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Stepping into the field: An insider's look at life as an Football Business Academy candidate. Let's take you beyond the brochures and dive deep into the daily life, challenges, and triumphs of the FBA experience.
Online interactive classes, case studies, group assignments, networking week with field trips, and industry events assistance, guaranteed internship in a football organization, 2 months with classes and workshops on-site in Lisbon, Student Business Projects, and Graduation at a football stadium! Can you imagine all of these in just one year?
In the ever-evolving landscape of professional football, the pursuit of excellence extends beyond the pitch. Behind every successful football organization lies (or should lie) a sophisticated business infrastructure that drives its operations, marketing, and financial success, among other areas of the ecosystem. Recognizing the growing demand for professionals well-versed in both football and business has inspired organizations like the Football Business Academy (FBA) to emerge, offering specialized programs tailored to groom the next generation of football industry leaders.
According to one of The FBA’s Co-Founders, Patrick Casteau, seven years ago, the industry was in true need of a different type of education—a more practical approach that would train the current and next leaders in what the market really demands. At that moment, this meant taking a risk and breaking the codes of sports and education. Rapidly, the front-runner football business education leaders gained recognition from the market worldwide. For aspiring individuals seeking to immerse themselves in this dynamic realm, the opportunity to become a Football Business Academy Master Candidate represents a significant milestone. But what exactly does life as a Master Candidate entail?
Let's take an insider's look into the unique journey of those enrolled in the program.
The Master Candidate Experience: A Year in the Life
Life as an FBA Master Candidate is not linear or identical for every profile, and this is actually due to its flexibility to accompany the student across each one’s stage in life. In general terms, it is dynamic, demanding, and exhilarating. One of the main differentiation aspects of this program is that it offers a unique studying proposal that blends on-line and on-site modules, along with a true international classroom. Along 4 modules, the 1 year Professional Master, offers 6 months on-line, 3 months of guaranteed internship experience (which could take place around the world), and the final 2 months on-site in sunny Lisbon, Portugal, where The FBA’s an educational partnership with the state-of-the-art campus of NOVA School of Business & Economics.
Join online from around the world
During the first half of the Master's, a day in the life of a Candidate could take place from anywhere on the planet, in any time zone, and depending on their capacities and choices, balanced with a full-time or part-time job, or fully dedicated to The FBA.
An average week during this initial month of the professionalizing journey towards the football industry could look like this in terms of dedication:
Master Candidates engage in a diverse range of classroom sessions, led by industry experts and professionals who’s distinctiveness is precisely to be working in the industry, bringing to classes not just their vast knowledge but also cases and experiences that they’ve actually been involved with. While our first module is all about introducing our new talents to the football scope, they’re trained in key subjects such as: Global History of Football, Industry Macrotrends, Political Economy, Law, Financial Strategy, Sustainability & CSR, and BI & Data Analytics in Football.
After this solid base, FBA Candidates are now ready to delve into the business specifics Stadium Business Operations, Digital Content Management and Marketing, Sonsorships & Partnerships, Media Rights & Broadcasting Club & Academy Sport - Technical Management, and Women’s Football have to offer. Through interactive lectures, case studies, and group discussions, candidates gain a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of the football industry and how different profiles and interests have a place in it.
Field Trips & Networking Events: developing your ‘net-worth’
Networking is at the heart of The FBA experience. What better way to become a football business leader than by participating in prominent football business events and meeting current ones? Candidates have the possibility to get exposed to these types of events, where the football industry leaders meet, and around which they may start building a portfolio of good contact and nurture bonds.
When it comes to visiting stadiums, facilities, headquarters, and even experiencing match days, Field Trips are demonstrated to be another physical experience to visualize what Candidates have learned, and also to connect with the organization's professionals - making it a networking opportunity as well.
Time to roll-up your sleeves and intern at a Football organization
The FBA takes pride in being pioneers in securing its students practical experience at renowned football-related organizations for their mandatory internships. Relying not only on their over 75 partners (including top names such as Brighton & Hove Albion, SL Benfica, NWSL, CONMEBOL, Saudi Pro League, Liga Portugal, Girona FC, Club Nacional de Futbol, Olympique de Marseille Féminines, and Socios.com, among others) but also collaborating with other industry stakeholders who are willing to contribute to its own development and receive fresh and well-trained talents.
The internship process is a tailor-made journey aimed to secure the best match-making procedure between each Candidates’ skills and interest, among our Partner’s needs and requirements. https://the-fba.com/partners/
SBP: Consulting Projects as if you were an industry expert
Taking the practical learning beyond, Master Candidates are tasked with real-world projects aimed at addressing contemporary challenges faced by FBA Partners. Whether developing a marketing campaign for a football club, analyzing the financial viability of a stadium renovation project, or crafting a strategic plan for international expansion, these projects allow candidates to apply their knowledge in a practical setting, and to potentially provide the Partners with to-go documents in case they decide to actually develop the project. The Student Business Project process initiates when transitioning to the last module of the program, in which all Candidates are split into teams of between 4-5 individuals and assigned a specific topic proposed by the Partner.
Along with the last module and taking advantage of most of them being present in Lisbon, there are multiple days dedicated to team meetings and hard work. All projects are presented to the FBA’s Partner representatives on-site on campus and in the presence of the Deputy CEO of The FBA as part of the jury. Online presentations have happened in the past, but are not the norm. The way The FBA structured the last module’s calendar, succeeding on the SBP presentation means that only one step is left to finally graduate: attend the Graduation Ceremony at the end of the module.
Challenges and Opportunities
Life as a Football Business Academy Master Candidate is not without its challenges. The fast-paced nature of the football industry demands adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to embrace change. Master Candidates must navigate complex business dynamics, cultural nuances, and global trends, all while balancing academic commitments and professional
aspirations.
Yet, with these challenges come unparalleled opportunities for growth and advancement. The FBA program equips Candidates with the skills, knowledge, and network needed to thrive in the competitive landscape of football business. Whether pursuing careers in club management, sports marketing, player representation, or sports entrepreneurship, Master Candidates emerge from the program well-prepared to make meaningful contributions to the industry.
Shaping the Future of Football Business
As the global football industry continues to evolve, the need for skilled professionals capable of driving innovation and growth has never been greater. Organisations like the Football Business Academy play a pivotal role in shaping the future of football business by nurturing the next generation of industry leaders.
For those embarking on the journey of becoming a Football Business Academy Master Candidate, the experience is transformative, empowering, and unparalleled. From classroom learning and practical projects to internships and networking opportunities, life as a Master Candidate offers a glimpse into the inner workings of the football industry, preparing individuals to make a lasting impact on the game they love.
In the dynamic world of football business, the journey is just beginning for those who dare to dream, aspire to excel, and embrace the challenge of shaping the future of the beautiful game.
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