A graduate of the University Master’s Degree in Sports Management at Johan Cruyff Institute, Vitor Casquinha now works as a Commercial Analyst at Kings League, a position he landed after an internship
After working at the Portuguese Football Federation, Vitor Casquinha was looking to take the next step in the sports industry. In Lisbon, he had studied Sport Management, but he wanted to move forward in the field. In that search, he came across the academic program at Johan Cruyff Institute.
He moved to Barcelona and, after completing the University Master’s Degree in Sports Management, he did an internship at Kings League, the innovative 7-a-side football competition created in 2023 by Gerard Piqué along with streamers and former footballers. After a trial period, he officially joined the organization as a Commercial Analyst.
In this interview, Vitor shares his academic experience at Johan Cruyff Institute, the challenges of studying and working in Barcelona as a foreigner, and his advice for those seeking to take their first professional steps in the sports industry.
Vitor, at the graduation ceremony together with Judith Panadés (Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at UAB), Ricard Esparza (Academic Coordinator of the Master’s Degree in Sports Management), and Núria Masferrer (Co-Coordinator of the Master’s Degree).
Vitor, what motivated you to leave Portugal and choose Barcelona to continue your education in Sport Management?
I wanted to continue my university education. Then I found Johan Cruyff Institute’s master’s program, which is highly ranked worldwide, not only in Europe. I have always liked Barcelona because I have family here.
“I made the decision because I could combine both things: living in a city I like and studying a high-quality master’s program”.
What would you say was the most important learning or shift in perspective you gained from the program at Johan Cruyff Institute?
What I gained the most was the experience with professors and guest speakers. They are professionals who not only know the theory but also apply it in major sports organizations.
“In the Master’s Degree in Sport Management I learned a lot from that practical experience, and also from my classmates, who came from different countries and diverse backgrounds, but with whom we complemented each other very well”
You worked at the Portuguese Football Federation. What differences and similarities do you see between that experience and your current role as a Commercial Analyst at Kings League?
My time at the Portuguese Football Federation was very valuable. I remember it as something very positive because it was my first experience in professional sport. It opened my eyes to what I wanted to be and what I didn’t.
There I had the chance to work at the Portugal Football School, a training academy linked to football, where I worked as a Program Manager. It was there that I decided I wanted to travel and study the Master at Johan Cruyff Institute.
“I really enjoy my current position at Kings League because it brings together several of my interests.”
I work in data analysis, but I’m also very connected with other departments such as marketing, communications, and sponsorship activation. That way, I can keep learning more about those areas.
What challenges did you face when joining the international sports industry in Spain, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge, and the one I was most afraid of before moving, was working in a language that wasn’t my own. I’m from Portugal and, although now I think I speak Spanish well, I had never used it as a working language. I had studied it and used it socially, but not professionally.
I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to express myself well or that I wouldn’t know some terms. But in the end, you learn as you work. Also, people don’t judge you for not knowing a word. If it happens, I just say it in English or Portuguese and it’s understood.
Another challenge is working under pressure, because Kings League is an organization with strong projection at both European and global level, since it has different leagues in various countries. That requires managing expectations and meeting KPIs. At the moment I’m handling it well and I want to keep growing.
The graduates of the Master’s Degree in Sports Management, in collaboration with the UAB.
When you think about your career in the medium or long term, what goals do you have?
“In the medium term, I would like to stay at Kings League: consolidate myself and increasingly prove my value.”
My goal is to grow in this international company with people from all over the world. I work with the Global Commercial Director and, since I speak several languages, I can collaborate well with teams from different countries.
In the long term, I also see Kings League as a good option, but I’d like to have other experiences in different sports organizations. For example, in a professional football club or in a traditional league like the Premier League. I’m also attracted to other sports: I’m a fan of handball and I can see myself working at the EHF, or even in EuroLeague if we talk about basketball. Those are my future goals.
What advice would you give to someone looking to break into the sports industry?
I think the best advice is to take advantage of every professional opportunity.
“Whether it’s internships or summer placements, everything adds up to making contacts and entering the sports world.”
I know the financial aspect is important, but we should try to make the most of it while we’re young.
My first experience in sport was at 15, in a high school-level course in Portugal, where we did unpaid internships. From then on, I kept adding experiences: meeting people, attending talks, training myself. I think it’s key to seize every opportunity to develop a vision for the future.
