Integrating Foreign Football Players Into a New Culture

Abstract

The globalization of professional football has increased the presence of foreign players in clubs across the world, creating multicultural teams that face unique challenges. This thesis focused on the integration process of foreign football players into new cultural environments, exploring the impact of acculturation, integration, communication, and the support systems for player performance and well-being. The objective was to understand the difficulties faced by players and clubs during this transition and to develop a practical action model that could be implemented in professional football clubs. The study was limited to professional club environments and did not include national teams or amateur levels.

The theoretical framework was based on concepts such as cultural integration, cross-cultural competence, and cultural adaptation in sports. Previous studies, player autobiographies, and support system models were analyzed to provide the context. The Double Diamond Design Process Model was used as the main tool to guide the study. Data was collected between 2024 and 2025 through qualitative methods, including 31 interviews with foreign players, coaches, agents, club managers, and family members. Data was analyzed to identify challenges and the best practices.

The findings highlighted common issues such as language barriers, climate and cultural shock, emotional stress, and lack of initial support. The presence of support systems such as a person for immediate contact, language classes, family assistance, and cultural orientation was found to play a major role in a player’s adaptation. Based on these results, a practical action model was created to improve the integration process of foreign players. The model will be tested in a professional football club setting to evaluate its effectiveness. The thesis concludes that structured support and preparation lead to better player adaptation, improved team dynamics, and overall club success.