The relationship between perceived supervisor support and turnover intention among professional football coaches: The mediating role of perceived job performance

Supervisor support in football clubs plays a decisive role in coaches’ professional sustainability and their turnover intentions. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between perceived supervisor support and turnover intention among football coaches and to investigate the mediating role of perceived job performance in this relationship. The study, designed with a cross-sectional approach, was conducted with football coaches in Türkiye's professional leagues who have at least five years of experience (n = 249; M age = 40.61 ± 11.42). The factor structures of the scales were tested using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and the hypothesized model with latent variables was examined through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicated a positive relationship between perceived supervisor support and perceived job performance (β = 0.328, 95% CI [0.124, 0.469]). The direct effect of perceived supervisor support on turnover intention was found to be significant and negative (β = −0.513, 95% CI [−0.641, −0.373]). Additionally, perceived job performance played a significant mediating role in the relationship between perceived supervisor support and turnover intention (β = −0.048, 95% CI [−0.111, −0.007]). These findings suggest that supervisor support is positively associated with football coaches’ perceived job performance and negatively associated with their turnover intention. The mediating role of perceived job performance highlights an indirect association between perceived supervisor support and turnover intention. Overall, the results underscore the importance of supportive managerial behaviors in football clubs.