Session 4 of the UEFA Executive Master for International Players came to an end in Madrid after a week of learning, discussion, and first-hand insight into leadership in sport.

Under the theme “Managers in Action,” participants from the programme’s sixth cohort explored how management works in practice by meeting professionals and visiting organisations across the football and sports industry.

The week opened at LaLiga, where participants explored strategic decision-making and financial control in professional football. At Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, discussions focused on team selection processes and negotiation. The programme then moved to Olympic Channel Services, where participants explored financial management from the perspective of sporting directors.

The cohort also visited Riyadh Air Metropolitano, home of Atlético de Madrid, to explore crisis communication and leadership in high-pressure environments. The week concluded at Real Club La Moraleja, with discussions on remuneration policies and the evolving responsibilities of sporting directors.

This session reflected the ambition of the UEFA MIP programme: connecting academic learning with real-world experience and helping participants develop the skills, perspectives, and professional networks needed for leadership roles in football and sport.

A sincere thank you to all speakers and hosts who contributed to making this session a valuable and rewarding experience.

The sixth cohort of the UEFA Executive Master for International Players (MIP) gathered in Lisbon for Session 3 of the programme, dedicated to one of the most strategic pillars of contemporary football governance: competition design and financial sustainability.

Participants examined the theoretical foundations of effective competition design — including competitive balance, financial stability and sporting integrity — and explored their practical application through real-world case studies, notably the recent evolution of the UEFA club competition formats (2024–2027 cycle).

Under the academic direction of Sean Hamil (Birkbeck, University of London), the week combined high-level academic input with practitioner insights from senior executives across European football.

Key topics included:

• UEFA competition structures and regulatory frameworks

• Financial sustainability and investment trends in European football

• The development of elite women’s football competitions

• Multi-club ownership as an emerging investment strategy

• The evolving role of national associations and leagues

The session was hosted at some of Portugal’s most iconic football venues — Sport Lisboa e Benfica, Sporting Clube de Portugal, and the Federação Portuguesa de Futebol — providing participants with direct exposure to strategic decision-making environments at club and federation level.

In line with the programme’s “From Players to Leaders” philosophy, the week also marked a key milestone: participants delivered their elevator pitch presentation of their MIP report, strengthening their ability to communicate complex governance and business issues with clarity and impact.

Session 3 once again illustrated the UEFA MIP’s distinctive approach: combining academic excellence, industry access and leadership development to prepare the next generation of decision-makers in international football.

Next stop: Madrid, June 2026

From 13 to 17 October 2025, the first session of the sixth edition of the UEFA Executive Master for International Players (UEFA MIP) took place in Nyon and Lausanne, Switzerland, marking the beginning of a new journey for 33 former international footballers committed to shaping the future of the game beyond the pitch.

The UEFA MIP VI – Session 1: Understanding the Professional Football Landscape

Hosted at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, as well as at Lausanne Sport, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and Servette FC, this opening session introduced participants to the institutional framework that govern professional football.

Through interactive lectures, workshops, and round tables, participants engaged with key figures from different stakeholders (UEFA, European Football Clubs, Football Supporters Europe, FIFPRO/PFA, and the European Leagues to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the modern football industry.

The session also included discussions on career transition, leadership, and the evolving governance of the sport, enriched by the testimonials of UEFA MIP alumni and high-level football administrators.

The UEFA MIP VI cohort, composed of 33 participants representing 27 nationalities, embodies the diversity and international dimension of the programme. The CDES, together with UEFA Academy and its academic and sporting partners (Birkbeck (University of London), European Football Clubs and FIFPRO Europe), is delighted to welcome each participant into this new edition:

Bruno Alves, Karim Ansarifard, Sébastien Bassong, Pierre Bengtsson, Leah Blayney, Cüneyt Çakır, Ilie Cebanu, Siem de Jong, Guy Demel, Omar Elabdellaoui, Alfred Finnbogason, Sara Gama, Shkëlzen Gashi, Marlon Glean, Betsy Hassett, Nora Hauptle, Andrine Hegerberg, Simon Kjær, Olga Letyushova, Carolina Mendes, Ivan Rakitić, Morgan Schneiderlin, Dimitrios Siovas, Faouzi Ghoulam, Artur Sobiech, Sebastian Sorsa, Mario Suárez, Jan Vertonghen, Quentin Westberg, Hassan Yebda, José Carlos Zeca, Tolga Zengin, and Claudia van den Heiligenberg.

CDES and UEFA extend their warmest welcome to all participants and wish them every success throughout their 20-month journey across eight international sessions.

Graduation Ceremony of the UEFA MIP V (2023–2025)

This first session of MIP VI was also marked by a moment of celebration: the graduation ceremony of the fifth edition of the UEFA MIP, held at UEFA headquarters on 15 October 2025.

The event honoured the achievements of the MIP V graduates, who have completed their academic and professional journey from 2023 to 2025. Surrounded by family, friends, and representatives from the partners delivering the programme, the new graduates received their executive master’s degree awarded by the University of Limoges from the hands of UEFA’ President, Mister Aleksander Čeferin.

This ceremony symbolised the culmination of two years of hard work and dedication, and the continuation of a growing network of more nearly 150 UEFA MIP alumni, all of whom share the same mission: to contribute to the sustainable development and governance of world football.

Looking Ahead

The CDES, in collaboration with UEFA and its partneres, is proud to continue this unique programme that supports former international players in their transition to leadership and management roles within football.

As MIP VI embarks on its new journey and MIP V enters the alumni network, both groups exemplify the spirit of the UEFA MIP: turning experience on the field into leadership off the field.