Football Management and Finance short course to feature industry experts as guest speakers - the essential football business course in 2025
The course, enhanced with new guest speakers, is designed to further elevate the financial and management expertise of professionals in the football industry while offering invaluable insights for newcomers.
Following the success of the inaugural course in 2024, Birkbeck Sport Business Centre, Birkbeck, University of London, in collaboration with Football Benchmark, will be holding the second edition of the Football Management and Finance short course next year, in January 2025.
As the football industry continues to evolve rapidly within the sports media and entertainment landscape, this course will once again explore the key elements that drive the economic success of football clubs.
Designed for both seasoned professionals and newcomers to the industry, this course combines academic excellence with real-world applications, featuring industry leaders as guest speakers. Through expert-led modules and cutting-edge case studies, you will gain the knowledge and tools to excel in the dynamic world of football business, from financial analytics to the latest industry trends.
Taking place over nine sessions from 6pm to 7.30pm, every Thursday from 16 January to 13 March 2025, the course will be delivered in Hyflex format (both in-class and on-line).
The course will explore the key elements that drive the economic success of both men’s and women’s football clubs:
- Understanding the basic financials of football clubs
- Evolution of the economics of the European football industry
- Financial control mechanisms and regulations
- Transfer market trends and Player Valuation
- The financial landscape and business of professional women’s football
- Football club transactions: investment trends and club valuation
- Trends in Stadium Development and Facility Management
- Pathway to Pro: Developing Youth Players in Football
- Evolution of football clubs’ ownership models.
Furthermore, the course will introduce fresh perspectives from newly invited industry leaders, who will share their real-life experiences and provide practical insights. These guest speakers will complement each module's technical foundation with case studies and best practices, giving participants a comprehensive view of effective business models and future industry trends. Guest speakers are set to include:
- Andrea Sartori, CEO & Founder, Football Benchmark
- Yacine Alaoui, Director, Strategy & Development, OGC Nice
- Martyn Hawkins, Sports Business Consultant, Former Finance Director Manchester City/City Football Group
- Pedro Mil-Homens, Associate Director of the University of Lisbon, Former General Director of the Benfica Campus
- Tommy Aylmer, Managing Director, Tifosy Capital & Advisory
- Dr Christina Philippou, Associate Professor in Accounting and Sport Finance, University of Portsmouth
- Pedro Iriondo, Director, Football Benchmark
- Hugo Hamon, Head of Finance Strategy and Operations at the European Club Association (ECA)
- Antonio Di Cianni, Head of Football Economics & Strategy, Football Benchmark
- Pouya Yaghoubinia, Football Development Manager, European Club Association (ECA)
- Matt Slater, Senior Football News Reporter at The Athletic
- Francesca Whitfield, Director of Group Planning, Manchester United
- Simone Bonfiglio, Executive Director, Tifosy Capital & Advisory
This year a Birkbeck certificate is awarded to each student in recognition of their outstanding attendance and participation in the Football Management and Finance short course. This certificate acknowledges their commitment to learning and their dedication to completing the course requirements.
Sean Hamil, Co-Director of the Birkbeck Sport Business Centre, said: “This second edition of the Football Management and Finance course builds on last year’s success, providing students with cutting-edge financial analysis tools and practical knowledge to excel in the football industry. Our partnership with Football Benchmark ensures the curriculum remains relevant to today’s football businesses."
Andrea Sartori, Founder and CEO of Football Benchmark added: "We are excited to return with an even stronger programme this year. By incorporating new guest speakers and refining our curriculum based on feedback, we continue to provide participants with the most relevant and up-to-date insights into football management and finance. The collaboration with Birkbeck once again allows us to share our extensive and hands-on expertise, ensuring attendees gain a deep understanding of both the fundamentals and the latest trends impacting the football business.”
Further Information
- Register for the Football Management and Finance short course, starting in January 2025
- To discuss the programme in more detail, please contact the course programme director, Dr Giambattista Rossi, at g.rossi@bbk.ac.uk
- Full list of Birkbeck’s short courses