The institutionalization of sports organizations: A legitimacy perspective

Abstract

Under the framework of institutional theory, the role of legitimacy on the soccer clubs activity is studied. For this reason, the actions that provide legitimacy and their relationship with the clubs results are analyzed. Through a review of the two most recognized Spanish soccer clubs, the results of this study suggest that cognitive and emotional types of legitimacy are essential for the institutionalization of soccer clubs, even more than other types of legitimacy such as pragmatic or regulative legitimacy. This study also suggests a relationship between economic performance and clubs legitimacy. These results broaden the organizations’ current legitimacy process knowledge. These results also help sports entities managers to focus their strategic efforts on those legitimacy actions which are more relevant to their constituents.