Margins & Memos: What Football Managers Write Mid-Match
- Think Football Ideas
- Apr 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 25
They pace. They shout. They gesticulate wildly.
And then, suddenly, they scribble.
As pressure builds on the touchline, with thousands watching and adrenaline swirling like storm clouds, some of football’s sharpest minds reach for... a notebook. Or a napkin. Or, in more modern dugouts, a glowing iPad screen.
But what exactly are they writing? Is it tactical poetry? Secret formulas? A halftime roast in bullet points? The truth is somewhere in between. Welcome to the margins and memos of football management—where insight meets instinct, and the tiniest note might just swing a match.
The Power of the Pen: Mourinho’s Method
Let’s start with the man who made trench coats and arrogance fashionable: José Mourinho. During his second Chelsea stint, Mourinho didn’t just pace the touchline with fire in his eyes, he carried a pen like it was Excalibur, ready to carve out the next tactical shift.
“I read the first half, take my notes, and prepare my interventions at half-time based on them,” the Portuguese once said, as BBC Sport quoted.
For José, those scribbles weren’t decoration. They were game-changers. Each one, a tiny tactical tweak or an emotional temperature check. And when you’ve won as much as he has, who’s arguing?
Tactics Go Digital: Premier League Managers Like Arne Slot & Fabian Hurzeler
While Mourinho might have made his mark with ink, modern-day managers are trading pens for pixels. Arne Slot, for example, uses his iPad as a digital playbook. If you asked him, he'd probably say... It’s not just about tactics for me; it’s real-time reactions too. If something changes on the field, I want to catch it: a pattern from the opposition, or a tweak that needs to be made.
Across the dugouts, Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler is also leading the charge with digital playbooks. The young coach balances his tactical thinking with visuals, using the iPad.
Away from Premier League managers, England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley also uses the iPad to jot down everything from set-piece notes to live opposition adjustments. Technology in hand, these managers show how the old school are blending with the new school in modern football.
Old-School Cool: Pereira (and the Napkin Notebook Club)
Wolves boss Vítor Pereira? He’s that guy. Still rocking the napkin-and-pen combo like it’s a Champions League final, every single matchday. Yes, he uses the iPad, but the Wolves boss prefers to write.
For Pereira, halftime isn’t chaos, it’s clarity. He lets the players breathe, then steps in with the essentials. No fluff, no frenzy. Just a few quick instructions. And he’s not the only one who keeps it brief and to the point.
Over the years, we’ve seen other managers, quietly old-school in their methods, jotting notes on napkins, notebooks, even scraps of paper when inspiration strikes. There’s something about the ink. Something deliberate. A pause in the madness.
Tactical Scribbles or Therapy Session?
But it’s not all about strategy. Sometimes, writing mid-match is more of a release—a way to cope with the storm of emotions that builds up in the heat of the moment. It’s like shouting into the void, venting frustrations onto paper, and finding clarity amidst the chaos.
And in some cases, those notes serve an even more immediate purpose: getting crucial messages directly to players on the pitch.
Whether it’s a last-minute tactical tweak, a reminder to stay focused, or a simple word of encouragement, some managers send their scribbled notes straight to their players, via a trusted member of the backroom staff or a player already warming up. It’s a quick and silent communication line, cutting through the noise of the stadium and the pressure of the moment.
The scribbles aren’t just tactical adjustments; they’re a way for some managers to process what’s happening on the pitch, maintain focus, and keep their emotions in check while making sure the team stays on track. The margin between clarity and confusion is exactly one pen stroke wide.
Managers Who Scribble
The secret society of scribbling managers includes:
David Moyes – often spotted with his black notepad, even when things go south.
Rafa Benítez – known for diagrams, formations, and handwritten adjustments mid-game.
Graham Potter – meticulous and reflective, a manager who writes like he’s journaling in real time.
Thomas Tuchel – sharp with his notes, especially in chaotic Chelsea nights.
There’s no one-size-fits-all. Some are pure analogue. Others live on digital touchlines. But the habit endures.
The Mind Behind the Margin
So, what do managers really write down? Sometimes it’s tactics. Sometimes it’s triggers. Occasionally, it’s just a breath, a pause to process, in the chaos of a match that won’t wait for anyone. These are the margins where matches are won—not with goals, but with the silent power of a scribbled idea.
Because whether it's on a leather-bound notebook, a touchscreen, or the back of a receipt, those memos matter. They’re the quiet signatures of football’s loudest minds.
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