Football is a global phenomenon that generates billions of euros a year, an engine that drives other economic sectors, creates a large volume of employment and has a high fiscal impact on the economy of many countries. But all this business requires increasingly specialized management at clubs and sports companies, communication agencies, federations, leagues and associations.
The Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona prepares you to face the challenges of this constantly evolving industry by giving you in-depth knowledge of both the administrative structure and the business area of the companies and sports clubs that operate in the sector. It also provides you with the strategic vision to understand the connections between football and its ancillary industries and the sociological foundations necessary to improve the connection with fans. And all this through practical and direct learning inside FC Barcelona, with an insight into the financial structure of one of the most important clubs in the world.
The master’s degree is aimed at people who are passionate about football and want to take a leap in their professional career in this field: professionals and athletes (whether active or not) with proven experience in the football industry, and other candidates with a university degree (preferably in the areas of business administration and management, economics, marketing or other related fields) who want to make their dream of working in this field a reality.
“I would definitely recommend studying at Johan Cruyff Institute to anyone looking to start a career in the sports industry. Opportunities like this are rare, you gain exposure to all levels of the sector, from innovation and marketing to sponsorship and governance.”
Ntsako Baloyi Founder & CEO NXT LVL Sports
Certificate for the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona from Johan Cruyff Institute, issued by using blockchain technology to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of the certificate.
One week per month, full intensive from Monday to Friday
Payment in instalments available
Discount for alumni and members of related entities
Registration open. Limited places available
The program may be subject to change.
The institution reserves the right to cancel the edition of the program if it does not meet the minimum number of students.
The investment you make for a few months ensures a lasting impact on your career and is an experience for life.
A full program of online seminars with industry experts is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network.
We compile for you a list of job offers from around the world in the field of sports and send them to you on a weekly basis.
At Johan Cruyff Institute we sign agreements with different entities in the sports sector to provide you with professional opportunities with great future prospects.
The Study Trip is an immersive learning experience designed to connect academic knowledge with real-world practice. Through visits to leading sports organizations and sessions with industry professionals, students gain first-hand insights into how the sports industry operates at the highest level. The Study Trip fosters experiential learning, professional networking, and a global perspective, helping students better understand the challenges and opportunities of the sports business while bringing classroom concepts to life. Optional, with an additional charge.
Taking a look at the football of tomorrow
The main objective of the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona is to educate with in-depth and up-to-date knowledge and insights from the football industry. Students will analyze the core theories and relevant case studies that will help them visualize the behavior of the football business. Students will also have the opportunity to learn, interact and contribute with FC Barcelona business strategy and operations.
Learning outcomes
13 Modules
The study plan of the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona consists of 13 modules detailed below.
All the modules are preceded by a webinar which introduces the topic of that respective module. The on-campus sessions are divided into three sections: the first one focuses on theoretical knowledge, the second one on practical knowledge, and the third one on networking.
Throughout the academic program, there are study trips scheduled to expand the knowledge acquired on the program, to learn the different business and management models of prestigious clubs, tour their facilities, and enjoy masterclasses and sessions delivered by the managers and other representatives of each club.
Here are some examples of the club visits during study trips from previous editions:
Students have the opportunity to network and participate among others, at the following summits and conferences:
You are the protagonist
Our exclusive model that combines academic studies with football industry insights and learning directly from FC Barcelona will provide students with a great capacity to understand the business and the role of the organization in the overall football market, as well as increase their abilities for leadership and decision-making in order to achieve the best possible results with the available resources. The methodology of the program offers an interesting structure to help students involved in the modules.
This is how you learn:
You learn theoretical concepts and quickly put them into practice, while using the most innovative tools in sport management. At Johan Cruyff Institute, you train “technique” and “tactics”, but your own experience is the main source of knowledge.
You work alongside people of different nationalities and professional backgrounds who share with you a sense of team spirit and a passion for sport.
You have fun, you learn from your colleagues, you share your points of view and you participate together in debates that are as plural as they are enriching.
In the management games, you face real business challenges, tackling the challenges posed by different football clubs, both FC Barcelona and other clubs invited to participate. There is nothing more stimulating than presenting your solutions to the strategic problems these organizations challenge you with.
You visit stadiums and sports facilities, you learn first-hand the organizational models of several clubs in different countries, you are in permanent contact with professionals in the sector, you travel, you attend conferences and motivational meetings, you live football from the inside, and with all these experiences, you reflect and you can follow “the circulation of the ball” as you have never done before.
We support you in your studies, but we are demanding. We guide you, but you are responsible for your learning process. We prepare you but, in this match, you are the one who plays.
Moving towards your professsional goal
Whatever your career plan is, this master’s degree prepares you for a career in multiple areas of the football industry.
These are some of the areas where you can work:
80% of students work in the sports industry after their master’s degree
Surround yourself with the best international talent pool
In football and in business today, the game is played on a global playing field. To get a better understanding of the game, there is nothing like sharing your experience with people from different countries and cultures and discussing relevant issues with professionals from different sectors, who join the master’s program after a rigorous admission process and share with you their passion for football.
“I would definitely recommend studying at Johan Cruyff Institute to anyone looking to start a career in the sports industry. Opportunities like this are rare, you gain exposure to all levels of the sector, from innovation and marketing to sponsorship and governance.”
Ntsako Baloyi Founder & CEO NXT LVL Sports
Alumni of the master
Learning from football industry executives
Football club managers, businessmen and women, consultants, entrepreneurs, university professors. We have formed a team of specialized academics who provide you with the latest knowledge in the football business.
The teaching team is made up of different professionals from the sports industry who know how to connect what they teach in the classroom with what they really experience in their day-to-day business. They do this through case-based teaching, simulations, workshops, forming interdisciplinary work teams and bringing you closer to the experience and practical reality of their work.
How can I apply for the program?
If you are interested in joining this program, please complete the pre-registration form. Your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee, which will assess your personal and professional achievements, as well as your aspirations and motivation, in relation to the objectives of the programme. Within a maximum of 72 hours, one of our advisors will contact you to provide further information and guide you through the next steps.
To access the master’s degree, you must be over 23 years old and meet one of these three requirements:
Open until the beginning of the master’s program or until all places are taken.
Certificate for the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona from Johan Cruyff Institute, issued by using blockchain technology to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of the certificate.
The final selection of candidates for the program is made through a three-stage admission process:
To apply for admission to the program you must fill out a pre-registration form in which you tell us about your personal and professional achievements, so that we can get to know you.
The Admissions Committee of Johan Cruyff Institute studies your file and evaluates your application by examining your profile.
Within 72 hours, one of our advisors will contact you. If you have received a positive evaluation, he/she will provide you with all the information you need to enroll in the master’s program.
“Johan Cruyff Institute’s Blended Master is very well organized to make everything compatible. It has allowed me not only to follow the classes while competing in another part of the world, but also to get good grades. Competition and travel are no excuse for not taking a master’s degree. It’s a perfect program.”
“I would definitely recommend studying at Johan Cruyff Institute to anyone looking to start a career in the sports industry. Opportunities like this are rare, you gain exposure to all levels of the sector, from innovation and marketing to sponsorship and governance.”
“Completing this program helped me understand topics like fan engagement, digital marketing, and e-sports on a deeper level, which enhances what I can offer my students.”
“Tailored to the sector or interests of the students, the teachers present cases and examples related to the specific industry or sport that resonates with the majority of the students. Additionally, the program offers outstanding networking opportunities, fostering the development of lifelong friendships.”
Johan Cruyff Institute offers specialized master's degrees in Sport Management, Sport Marketing and Sponsorship, Football Business, and Coaching. Each program combines advanced knowledge, strategic insight, and practical application to prepare students for leadership roles in the sports industry. Depending on the program and market, master's degrees are available in online, on-campus, or blended formats.
Johan Cruyff Institute is an academic institution dedicated exclusively to the sports industry, created to educate the next generation of sports leaders. Our programs combine academic excellence with a hands-on methodology based on real-world challenges, faculty made up of leading industry professionals, and an international network of students, alumni, and sports organizations. Everything is inspired by Johan Cruyff's philosophy of learning by doing and leading with impact.
The best choice depends on your academic background, professional experience, career goals, and availability. Whether you're looking to accelerate your career, specialize in a particular field, or prepare for greater leadership responsibilities, our Admissions team can help you identify the master's degree that best matches your profile and aspirations.
If there is anything you could not find on this page, send us your question and our admissions team will get back to you.
“With the knowledge I gained from the Master in Sport Business Online, I was able to start my own business in the United States.”
