Master in Football Coaching Highlights
The Master in Football Coaching and Management is one of the most comprehensive programs for professionals in the football industry. On this program, you will have a 360º view of all key areas necessary to increase football players’ performances and, above all, make your projects successful. The Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid International Master in Football Coaching and Management is indeed the first professional football program to teach the Spanish training methodology entirely in English. The Spanish methodology is the most successful training methodology in the last 25 years for international football, including national teams and clubs, and is explained and taught by leading Spanish coaches and managers. This program is aimed at professionals around the world who seek to improve and optimize their players and football projects. Studies are focused on two aspects: First, you will explore technical variables on the football field, from training methodology and leadership to match analysis and health. Second, you will learn to organize and manage a football project, from talent development to media relations and club branding. Live the Real Madrid Experience. During the program, you will have the opportunity to choose an international trip, where you will get to know how other countries work and compare with the Spanish methodology (the field trip to Portugal is the most adapted one among the international experiences) View the Spanish version of the master: Máster de Formación Permanente en Dirección de Fútbol.
Private degree issued by Universidad Europea de Madrid
| Villaviciosa de Odón | Start: 20 oct. 2025 | Faculty of Medicine, Health and Sport | Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid Universidad Europea |
Why study the Masters in Football Coaching?
Take advantage of the opportunity to develop your football coaching and management skills following the Spanish football training methodology. Learn alongside leading professionals from first-tier football clubs in Spain.
Unique methodology
Developed by football experts from different first-class football clubs, Universidad Europea professors and under the supervision of Real Madrid F.C. in order to provide you with a deep knowledge of the Spanish method and the ability to compare it with other international methods, offering a fully international experience.
Top spanish football professionals
Professors are top Spanish football professionals who are working in the most important clubs in Spain and on the greatest international projects, professionals from the Sports Industry, professional sportsmen/women and Real Madrid C. F. Executives.
Theoretical and practical lessons
During the Master, you will combine theoretical and practical lessons: Students will have the chance to know the latest theories and practice in modern trainings sessions with latest technology tools.
Cutting edge facilities
You will learn and train at cutting edge facilities in Universidad Europea de Madrid at its Villaviciosa de Odón Campus and Real Madrid Florentino Perez Training Center at Valdebebas.
International Networking
You will train in a unique multicultural environment, with classmates from 80 different nationalities, as the school has 85% international students.
A globally prestigious master's, designed for you
Our Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences is ranked among the top 25 worldwide, according to the prestigious Academic Ranking of World Universities by the Shanghai Ranking 2024.
In 2018, Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid – Universidad Europea received the National Sports Award Copa Stadium for its contributions to education, research, and the professionalisation of sports on both national and international levels.
Facilities
Campus of Alcobendas
Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, a Football History Monument
Campus of Villaviciosa de Odón
The best and most complete sports facilities and with an experienced team of qualified professionals.
Testimonials
Metiner Kesapli
Assistant Team Manager at Istanbul BaŞakŞehir Football Club
International Master in Football Coaching and Management 2021/22
Masters in Football Coaching study plan
The most successful training methodology in the last 20 years for international football is explained and taught by leading Spanish coaches and managers via a unique study plan.
Module I. Modern Training Methodology
- Game Model Development
- Identification & Development of KPIs in High Performance
- Controlling and Evaluating Training Process
- Process Training. A Methodological Review
Module II. Technical Staff: Sciences Areas
- Conditioning area: Physical Conditions Optimization
- Health area: Preventing and Recovering Injury Processes
- Neuro-psychological area: Practical Strategies to Increase Performance
Module III. Technical Staff: New Technologies
- Game Analysis
- New Tools in High Performance Contexts
- Big Data & Artificial Intelligence
Module IV. Academy Programs: Talent Development
- Case Study: Best Academies in Spanish Professional Football
- Programming and Planning Football Training
- Becoming Professional: Needs in the Player Context
- Talent Development. Innate or the Result of a Process?
Module V. The Professional Football Club
- Professional Football Club Structure
- General Management: The Football Manager I
- Institutional Relations between Professional Football Entities
- Women’s Football
Module VI. The Club Management
- General Management: The Football Manager II
- Main Revenue Streams: Broadcasting, Match Day & Commercial
- The Marketing Plan: Sponsorship & Branding Strategy
- Communication Department, Press Conference, Social Media & Community Manager
Module VII. Creating a New Project: The Football Academy
- Planning: Successful Business Models and Strategic Objectives
- Organizing: Academy Structure, Key Departments & Career Profiles
- Leading: Directors and Team Leadership
- Controlling: Supervision, Assessment and KPIs
Module VIII. Products and Business Opportunities
- Case study: International Projects of Spanish Professional Clubs
- High Performance Centres
- Events, Clinics & Campus
- International Tournaments
Module IX. Sports law
- National and International Rules for Players Transfers
- National & International Financial Fair Play
- Contract Models and Commercial Relationships
- Players Transfers: Youth Players Rights
Module X. Final Project
Methodology: The international Master in Football Coaching and Management
In this master’s, students will have a 360º view of all key areas to increase football players’ performances and, above all, make their projects successful.
During the programme, students will combine theoretical and practical sessions. They will be given the opportunity to learn the latest theories and practice in modern training sessions with state-of-the-art equipment.
Students will learn the key variables for achieving high performance in competitions, as well as how to successfully organise and manage a football club, academy or federation. They will also see how a football coach and their technical staff should work together and how to manage their professional relations.
Another valuable aspect of this programme is the visits to top youth development academies connected to the Spanish professional clubs. Additionally, the most successful, technologically advanced companies in the football industry will visit our facilities. Students will travel to and explore the football academies in Portugal—current UEFA European Football Championship title holders.
At the management level, the programme will introduce what departments need from a football institution. Students will explore and understand the importance of a strong relationship between all departments within a football organisation and their influence on the result of the match. At the end of the programme, they will have the necessary skills to apply to their own projects.
Finally, students will understand how international sports laws govern the international relationships between institutions, clubs and professionals.
Collaborating entities
After several editions of our Football masters, the School has the chance to offer their Students professionals coming from top tier football entities, all of them contribute with their knowledge and their professional to the professional and personal growth of our Students, in some of them you will even have the chance to enjoy professional internship periods, some of these companies are:
Real Madrid School, a unique model in the world Entrepreneurship
Train in AI in the Sports Industry
Prepare to apply Artificial Intelligence in the sports industry, guided by internationally recognized AI experts, with live online classes, exclusive content, and the opportunity to develop your Master's thesis project focused on AI.
Science Week
In addition to developing your Master's Thesis, during Science Week, you will work on a Poster where you will need to generate interest in your project or idea in a clear, brief, and concise way in front of a panel of experts.
Entrepreneurship Training
We will present 5 Harvard cases with an initial presentation and a subsequent debate related to entrepreneurship. Discover all the details here.
Professional Internships
You will have a mentor with personalized follow-up, tutoring, and specific training, where we will guide you on how to improve your CV, conduct interviews, and enhance your LinkedIn profile.
Real Madrid Talks Once a month
A unique event will take place on the Alcobendas campus, where industry professionals, Alumni, and students can enjoy current topics and expand their network.
Integrity
You will have the opportunity to enjoy two international experiences, such as New York and London, two global epicenters of the sports business, where you will meet executives from leading institutions, competitions, and sports facilities. Discover all the international offerings here.
Teamwork
Come Together and Get Together
Meet classmates from over 100 nationalities, expand your networking opportunities, and begin living the Madrid experience in a global environment, where 85% of students are international.
White Week
An event organized by the School with EXCLUSIVE access for our students. A week of unique presentations from leading professionals in the sports industry, professional athletes, and executives from Real Madrid C.F.
Excellence
The academic rigor provided by the school is backed by the training of over 17,000 alumni throughout the 17+ years of the school’s history, many of whom are now successful professionals in various areas of the sports industry.
Admissions process
Admissions:
Recommended profile
The Master’s Degree is orientated to three kind of students:
- Football coaches and technical staff that work directly with the team (football players) on the field;
- Managers and owners that lead football projects (professional football clubs or new football projects: academies or clubs);
- Professionals working at football Insititutions. The candidate should demostrate its experience
Admissions requirements
For access to the Accredited Private Master`s Degree in Football Coaching and Sports Direction online it is necessary to fulfill one of the following REQUIREMENTS:
- To be in possession of a University Degree. In the case of being a graduate from a university outside of Spain, it is not necessary to have had the degree officially recognised by the Spanish Education Ministry.
- To have accredited professional experience related to the programme of interest. This guarantees the achievement of the abilities specified in the Profile for prospective students section. Some of the programmes offered at Universidad Europea do not allow access through professional experience. See the full list here.
- Higher Vocational Training Graduates who can accredit professional experience after completion of the internship.
In all cases, the University may limit access to certain degrees if a specific university degree has not been previously completed.
Admissions
Start your future at Universidad Europea
You can become a student at Universidad Europea in three easy steps.
1
Admission exams
Start your admission process by calling +34 911128850 or request information and our advisors will contact you.
2
Place reservation
Once you have been admitted, secure your place by paying the reservation fee.
3
Enrollment
Submit the required documents to formalise your enrollment.
Scholarships and financial aid
We want to help you. If you want to study at the Universidad Europea, you will have at your disposal a wide selection of own and official scholarships.
Credit recognition and transfers
You don’t have to stick with something you don’t like. That’s why we’ve designed specific plans for credit recognition and transfers.
Request your online credit recognition review, transfer your academic file and start studying at Universidad Europea.
Price is not a problem
Check our special financing terms & conditions.
Faculty
Gabriel Calderón Pellegrino.
Phd Sports Sciences & Physical Activity. Area: Performance. Doctor in Sports Science, UEFA Pro coach with an extensive international background as a professional coach, coach trainer and talent development consultant for FIFA and DoublePass.
Alejandro Sánchez Vara
Phd Sports Sciences & Physical Activity. Area: psychology.
Álvaro Arbeloa
Master Co-director. Former Real Madrid C.F. player. Ambassador for Real Madrid C.F. Real Madrid C.F. Youth Academy Head Coach.
Our teaching staff
- Edu Covelo
Bachelor of Sports Sciences & Physical Activity - Isaac Arqués
Laliga Academy Director Russia & K-League Champion (South Korea) Jeonbuk Hm. Former LaLiga Academy Russia. Former Academy Director Riga CF. - Javier Mallo
Conditioning Coach Spanish National Team U21 - Elena Isla
Medical Services Real Madrid C.F. Sports Medicine Unity. Hospital Universitario Sanitas La Moraleja. Medical Chief Madrid Football Cup. - Victor Paredes
Conditioning Coach Real Madrid C.F. Injury Prevention Department. PhD in Sports Sciences. Bachelor’s in Sports Sciences Professor – Universidad Camilo José Cela. - Juan Camilo
Real Madrid C.F. Chief Press Officer. Master’s in Sports Journalism. UEFA and FIFA Relationship Coordinator. - Andoni Bombín
Ath. Club Bilbao Methodological Director. UEFA Pro Coach. Bachelor’s in Sports Sciences. Former Technical Director - Hainan Football Federation. - José Collado
Sevilla C.F. Conditioning Coach. Bachelor’s in Sports Sciences. Former Conditioning Coach - Al-Ahli Saudi F.C. Fitness Coach - National Sports Medicine Programme – Aspetar. - Rafa Ballester
International Area Sporting Director - Levante UD Associate Professor and Researcher – Universidad Católica de Valencia. UEFA Pro Coach. Bachelor’s in Sports Sciences. Former Assessor of EU Sports Projects. - Juan de Dios Román
Sports lawyer. Founding Partner at RH&C Sports Lawyers. Co-founder StadioPlus. - Tomás García Calvo
PhD in Sports Sciences & PA. Coordinator research group ACAFYDE. 200+ papers in SC&PA. - Jose Bonal
Doctor en CC de la Actividad Física y del Deporte en Universidad Europea. Profesor de Gestión Deportiva. Miembro EASM. - Joaquín González Rodenas
Professor and Researcher in Sports Sciences and Football - URJC, Former Academy Manager Dalian FC, Lecture in Sports Coaching – Ohio University, Head Coach and Performance Manager – Columbus Crew SC. - Saul Alcaráz
Phd Sports Psychology. 30+ research studies in Sports Psychology. Co-founder of Psicologíadelfutbol.com. Sports Psychology Teacher – UAB. - Juan Carlos Fociños
MBA in Sports Business. Former Sponsorship Director of Madrid Basketball Association. Director of the MBA is Sports Management of Real Madrid Postgraduate School. Former Assoc. Dean of IP at Brookhaven College (Dallas, USA). - Isaac Guerrero
Venezia FC Academy Manager. Former Methodological Director FC Barcelona. Bachelor Sports Sciences & Physical Activity. UEFA Pro coach. - Ricardo da Silva
Conditioning coach Real Madrid CF U19. Former conditioning coach Valencia CF. Former conditioning coach National Team of Azerbaijan. Master’s in physical Preparation and Injury Prevention. - Jaime Torcal
UEFA Por Coach. Technical Coordinator Women’s area at Real Madrid CF Academy. Former coach at Real Madrid CF Academy. International Speaker Real Madrid Foundation. - Belén Lopez-Laguna
Exhibitions Manager Real Madrid CF. Former Manager of Cultural Activities Fundación Consejo España (USA). - Juan de Dios Crespo
Sports Lawyer & Polotical Scientist St. John’s University. Co-founder StadioPlus. Advisor Scoutim & Sportradar. - Mario Villate
- Alvaro Gomar
- Oscar Michel
- Alfonso León
- Juan Crespo
- Natalia Simeone
- Pablo Gómez Revenga
- Ivan Iyán
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a career in football management?
To begin a career in football management, you will need to have certain skills and attributes, both personal and professional.
On a personal level, you’ll need to have a passion for football. No matter what level you want to be a manager at - amateur, youth, or professional - the role is all-encompassing and time consuming. You need to be aware that football management is not a normal 9-5 job and is a demanding one. Therefore, passion for the game is key. Experience within the game as a player is also vital before moving into management.
On a professional level, there are many routes into football management, including coaching courses run by national associations. One option you may wish to consider is the master in Football Management at Real Madrid Graduate School - Universidad Europea. It is the first professional football programme that teaches the Spanish training methodology completely in English. The Spanish methodology is the most successful training methodology in the last 20 years for international football, including national teams and clubs, and is explained and taught by leading Spanish coaches and managers.
Is it hard to become a football coach?
Becoming a football coach requires skill and experience. At Real Madrid Graduate School - Universidad Europea, you’ll have access to a leading faculty as well as elite facilities to develop those requirements such as teamwork, leadership and communication.
Above all, you will require a deep love for the game and the players. Football management is a grueling career path filled with hard moments - as well as many happy ones - where only your passion for the sport will keep you going.
What skills do football coaches need?
Each coach will have their own management style, but it is widely agreed that there are certain skills and abilities in common that all football managers should possess. Theses include:
- Patience
- Communication
- Leadership
- Positivity
- Passion
- Perseverance
- Observation
- Imagination
Where is the best place to study football management?
Real Madrid Graduate School - Universidad Europea offers you one of the best places to study football management. As a student of the master in Football Management, you will develop your football coaching and management skills following the Spanish football training methodology and learn alongside leading professionals from first-tier football clubs in Spain.
Your Real Madrid experience will include being taught by some of the leading coaches in the game as well as having the chance to make connections with professionals at top clubs and other football institutions. You will have exclusive access to events such as White Week, a week-long event in which top players and coaches attend to hold workshops and round table discussions. In addition, with our network of partner institutions, you will be able to visit other sports institutions, such as other clubs around Europe, to see for yourself the different coaching methods and styles that exist.