Tony Pulis detailed various psychological methods employed during his 30-year managerial career. The former Stoke City and Crystal Palace manager used hypnotherapy and film clips to influence player performance. According to The Guardian, Pulis once hired a hypnotist at Gillingham to help the squad during a difficult run. The professional hypnotist attempted to relax the players before a match, though the manager noted the results were mixed.
Pulis also utilised cinema to motivate his teams, per Sky Sports. He showed players the famous speech by Al Pacino from the film Any Given Sunday. This occurred during his tenure at Stoke City to emphasize teamwork and determination. Additionally, Pulis admitted to using misinformation regarding opposition interest in his players to boost their confidence. He told certain individuals that larger clubs were monitoring them to encourage better form. Pulis managed 1,179 games across several English divisions, including leading Stoke City to the 2011 FA Cup final. These techniques formed part of his broader approach to man-management until his retirement in 2023.
