The ‘Special One’
Results from a study undertaken at the University of Banbury are set to be released this week: this research scrutinizes media representations of high profile football managers. Dr Lynn Gwist from the University contacted gaffr to provide us with a sneak preview of some of the key findings:
“The methods of the research were quite simple: we undertook a close textual analysis of newspaper and magazine articles which discussed football management. Perhaps the most fascinating finding pertained to Chelsea’s former manager, Jose Mourinho. The percentage of articles citing Mourinho that referred to him the ‘Special One’ was actually over 100%. It seems that no self-respecting writer can refrain from referring to Mourinho as the ‘Special One’.
“This intriguing finding must tell us something about the nature of sports journalism and fandom in England, and we are hoping that supplementary research will be able to tell us why the use of the ‘Special One’ is so prevalent. It is incredible that a throwaway term used in a press conference several years ago (when the ‘Special One’ referred to himself as a ‘Special One’) is still being utilized with such ferocious consistency.
“No mention of the ‘Special One’ is possible without stating the ‘Special One’ but it’s not as though readers need reminding of the ‘Special One’ moniker when every single article on the ‘Special One’ mentions the ‘Special One’. I’m hoping that the ‘Special One’ tag continues to accompany all mentions of the ‘Special One’ in articles on ‘The Special One’ for the foreseeable future. As lazy over-repeated soundbites go, it really is rather special.”
Edward @ March 23, 2008
I’m the special one!
Does the ‘Special One’ receive royalties every time someone mentions the ‘Special One’?