Lukas Dorda, Director of Online Programs at Johan Cruyff Institute, participated in a webinar organized by the Thinking Football Summit, where various training proposals to support athletes in their professional careers were analyzed
For athletes, moving from a sports career to a new professional setting is frequently a pivotal moment. The role of education is crucial in this process. Several academic programs for athletes were featured by Lukas Dorda and other industry experts in the webinar “Football and education: towards excellence on and off the field.” The webinar, which was hosted by Thinking Football Summit and Liga Portugal, brought together global experts in the soccer industry, such as Joël Pinson from UEFA’s Academy Program, Gareth Farrelly as President of MIP Alumni Association, and Gareth Jennings as Senior Academic Advisor at Focus Sports Education. Examining the possibilities on the market and the significance of education in the lives of athletes was the goal.
During his presentation, Lukas Dorda emphasized the academic versatility of Johan Cruyff Institute: “We offer a variety of on-campus, online, and blended programs focused solely on the business of soccer.” These range from basic programs for people with no prior experience to postgraduate and online master’s degrees focused on the football business. We even offer a Master’s Degree in Football Administration and Management in conjunction with FC Barcelona.” He also emphasized Johan Cruyff Institute’s philosophy: “We carry on the legacy of Johan Cruyff, who always wanted to provide a quality education so that footballers could pursue dual careers and plan for their future.”
Many players do not wait until retirement to train professionally, but instead pursue two careers. “It is crucial to offer flexible training that allows players to distribute their time between training, matches and classes,” according to Lukas Dorda. Furthermore, by educating themselves throughout their playing career, football players can better grasp the off-field environment: “We had students who were soccer players who told us after graduate school that they finally understood what was going on in meetings with agents, when negotiating with sponsors or at promotional auctions,” Lukas Dorda said. This allows players to supplement their on-field performance with professional sector expertise.
Gareth Farrelly, a former football player, emphasized the obstacles of retirement: “As a sportsman, you may have won World Cups or European Cups and believe that with a course, you are ready to stay at that peak level. However, the corporate world is different; you must have experience and skills to stay there. Education marks the beginning of the trip.” Lukas Dorda stressed the importance of leadership skills for advancement in the industry: “Our professional training includes learning how to manage people, become better leaders, and develop high-performance teams.”
