- Roskilde University Denmark
Since being chosen as the head coach of the Danish national football team, Kasper Hjulmand has become a prominent public figure, and been a central character in several major events. He led the team to their biggest success in many years by reaching the semi-final of the European Championship, dealt with the sudden heart attack of star player Christian Eriksen during a match and gathered the attention of an entire nation during the mentally straining COVID-19 pandemic. All this eventually led to him being chosen as “leader of the year”, as the first recipient who’s not in a traditional business role.This research conducts a discourse analysis of interviews with Hjulmand in conjunction with the use of leadership theories, to identify some traits and themes regarding what kind of leader he is. This understanding leads the analysis to an investigation of the narrative surrounding him as a leader, how it is created, and what role he himself can play in it. Existing studies have been made regarding achieving success in sports and leadership, and others regarding how a narrative is created. The findings of this study take this knowledge further, by determining how a public leader, like Hjulmand, influences the narrative surrounding them and achieves a deeper understanding of how a well-functioning social atmosphere is a precursor for the success of sports teams.