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Meritocracy or Bias? The Determinants of Leadership Selection in Professional Football

Author

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  • Alperen Kocsoy

    (Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University, Department of Economics)

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of team captain selection in professional football using a dataset of 1.9 million player-match observations from the 2018-2024 seasons across 34 countries. Employing logit models with team-season fixed effects, we find strong evidence of nationality-based discrimination: foreign players are 71.7% less likely to be selected as captain compared to native players with equivalent performance characteristics. This penalty is remarkably robust across specifications and particularly pronounced in elite leagues. The findings reveal persistent barriers to leadership roles for immigrant workers even in highly competitive, performance-driven environments where meritocratic principles presumably prevail.

Suggested Citation

  • Alperen Kocsoy, 2025. "Meritocracy or Bias? The Determinants of Leadership Selection in Professional Football," World Journal of Applied Economics, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, vol. 11(2), pages 63-77, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:ana:journl:v:11:y:2025:i:2:p:63-77
    DOI: 10.22440/wjae.11.2.1
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • M51 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Firm Employment Decisions; Promotions
    • Z22 - Other Special Topics - - Sports Economics - - - Labor Issues

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