In January this year, All India Football Federation (AIFF), football’s apex governing body in India launched a one-year management course in collaboration with Cadiz CF, Spain’s Segunda division club set to play La Liga next season. The selected students will study in three cities throughout their course – Delhi, Mumbai, and Cadiz (Spain).
India is not a global superpower when it comes to football, which will help students get foreign exposure through Cadiz CF and then apply the knowledge in improving the standard of football in the country. Cadiz has been existing since 1910 and a popular club in Spain. The students will get to spend a month in Cadiz, Spain, which will provide the students with extensive experience in European club management and operations.
The goal of the course:
To train highly skilled Football Managers with world-class management skills to work towards the growth of Football in the country with emphasis on inculcating critical concepts and strategies paramount for the growth of the game in the right spirit and towards the right direction, especially in the post-COVID-19 world – governance of football, the structure of standing and judicial committees, terms of reference, player status regulations, competition regulations, integrity and ethics, anti-doping regulations and anti-racism regulations.
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Course Details:
Duration – 1 year
Program - Post Graduate Diploma Program
Campus – Mumbai (St. Xavier’s College), Delhi (AIFF Headquarters), Cadiz (Cadiz CF)
Launched by – All India Football Federation (AIFF)
Admission through – CAT Exam (conducted by AIFF)
Languages – English and Spanish
Eligibility – Undergraduate from any discipline or subject
Admission process:
The initiation of the admission process starts by submitting the documents asked while filling the admission form from the AIFF Masters’ official website. After the eligibility process, the eligible students’ seat for the examination will be confirmed. An all India level examination called CAT is conducted. The successful candidates will be called for a Personal Interview. The successful candidates after the interview will receive a call letter. Successful candidates will be asked for the payment of the one-year course.
Various national universities and institutes offer sports management courses. However, this course specialises in just football. Self-motivated graduates who want a career in football, this course is for them. The students will learn the management of a governing body by working with the officials from AIFF. They will also be involved in various events throughout the course conducted by AIFF including national tournaments. The students will get opportunities to imply their knowledge through various practical sessions.
The students will have a month stint with Cadiz CF. They will get the exposure and knowledge about how a top European football club is run. Cadiz are first in their division and will be promoted to La Liga next season. The students will get a hand to hand experience of a La Liga club. Though the course will be in English, students will get an opportunity to learn Spanish, an official FIFA language. Here’s what Cadiz CF’s president Manuel Vizcaino said after signing the MoU with AIFF:
“We are excited to partner with this only one-of-its-kind National Sports Federation-led Football Management Program in the world and look at this being the Football bridge of excellence between India and Spain. It is a matter of pride for us that the Indian Football Team Coach, Mr Igor Stimac, has played for Cadiz CF during his illustrious playing career” - Manuel Vizcaino, President, Cadiz CF
Job prospects:
Students will get a lot of opportunities after the end of the course. They will be awarded internships and they will be converted into placements after the end of the course. They will get to work with various I-League and ISL clubs. The course is certified by India’s football association and a UEFA licensed club. That’s why it holds international importance. Students can work for various national and international associations after the end of the course. The job profiles, students will be looking forward to being: Team Manager, Administrative Manager, Operations Manager, Grassroots Manager, Community Engagement Manager, Sponsorship and Corporate Relations Manager, Performance Analyst, Scouting Manager, Strategy and Planning Manager among others.
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