As the football season draws to a close in Europe it’s a question most progressive clubs are asking as they reflect on their performances.
And the answer will be infinitely different, depending on who you are, what kind of resources you have – and the targets of owners, managers, and coaches.
In the EPL, this season’s theme has probably been disruption. Yes, Man City again came through powerfully and relentlessly to win the title. At time of writing, it remains to be seen whether they can complete the ‘treble’ of League, FA Cup, and the jewel in the crown of the UEFA Champions League.
Yet few would have expected their main challengers for the title this season to be Arsenal. At the start of the season, most Arsenal fans would have been extremely happy to hear they were going to finish second, having led the table for much of the season. A ‘successful’ season then – or a massive opportunity missed?
For Man Utd, it’s been a season of transition under Erik ten Hag, yet after a shaky start, third place and a League Cup could be considered a decent return, even if questions remain about their squad’s depth.
For perennial challengers Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs – all used to top four finishes and Champions League qualification – this season will feel like a failure, despite the Reds’ late run to push for the latter.
And the disruption has come in the form of Newcastle, whose combination of the huge resources of majority owners the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) allied to the astute management of Eddie Howe, has delivered fourth place and Champions League football.
Further disruption to the established order has seen Brighton & Hove Albion not only recover from the loss of manager Graham Potter and many of the coaching team early in the season, but go on to thrive under the exciting and daredevil style of Roberto de Zerbi, achieving their highest ever EPL finish in sixth, and reaching an FA Cup semi-final.
Further results beyond expectations were delivered by Aston Villa, Brentford and Fulham.
And other teams like Everton, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth will be counting avoiding relegation as success.
Of course, players will also have had their targets and aims for the season – scoring a certain number of goals, making a position in the team their own, making their debut. All different measures of success.
Yet success in life is a very different thing. Sporting achievement generally only comes in your younger years. A player retiring from playing at 35 still has most of their life to live. What will success look like for the rest of it?
For Christians, a different set of values come into play. Those who follow Jesus recognise they are playing a longer game, where they are looking to receive a different kind of acclaim – God’s “well done, good and faithful servant” referred to in Matthew’s gospel (25:23) where Jesus tells the story of a rich man who entrusted his wealth to his staff and rewarded those who had stewarded his resources well.
Success for Christians is all about obedience – following Jesus faithfully, doing what He says, and using the gifts God has given to you in His service. And the crown of life – an eternity with God – far outweighs any of the trophies this life can bring.
Photo by Danny Howe on Unsplash