Friday , March 29 2024

Five reasons why the new Football Masters Course by AIFF is a game-changer!

For those who are thinking about pursuing a postgraduate course in sports management, there is an exciting new opportunity on the horizon – a Football Masters Course offered by none other than the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The course, whose duration is one-year, is aimed at moulding exemplary football managers who will cater to the needs of a growing Indian football market.

The students will primarily be based in a Mumbai campus but will also have stints in Delhi and Spain.

Admission to the course is through a Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by the AIFF, the first of which is scheduled on 23rd February 2020, which will assess candidates’ basic knowledge and aptitude in football.

Numerous universities and institutes offer sports management courses. However, the AIFF’s course which specialises in just football is a game-changer. Now, what are the unique features that make it so? Let’s take a look.

1) Opportunity to study and work closely with the AIFF

What better way to learn about football management than learn and observe directly from the governing body of the sport in the country. Students get to spend a month at the AIFF headquarters in New Delhi – The Football House – where they will have the opportunity to know the nitty-gritty of how the AIFF functions apart from having a first-hand look at the nuances of governing the game.

The students will also be involved in various AIFF events and will work on internship projects with various state football associations in India in projects which will help them get to know the challenges and requirements associated with Indian football.

2) A month’s stint in Spain with Cadiz CF

Now, this is one of the highlights of the course. The students get to spend a month in Cadiz, Spain, to experience and learn from how a European football club is managed first hand. The AIFF has signed an MoU with the club that plays in Spanish second division to enable this arrangement.

A stint with a UEFA-recognised club, which is fully paid for by the federation including meals, is not something many courses can offer.

Importantly, students get a one-of-a-kind chance to obtain intensive and extensive experience in European club management, marketing, player management, scouting, analysis and operations. These are skills you do not get from just books.

3) Exposure to world-class faculty

There is no better way to learn about football management than from the world’s best. That is what the Football Masters Course by the AIFF offers.

The students get direct access to Enrique Perez Martinez who is Cadiz CF’s Corporate and Business Director. He has multiple degrees in general and sports law. He has worked with Spanish clubs like Deportivo Alaves and Alcorcon and handles contracts and paperwork related to transfers regularly.

In addition, the students also get access to the club President of Cadiz CF. Club Presidents are the decision-makers when it comes to day-to-day running and handling of club affairs and offers a unique learning opportunity.

In order to get a player-focused view and to know what players look for in a management professional, former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas will also interact with the students.

The students will be guided in India by Dr. Vasanthi Kadhiravan who is the Chairperson of the board of colleges which come under the University of Mumbai (UoM).

This is in addition to several renowned professors from the University of Sydney to help with data assimilation and research and other faculty members from various Asian countries.

4) Learn the official language of FIFA

One of the most important parts of the course is that the students get to learn Spanish. They are coached in the language even before they leave for their stint in Spain.

Though the medium of instruction is English, knowledge of Spanish is very important to get to know Cadiz at a cultural level and to liaise with people more easily while in Spain.

A huge factor in why learning Spanish is important for a football management professional is the fact that it is one of the four official languages of FIFA. It makes it easier for the students to do their job after graduation as well, especially when it comes to dealing with or representing players/officials from Spain, Mexico or Latin American countries that speak Spanish.

It could be an ace up your sleeve and favour you when it comes to job prospects as well.

5) Career prospects

While the market for football management in India is small, it is growing at a steady rate. With clubs looking to build their capacity with human resource, somebody with a degree that is ratified by the AIFF is likely to be coveted.

What experts reckon is that while the start might not be on lucrative terms, the climb up the ladder is quick and fruitful.

Since the program is certified by the Indian FA and a UEFA-recognised club, it holds value in overseas markets as well, enabling graduates to work with foreign clubs as well. Since Spanish is one of the languages the students are comfortable with, taking up a job in the Latin American market is also a real possibility.

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