“As a player, you learn a lot of things during your career, which can be eventually transferred into the football administration. One of them, of great importance, is the team spirit, which stands for solidarity, responsibility and leadership. This new education programme – UEFA MIP – makes use of this responsibility. It offers former top players a chance to develop a leading role in a new team once they hang up their boots. Education and exchange of information are two key resources that can provide club managers with certain ideas, concepts and answers to their questions. I am convinced that players can make a difference by being involved in football administration and shape a better football also off the pitch.”

 

“Football is constantly evolving and is, as such, a permanent challenge. Given the complexity of the issues at stake, I truly believe that all members of the football family must cooperate and understand their respective positions. As a former player and president of FIFPro Division Europe, I have come to realise how important it is to have a clear and robust understanding of the environment we are operating in. By welcoming participants from different organisations, this programme will foster collaboration in the daily work of all sorts of football stakeholders.”

“I believe that for us, football players who had good careers and who played in great clubs, it is much easier to make a plan, programme and priorities for a football organisation, since we have been in football since our early days and that has been our great advantage compared with those who engage in football for the first time after obtaining a university or master’s degree.”

“Winning international competitions and laying the foundations for hosting them are two different things. UEFA is actively encouraging players to plan ahead for their second careers so that football can mould that vast experience on the field for the benefit of the sport’s future. You need the basis of a good team whether you are playing or working in the management of football, but alongside team spirit, you need the skills to succeed.” 

 

“Whether playing in a FIFA World Cup quarter-final or working at a high level in football administration, the impact you can make on football is significant. However, the skills that you need to excel in both spheres are not always the same; only a love of the sport on the field unites them. Developing the tools to succeed in football management can always be beneficial for a second career and also richly rewarding in giving something back to the sport.”

“You need, at least, a basic knowledge of finances and accounting, marketing, strategic management and human resources management. But, since you have so many different stakeholders who are deeply involved with your organisation, there are many additional skills needed to successfully deal with all of them. You need certain political skills and strong interpersonal skills, including communication, delegation and motivation. There are also certain football-specific skills and knowledge which I am lucky to have, having played at a high level in my career. Providing us with an overview of the important managerial skills specific to football is very important.”

Why did I decide to follow this course at the Centre de Droit et d’Économie du Sport? Quite simply because, at that time, I was working in Madrid, as sporting director for the Real Madrid A team. Players had told me about the course, and I had also just recently met Jean-Pierre Karaquillo, who persuaded me to apply. I believed it would help me to learn the ropes faster so didn’t think twice. 
What struck me during the course was the quality of the speakers and the fruitful discussions we had. Thanks to the incredible experience they brought to the table, the interaction between speakers and participants was fantastic!
I must also single out two people – Gérard Coudert and Jean-Pierre Karaquillo – for their humility, integrity and respect, and for their desire to share their knowledge, all the while adapting to us.
I also really appreciated the opportunities I had to share experiences with the other students from other sports. This was excellent, too!  
It really is a great idea to open up this course to international players in English and adapt to the globalised world we live in.
But the most important thing, and the aspect I appreciated the most, is the human values I encountered.