Soccer Players Cultural Capital and Its Impact on Migration

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that constituted the cultural capital among soccer players. We assumed that in the increasingly globalized world of professional soccer, a player’s success would often depend on migrating and adjusting to life in other countries. Willingness to migrate and successful adjustment are tied to player’s previous attitudes and/or behaviours (habitus), significant support from others, including family members, and previous experiences and success in sports and education. Our hypothesised model of the cultural capital was based on the Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical framework. It consisted of 26 variables related to three sets of factors: soccer experiences, a family context and support, and educational achievements of the players and their parents. The model was tested using a sample of 79 current soccer coaches who also had been players at the elite level. A factor analysis was used to empirically verify the content of the hypothetical model of the soccer players’ cultural capital. Nine latent factors were extracted and together, they accounted for 55.01% of the total model variance. Individual factors obtained showed a sufficient level of substantial connection. The Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.77 confirmed the internal consistency of the operationalised variables in the hypothetical model. In addition, the impact of these aforementioned life dimensions on the migration of soccer players was studied. The results of the binary logistic regression analysis showed that the first factor of the hypothetical model (F1) had 2.2 times and the second factor (F8) had 3.9 times higher odds for migration abroad. Sociocultural findings using this new assessment approach could help create better “success conditions” in the talent development of young players.

Moving Away: Intra-National Migration Experiences of Brazilian Men Elite Futsal Players During Youth

“…Joining a higher ranked club in another city was facilitated through economic, social and cultural capitals, which allowed players to develop futsal skills, to participate in training sessions and competitions, as well as to develop dispositions and a habitus to make sense to pursue a position as an elite futsal player (illusio related to the futsal sub-field). Thus, the possession of these capitals before the migration can be considered as important career enablers (Allan and Moffat, 2014; Erel, 2010; Križaj et al, 2016), and a prior condition for mobility (Haas, 2010).…”

“…Considering that successful integration in the social community of a receiving place depends to a great extent on resources mobilized and made available by and for the migrant (Haas, 2010), the lack of capitals and the consequent complications can make the process of transforming the habitus from migrant to 'local' (Bourdieu and Wacquant, 2000) even harder. Considering that the more capitals migrants have access to, the higher are their chances of a successful performance (Križaj et al, 2016), and that the lack of capitals is one of the main reasons for the forced and early return of migrants to their hometown (Meyer, 2001), the impact of the absence of support can be even critical and determinant over athletes' careers within a country with high social inequality, and cultural diversity such as Brazil (Knijnik, 2013). Because of this, sport clubs have even more responsibility over the care of young players within this particular socioeconomic context (Morbi et al, 2021).…”