Why The Football Business Academy Stands Out in a Crowded Market
With a number of Master’s Degree programs offered in the sports and football business industry, you may be asking yourself, why The Football Business Academy. There has been an increase in Master’s Degrees in these areas, which reflects the impact football is having all over the world and that clubs and leagues want growth, to professionalize and have good economic impact. With this growth comes lucrative contract deals, enhanced fan experiences, infrastructure development and more, driving the need for skilled professionals.
As the number of Football Business programs continues to grow, choosing the right one has become increasingly complex. Some newer programs prioritize profit over quality, while some established ones resist adapting to the evolving industry.
In such a saturated market, it’s essential to focus on a program’s unique value and long-term relevance, rather than simply following the crowd.
Why Call It The Football Business Academy
The Football Business Academy offers a Professional Masters Degree in Football Business, which identifies unmet needs, offers a distinct approach and prioritizes building a strong reputation and customer experience. Why does The FBA call it a Professional Master’s Degree? A Professional Master’s Degree focuses on practical, career-oriented skills and knowledge, while a Master’s Degree emphasizes research and academic study. Every class offered in The FBA’s program focuses on the details and intricacies of the football industry while also teaching you practical business skills.
Why did The FBA choose the name “The Football Business Academy”. In summary, Deputy CEO, Kristian Dobrev explains it like this; “we liked the analogy of what a football academy stood for. While this is not a club, everyone participating in the program is still part of the same team. Everyone doing this program has the same objective, to become a professional, just like players at an academy. Like being on the pitch, you will have support from different people that help you develop your ‘game’.
Additionally, everyone has different strengths, ambitions and interests and ‘plays’ in different areas of the pitch, so you’ll be learning and also working together from different areas of the field. Like an academy, you must show up to do the work to make the team. The FBA isn’t an automatic door to the first team, aka your dream job, and neither is a player academy. Some may make the first team right away, but others will need to take more steps.”
It’s important to remember that the football industry truly has only been existing for about 30 years. The Football Business Academy was created to accelerate the professionalization of the industry after a big industry scandal took place. As it’s still young this means that the industry is not yet completely professionalized. There may be setbacks and challenges faced and that this is the current reality of the football industry.
However, through three key pillars, network, knowledge and experience, you will graduate with the confidence to go into the industry and make it the best it can be. This is one of the reasons why The FBA should be at the top of your list when searching for a program. The FBA understands that there is so much more to do and change in the industry and are taking the steps to do so. From professors working in football, to guaranteed internship experiences, to hybrid class approach, and alumni gatherings and career services, The FBA experience is one you do not want to overlook.
Does Accreditation Really Matter?
The FBA is not accredited, however, don’t let this deter you. The reason a program may choose to become accredited is to demonstrate that they meet certain standards and to gain recognition with the educational community. However, with this comes specific guidelines and requirements that must be met in the program which doesn’t allow for flexibility.
Not being accredited, does not mean The FBA doesn’t hold a strong academic standard for its students. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. With their own Academic Board of members from prestigious universities, they can validate the academic quality of The FBA and define the general academic strategy. Additionally, since being founded in Switzerland, they use the same grading standards of the Swiss Educational System.
Having their own Board means they can make quick changes in the curriculum with the Board approval. This also allows for innovation and experimentation without being constrained to certain protocols. This also enables them to allow much more networking opportunities and add flexibility to the internship experience. In turn, it gives you a much deeper understanding and more opportunities in the football industry.
Professors and Classes
Over the last 8 years since its founding, The FBA has updated the curriculum several times to reflect the ever-evolving industry with professors who have direct knowledge and experience with each topic. Some recent additions to the curriculum include CRS and Sustainability and Business Intelligence and Data Analytics. With more and more organizations being held responsible for creating sustainable football and the recent growth in AI and technology, these class additions show that The FBA recognizes changes happening and that they can adapt when needed. Not many programs can so quickly!
In your search for a Master’s program, you may have noticed that most recognize their professors as “Professionals in the Industry”. While this may be true, what stands out at The FBA is that professors have been carefully selected to ensure they have a great wealth of professional experience in the Football Industry, not just the Sports Industry. They know how to convey the realities, challenges, and needs of the football industry to Candidates. Importantly, because they work in different types of organizations and parts of the world, together they can provide a much more comprehensive outlook on how the business of football is managed in different settings.
Networking and Internships
The FBA’s strength lies in partnerships and strong industry relationships through which they continuously seek to identify the synergies between the Partners’ strategic needs and The FBA Candidates’ skills and interests and facilitate valuable interactions between them.
The FBA recognizes that at this day and age it is exceedingly important for aspiring football business leaders to gain practical experience and create a network of industry contacts while studying, as often these two factors will shape one’s career development. Most programs do not insist (enough) on these aspects which is why graduates encounter difficulties breaking into the industry or advancing their career.
With over 90+ partners and 2,500 contacts in the industry, The FBA works hard to ensure Candidates make plenty of connections. One of these connections is through a personalized and tailored Internship for a guaranteed 3-months. Candidates speak one on one with the Partnership team to discuss goals and what an ideal internship would look like. Then The FBA does the hard work of communicating to clubs, leagues, governing bodies, etc, to find you the best internship experience.
World Football Summit
One huge networking opportunity given to all Candidates is attending World Football Summit (WFS). WFS is a premier global platform dedicated to the business and development of football. Summits are organized around the world attracting thousands of attendees, hundreds of speakers and bringing in participation from clubs, leagues and federations. WFS continues to evolve, aiming to be at the forefront of transforming football into a more inclusive and forward-thinking industry and facilitating valuable connections and collaborations within the football industry.
For one-week The FBA Candidates will head to the location of the Summit, attend the two-day event and participate in field trips to clubs and organizations for a week. Summit fees and accommodation (minus flight travel) are included in tuition fees. This opportunity brings hand-on in person knowledge, giving Candidates rare opportunities to go behind the scenes and meet industry leaders.
Field Trips
An additional in person experience is given in the final Module of the program. When Candidates are participating in in-person classes in Lisbon, Portugal, tuition fees include field trips in Lisbon as well as one other location in Europe. The FBA’s most recent graduates had the opportunity to travel to Italy to visit Venezia FC, FC Como Women and Seria A. This gave them real insight into the ins and outs of an organization bringing the reality of the industry and everything they have learned in classes to light.
Work Shops, Career Services and Alumni Support
While understanding how a program runs is important, what should also be taken into consideration is whether you are just a number. At The FBA, class sizes are small, with a limited number of seats per edition. This adds a unique personalized approach giving Candidates the chance to have One on Ones with the Deputy CEO and Programs Director. It also means better connections with the professors and classmates building strong, longer lasting relationships.
Through more personalized attention, The FBA offers Career Service workshops. These include Resume and Cover Letter building, interview preparation, career coaching and development and advising.
Lastly, it is important to know that The FBA has a strong Alumni support. Once Candidates have graduated from the program, they will be supported for life. Some of this support includes job referrals or recommendation letters, Alumni gatherings, and lifetime networking. Alumni also support incoming Candidates with mentorship and program guidance.
Some Unique Characteristics of The FBA
Networking, professors, class sizes, workshops and internships are some of The FBA’s greatest qualities and makes them stand out from the rest. However, as The FBA is ever evolving, they also have some unique qualities. Recently, they became one of the first programs to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment for tuition fees. This bold move underscores The FBA’s commitment to innovation and its forward-thinking approach to the evolving landscape of the football and education industries, while acknowledging the staying power of bitcoin across society.
Second, is its hybrid approach to classes. For the first 6 months of the program, Candidates complete online classes which provide the opportunity to study at home, from all around the world and have a job or maintain theirs on the side. Most Candidates at The FBA did the program alongside a job, with a strong motivation and a good organization. Once online classes are finished, candidates complete their 3-month internship.
Finally, in person classes will be held in Lisbon, Portugal. During this time, Candidates interact with their fellow classmates, professors and The FBA staff. This further solidifies their long-lasting relationships. Candidates also complete a student business project (SPB’s).
The SBP’s can be seen as junior consulting missions in which groups of FBA Candidates work on a topic that is of strategic interest to one of The FBA Partners. On one hand, it allows us to confirm that our Candidates are ready to step into the football industry fully, whereas on the other hand, it’s a very valuable tool for our Partners to develop their needs as well, as they get to pick the brains and ideas of our Candidates. As with the internships, the SBPs allow FBA Candidates to obtain a second valuable experience with an industry key stakeholder, thereby building their curriculum further in preparation for the job market.
The Football Business Academy isn’t just another master’s program, it’s your launchpad into the world of football business. With guaranteed internships, real-world projects, and a global network of top clubs, leagues, and organizations, The FBA gives you the hands-on experience and industry connections that actually matter. From online classes you can take from anywhere to in-person networking in Lisbon and at World Football Summit, this program is built for ambitious, driven people who want to stand out. If you’re serious about making your mark in football, The FBA is where it starts.
Applications are open for the September 2025 and March 2026 Edition. Apply Today.
