The Effects of Managerial Turnover: Evidence from Coach Dismissals in Italian Soccer Teams

The authors use sports data to study the effects of manager replacement on firm performance. Using match results of the major Italian soccer league ("Serie A"), the effects of coach (manager) changes on team performance are analyzed. To control for the "Ashenfelter dip" and to compare similar teams facing similar opponents two alternative econometric strategies are undertaken: the estimation of a number of team-season fixed effects models and the use of a matching estimator. From team-season fixed effects estimates, it emerges that changing the coach does not produce a positive effect on team performance, with the exception of the number of goals scored. Matching estimates confirm that changing the coach does not affect team performance neither when considering as dependent variable the number of points per match nor when looking at the number of goals scored or conceded.