In this unique book, Sten Soederman explores the prospect of China reaching its goal of hosting the 2050 World Cup. Soederman takes into consideration China's size, resources, traditions and political system to ask what needs to be done and how. The book assesses football in China today, discussing the main driving forces behind the development of football in China, and offering an analysis of its organizational structure, strengths, regulations, and weaknesses. Taking a comparative approach, Soederman asks if China should simply adopt the European model of football, including values and skills, through imported players and coaches, or if it is better for China to forge its own path by building on its traditions and limiting the possibility of investing in foreign players, coaches and foreign football clubs. Looking to the future, the book outlines new models and tools to analyse the footballization of China. Soederman concludes with the argument that grassroots activity is the most critical factor in the development of football in China. Examining if a strategic management mix will help China win the 2050 World Cup, this book will be a valuable resource for scholars and students of sport management and Asian business studies.

The speed of change is increasing and and the influence on the global economy and world population is more pronounced than ever. New Asian companies are emerging with global ambitions as old western brands dissappear or are overtaken by Asian competitors. How will the "old world" respond? How will Asian economies continue to develop and what will define success and failure? Seventeen Euro Asia experts present conceptual and empirical regional research that reflects the emerging multiplicity in Asia and offers comprehensive answers to such questions.

This Handbook draws together top international researchers and discusses the state of the art and the future direction of research at the nexus between sport and business. It is heavily built upon choosing, applying and evaluating appropriate quantitative as well as qualitative research methods for practical advice in sport and business research.Topics covered for analysis include sports governance, regulation and performance; media and technology; club management and team structure; place, time and spectators of sporting events; and sport branding and sponsoring. The Handbook covers research examples from elite sport to the amateur level, and from different sports, from cycling to cricket, from ice hockey to motorsports, and from football to skiing. It will be read and used by academics and PhD students as well as sports practitioners looking for useful ways of expanding knowledge, conducting research or searching for insights into the challenges of managing sport. Contributors include: C. Anagnostopoulos, T. Andersson, A.-l. Balduck, N. Boehlke, A. Bourke, M. Buelens, S. Chadwick, B. Cornwell, V. deBosscher, M. Desbordes, M. Dibben, H. Dolles, B. Frick, H. Gammelsaeter, C. Gratton, S. Greyser, A. Guala, E. Gummesson, S. Hamil, K.K. Haugen, B. Hellau, P. Hogan, H. Jansson, B. Johnson, M. Maes, N. O Reilly, L. Robinson, A. Rudd, J. Santomier, T. Schlesinger, B. Senaux, S. Shibli, E. Skille, A. Smith, S. Soederman, H.A. Solberg, B. Stewart, T. Stroebel, J. Truyens, D.M. Turco, M. van Bottenburg, G. Walters, M. Winand, H. Woratschek, T. Zintz

This Handbook draws together top international researchers and discusses the state of the art and the future direction of research at the nexus between sport and business. It is heavily built upon choosing, applying and evaluating appropriate quantitative as well as qualitative research methods for practical advice in sport and business research.Topics covered for analysis include sports governance, regulation and performance; media and technology; club management and team structure; place, time and spectators of sporting events; and sport branding and sponsoring. The Handbook covers research examples from elite sport to the amateur level, and from different sports, from cycling to cricket, from ice hockey to motorsports, and from football to skiing. It will be read and used by academics and PhD students as well as sports practitioners looking for useful ways of expanding knowledge, conducting research or searching for insights into the challenges of managing sport. Contributors include: C. Anagnostopoulos, T. Andersson, A.-l. Balduck, N. Boehlke, A. Bourke, M. Buelens, S. Chadwick, B. Cornwell, V. deBosscher, M. Desbordes, M. Dibben, H. Dolles, B. Frick, H. Gammelsaeter, C. Gratton, S. Greyser, A. Guala, E. Gummesson, S. Hamil, K.K. Haugen, B. Hellau, P. Hogan, H. Jansson, B. Johnson, M. Maes, N. O Reilly, L. Robinson, A. Rudd, J. Santomier, T. Schlesinger, B. Senaux, S. Shibli, E. Skille, A. Smith, S. Soederman, H.A. Solberg, B. Stewart, T. Stroebel, J. Truyens, D.M. Turco, M. van Bottenburg, G. Walters, M. Winand, H. Woratschek, T. Zintz

New Asian companies are emerging with global ambitions, as old western brands disappear or are overtaken. In this book, seventeen Euro Asia experts present conceptual and empirical regional research that reflects the emerging multiplicity in Asia and comprehensively shows how the 'old world' must respond, and what will define success and failure.