This study was done with 177 Portuguese athletes of futsal. It was analysed if athletes with a sport success background with their coaches (n = 62, 35%) differed in the evaluation of leadership styles and in the experience of satisfaction and compatibility, from those without that sport success background (n = 115, 65%). The evaluation protocol included measures of leadership styles, satisfaction with leadership, and coach-athlete compatibility. Comparative analysis showed that athletes with a sport success background with their coaches' evaluated them more positively in six leadership dimensions, assumed more satisfaction with leadership and showed more compatibility with their coaches. Regression analysis revealed that the leadership variables explained very significant percentages of variance of satisfaction with leadership and coach-athlete compatibility, being particular predictive the technical instruction and the personal respect. This study demonstrates the importance of sport success background in the way athletes evaluate their coaches.
Leadership; Personal Satisfaction; Athletic Performance
