The owner or president is the person who controls the club. The

“The owner or president is the person who controls the club. The coach’s job is to keep him happy. But the key to success, as a manager, is your relationship with the players. Important clubs and important players succeed when the environment is correct. The players must enjoy their work and feel free to express their talents.” Thus spoke Carlo Ancelotti, master strategist of the beautiful game, a man who has walked among kings of football and guided them with wisdom and calm. His words shine not only for sport, but for life itself, for they reveal the heart of leadership: not domination, not fear, but harmony, trust, and freedom.

The ancients would have said: “The general does not command the army by whip, but by the love of his soldiers.” Ancelotti knows that while the owner may hold the purse and the coach may carry the tactics, it is the players who fight the battles, who bear the weight of the field. To inspire them is greater than to control them. To create the right environment—one where men enjoy their labor, where they feel free to reveal their gifts—this is the soil where true success takes root.

Consider the tale of Alexander the Great, who led armies across the world. He was not loved merely for his conquests, but because he marched beside his men, shared their food, and honored their courage. They did not follow him only because he commanded, but because he cared for their spirit. His armies became unstoppable, not by strength of numbers alone, but by the bond between leader and soldier. So too in football, and in every field: victory comes not from authority imposed, but from trust earned.

In the world of football, we see this truth in Ancelotti’s own career. When he guided AC Milan to European glory, or when he brought triumphs to Real Madrid, it was not only his tactical mind that set him apart, but his deep ability to connect with stars who might otherwise clash. Where others demanded obedience, Ancelotti gave freedom. Where others imposed fear, he nurtured joy. And in that atmosphere, great talents shone brighter, and great clubs reached the heights.

The meaning of his words is clear: success is born in the unseen spaces of trust, respect, and joy. A coach may satisfy the demands of presidents, but unless the hearts of the players are engaged, no trophy will come. In truth, the lesson stretches beyond the pitch: in business, in families, in nations, the same principle holds. When people feel valued, when they enjoy their work, when their gifts are welcomed rather than stifled, greatness flourishes.

The lesson, then, is this: if you would lead, do not fix your gaze only upward toward those in power. Fix it also downward, toward those who fight at your side each day. Your duty is not merely to keep superiors content, but to build an environment where those under your care thrive. Leadership is not about control—it is about creating freedom, joy, and unity that carry the whole toward victory.

Practical counsel follows: whether you are a coach, a manager, or simply a leader of a small group, cultivate trust. Learn the names and the strengths of your people. Celebrate their gifts and give them room to shine. Do not suffocate talent with rigid control, but guide it like a gardener who tends the soil, waters the roots, and lets the flower grow. In such soil, greatness will blossom, and your leadership will be remembered not for fear, but for harmony.

So remember this, O seekers of wisdom: as Ancelotti declared, the true key to success is not the command of power, but the bond of trust. The president may own the club, but it is the leader who owns the hearts of the players. And when those hearts beat freely, when talents are expressed with joy, then victory is inevitable. For where harmony reigns, triumph will always follow.