

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