Postgraduate Diploma in Football Business — Online

Football is quite possibly the most powerful most popular sport in the world; linking communities, moving emotions and breaking down cultural barriers. Football has also become one of the most profitable industries, with significant economic impact to infrastructure development, sponsorships, TV rights and transfers of players.

The training of professionals engaged in football business and administration is key to greater professionalism in the sector. This postgraduate in football business program provides you with the appropriate tools and knowledge for your development as a professional in the world of football.

Calisia Gregoire UWI/FIFA/CIES, Coordinator of the UWI/FIFA/CIES Sport Management Program - Johan Cruyff Institute

“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.”

Calisia Gregoire Coordinator of the UWI/FIFA/CIES Sport Management Program UWI/FIFA/CIES

Basic information

Qualification

Certificate for the Postgraduate Diploma in Football Business from Johan Cruyff Institute, issued by using blockchain technology to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of the certificate.

Modality
Online
Duration
7 months (weekly dedication of 10-12 hours)
Start date
September 22, 2026
Credits
30 ECTS
Program language
English
Price
€ 4,850.-
Payment methods

Payment by installments available

Special conditions

Discount for alumni and members of partner entities

Enrollment

Registration open until the start of the program

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.


5 keys to motivate you

Personal and professional growth

The investment you make for a few months will have a lasting impact on your career and is an experience for life.

Networking

A full program of online seminars with industry experts is an excellent opportunity to expand your professional network.

Job opportunities

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.

The nearest online program

You study from anywhere in the world, but you are always in contact with your teachers, professionals and classmates, so your learning experience is very engaging.

Study trip

If you want to go further, the program offers you the possibility of a trip where you will continue your studies while living an unforgettable experience. Not included in the price.

Objectives

5 goals to help you excel proffesionally

5 goals to help you excel proffesionally

The main objective of the Postgraduate Diploma in Football Business is to educate you in the proper use of management tools for organizations linked to football. You’ll develop abilities to recognize business opportunities, establish strategies, anticipate changes and optimize resources.

 

Learning Outcomes

  1. To understand and apply the strategic, global and objective vision to the football industry from a business perspective.
  2. To understand how the football industry works and who are the stakeholders.
  3. To interpret the financial statements of a football organization and create financing strategies for new projects.
  4. To know how to design a strategic plan for a football club of different sizes.
  5. To understand and apply new marketing and sponsorship tools applied to football.

Study plan

9 Modules 30 ECTS

The Postgraduate Diploma in Football Business Online is composed of an introductory module, mandatory modules and elective modules. The mandatory modules are divided into foundation modules (Core) and specialization modules (Advanced), linked to this specific program.

Within the elective modules you will have to choose 1 foundation module (Elective Core) and take the Elective Advanced.

Mandatory modules

Mandatory Core

  1. Strategic Management in Sport Organizations

    6 ECTS

    Introduction to the strategic management
    Elements of the internal analysis
    Tools for work team management
    Elements of the external analysis
    Tools for the external analysis
    Diagnosis
    Strategy formulation
    Competitive strategies and their evolution
    The Balanced Scorecard
    Customer focused strategy
    From strategy to execution
    Innovation in strategy
  2. Financial Management in Sport Organizations

    6 ECTS

    Economic-financial management of sport organizations
    • Finance and sport management
    • Interpretation of financial reports
    • Analysis of financial statements
    Investment & Financing mechanisms
    • Financial planning
    • Project investment and assessment
    • Financing
  3. Sport Marketing

    6 ECTS

    Introduction to sport marketing
    Sport Markets
    Sport consumers & stakeholders
    Research in sport marketing
    Sport services
    Sport Marketing Opportunities
    Marketing strategy: Objectives & segmentation
    Marketing mix: Development & management of products/services/prices/distribution/communication in sport organizations
    Marketing strategy: Positioning & value proposition
    Communication plan
    Marketing plan
  4. Introduction to the Football Business

Mandatory Advanced

  1. Strategic Planning in Football

    3 ECTS

    STRATEGIC PLANNING IN FOOTBALL
    • Identify the club’s structure, its goals and its objectives
    • What does a strategic plan involve?
    • PESTL, SWOT, SMART
    • Action plan & KPIs
    UNDERSTANDING A CLUB INSIDE AND OUT
    • The club’s governance structure/ownership model
    • The Football Department
    • Other Departments : Administrative, Operational, Legal, Marketing and Commercial, Communications, Fans and Membership, The Foundation
    • The club and its KPIs
    • Transparency and Compliance
    THE CLUB’S STRATEGY
    • Recruitment
    • Game Model
    • Performance Revenue
    • The Club’s Strategy: 1 – 5 year plan

Elective modules

3 ECTS

Elective Core

3 ECTS

Choose 1

  1. Leadership in Sport Organizations

    3 ECTS

    LEADERSHIP: A DEFINITION
    • A brief history of leadership
    • Leadership versus management
    • Leadership traits
    • Johan Cruyff and leadership
    • Communication and teamwork
    • Management styles and leadership
    LEADERSHIP STYLES
    • Introduction to leadership styles
    • Transactional versus transformational leadership
    • Situational leadership
    PERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS
    • Core values
    • Energy management
    • Time management
    THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LEADERSHIP: ‘GETTING THINGS DONE’
    • The concept of ‘followers’
    • How the brain works
    • Group versus individual
    LEADING A TEAM
    • Team stages
    • Team roles
    CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
    • Resistance
    • Conflict management strategies
  2. People Management in Sport

    3 ECTS

    THE ANNUAL HUMAN RESOURCES CYCLE
    • Global vision of human resources management
    • Key processes in people management
    • Key human resources indicators
    ORGANIZATION
    • Organisation of a sports entity
    • Organisational charts and types of reporting
    • Job description manual
    • Hiring sports and non-sports professionals
    • Sizing workforces
    DEVELOPMENT. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
    • The performance evaluation process
    • How to give employees effective feedback
    • How to correctly analyse and use the information obtained
    PROJECT MANAGEMENT & TALENT IDENTIFICATION
    • What is project management and why is it important
    • Types of projects
    • Tools for managing and documenting a project
    • Identification of internal talent and critical positions
    • Training plans
    • Career plans
    COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS & INTERNAL COMMUNICATION
    • Fixed pay. What it is and how it is determined
    • Variable pay. Bonus models and their calculation
    • Emotional salary. What it is and how it impacts the company
    • Internal communication objectives
    • Elements involved in internal communication
    • Internal communication and the work environment
    HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGIC PLAN
    • How to make a strategic human resources plan
    • Human resources policies
  3. Sport Media

    3 ECTS

    Introduction
    Sport content in media
    Analysis of the different media companies
    Globalization of sport
    Sport consumer
    Audience research and advertising market
    Audiovisual consumption and digital migration
    Management of broadcast rights
  4. Fan Engagement

    3 ECTS

    Introduction to Fan Engagement
    Key Concepts of Fan Engagement
    Understanding the Fan
    Fan Engagement Strategy
    Best practices of Fan Engagement
    Actual & Future Trends of Fan Engagement

Pedagogical model

You are the protagonist

You are the protagonist

The Postgraduate Diploma in Football Business puts you at the center of your education through a learning-by-doing methodology. We encourage collaborative work and transfer the content to specific situations in football business (connective teaching methodologies and social constructivism).

Our faculty of expert professors and tutors will guide you in the learning process, providing high quality training combined with the flexibility of online study.

 

Benefits

Learning 3.0

Flexible schedules, different learning environments and technologies.

World-class faculty

Interaction with expert faculty and industry professionals.

Collaborative tools

Teamwork, communication and debate.

Sports-industry oriented

Training that approaches the business sector of the sports industry.

Learning from experience

Designed for professional improvement.

Career opportunities

Career opportunities

Johan Cruyff Institute offers different services to enhance your employability, complete your education and improve your experience before, during and after your studies.

Those who have completed this Postgraduate program are currently working in:

Career opportunities

Sports Competition

Professional football clubs

Governance

Football federations and associations

Football Facilities & Events

Tournament organizers, sports clubs

Community-based Football

Foundations, municipalities

Sports Consultancy

Business initiatives

Intermediation Services

Agencies, player’s representation

Sports Journalism

Media

Marketing & Sponsorship

Private and public companies

80% of students work in the sports industry after completing their program.

The best network of collaborators
170 partnerships with companies
ALFA College
Escuela Nacional del Deporte
Fontys Economishe Hogeschool
FUAB
Girona FC
Hanzehogeschool Groningen

Participant profile

The Postgraduate Diploma in Football Business from Johan Cruyff Institute is for you, if:

  • You’re an (ex) footballer/ athlete who is looking for specialized education in football business to give your professional career a boost.
  • You’re working in a business environment and want to specialize in football business.You’re passionate about football and you want to
  • complement your education with a postgraduate diploma specialized in football business.
  • You are a professional in the football industry, with experience in the sector but without studies related to management and you want to improve and update your knowledge of the industry.
Carlos Marinho UEFA, Ticketing Venue Configuration Coordinator - Johan Cruyff Institute

“During the Master in Football Business Online at Johan Cruyff Institute, I focused on technology and data analysis, areas I hadn’t worked with before. This helped me better understand emerging technologies and expand my knowledge.”

Carlos Marinho Ticketing Venue Configuration Coordinator UEFA

Faculty

Learn from the best professionals

The Johan Cruyff Institute teachers are experts from the sports sector and combine research and consultancy with teaching. Through their experience and knowledge, they have developed a broad variety of cases and concepts to work with.

Admission

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.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted, you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Have a Bachelor’s degree, diploma or equivalent.
  • Have at least 3 years experience in the football world.
  • Have developed a career as a professional football player, coach or referee.

Qualification

Certificate for the Postgraduate Diploma in Football Business from Johan Cruyff Institute, issued by using blockchain technology to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of the certificate.

How can I apply for the program?

Enrollment process

The final selection of candidates for the program is made through a three-stage admission process:

  1. Pre-registration form

    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.

  2. Admissions Committee

    The Admissions Committee of Johan Cruyff Institute studies your file and evaluates your application by examining your profile.

  3. Admission

    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 program.

Start date
September 22, 2026

What our students and alumni say

Belén Morán Romero CSD - High Performance Athlete Support Program, PROAD Consultant - Johan Cruyff Institute

Belén Morán Romero

“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.”

CSD - High Performance Athlete Support Program

PROAD Consultant

Alumnus of the Master in Sports Business and Marketing

Ntsako Baloyi NXT LVL Sports, Founder & CEO - Johan Cruyff Institute

Ntsako Baloyi

“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.”

Owen Delarue Benelux (Playtomic), Partner Success Specialist - Johan Cruyff Institute

Owen Delarue

“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.”

Benelux (Playtomic)

Partner Success Specialist

Alumnus of the Master in Sports Business and Marketing

FAQs

What is a postgraduate program at Johan Cruyff Institute?

A postgraduate program is a specialized academic program designed to provide in-depth knowledge in a specific area of the sports industry. It combines advanced learning, a practical methodology, and the expertise of industry professionals to develop skills that can be immediately applied in the workplace. It is an ideal option for professionals who want to specialize or advance their careers through a shorter commitment than a master's degree.

Why should I study a postgraduate program at Johan Cruyff Institute?

Johan Cruyff Institute's Postgraduate Diplomas combine academic excellence, practical learning, and an international perspective on the sports industry. You'll learn from experienced professionals and industry experts, develop specialized skills, and become part of a global community of students and alumni.

Who should choose a postgraduate program instead of a master’s degree?

A postgraduate program is the right choice for professionals who want to specialize in a specific area of the sports industry without committing to a longer master's degree. It is especially suited for those looking to update their knowledge, develop new skills, or prepare for new professional challenges.

What are the admission requirements for a postgraduate program?

Admission requirements vary by program. Each postgraduate program webpage provides detailed information about the ideal candidate profile, required academic background, professional experience (when applicable), and the documentation needed to apply.

Do I need previous experience in the sports industry?

Not always. Some Postgraduate Diplomas are designed for professionals with experience in the sports industry, while others are also open to candidates from different sectors who are looking to transition into sports. Please refer to the specific admission requirements for each program.

Have a question about this program?

If there is anything you could not find on this page, send us your question and our admissions team will get back to you.

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