ABSTRACT
As highlighted at the start of this section, the best systems in elite sport will be firmly focused on the development and performance of those who take to the competitive arena. Of course, this is not to say that ‘the system’ is entirely responsible for competitive performance; clearly, responsibility is shared with the performers themselves. But what is it like to deliver on this responsibility as a performer and within the systems we have described so far in this book? To start to address this question, the purpose of this chapter is to offer a perspective on ‘how to make things work’ from the world of professional football. To do so, we draw on Tore’s career as a footballer in the men’s professional game; one which saw him play for ten clubs in four countries over 20 years, as well as international football in major qualifying and finals tournaments for Norway. As a forward, Tore played almost 500 games and scored 180 goals at club level and helped his sides to win six major trophies. On the international stage, Tore also played 76 times for Norway between 1995 and 2004 and scored 23 goals in the process; a total which places him as the joint-fourth highest goal-scorer in Norway’s history. With the national side, Tore also played at the 1998 World Cup Finals in France as well as the 2000 European Championships in Belgium and the Netherlands.
