The impact of strategic management on the competitive performance of Ethiopian premier league soccer clubs

Introduction: Sport governance encompasses the strategic direction and organizational functioning essential to the success of sport entities worldwide, including clubs, national bodies and professional teams. Aim: This study examines the relationship between strategic management practices and the performance of Ethiopian men's soccer premier league clubs. Methods: The study employed a correlational research design with a sample of 118 participants, including managers, coaches, administrative personnel, and Ethiopian Premier League (EL) players. Data were collected via stratified random sampling and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (e.g., regression, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation). Result: Results indicate that strategic management practices significantly impact organizational performance, explaining 37.8% of variance in club revenue (R² = .378) and 43.5% of variance in customer satisfaction (R² = .435). Conclusion: Strategic management practices are positively and significantly correlated with organizational performance, highlighting the importance of governance in terms of enhancing revenue and customer satisfaction among soccer clubs.