Football Industries MBA
Football Industries MBA (FIMBA)
The MBA (Football Industries) program at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, was the first, and is currently the only MBA focusing on the business and management of Football. It was established by Dr Rogan Taylor of the Football Research Unit in 1997 following a period of consultancy with football executives from clubs and governing bodies who believed that a formal postgraduate qualification in the business of football was essential for the new commercialized football industry.
The first cohort of students graduated (under then Director of Studies, Dr Rory Miller) in December 1998 and went on to work for companies including Liverpool FC, the Football Association and Deloittes Sports Business Group. Over 300 students have graduated from the MBA(FI), many of whom have gone on to work in football and other sports around the world and the MBA continues to attract students from around the world (especially Brazil, Mexico, North America, Japan, China and South Korea as well as all over Europe).
In 1999 the CBA (Football Industries) programme was launched (for students wishing to specialise in the Football Industry but whom already possessed an MBA), and in 2004 a part-time version of the MBA(FI) was launched. In 2008 Brian Barwick (former CEO of the FA) joined the MBA(FI) team as a Professor in Strategic Management. 2008 also saw the launch of the Fimba Alumni Association (FAA).
Staff teaching on the MBA(FI)
- Dr Rogan Taylor – Co ordinates Visiting Speaker programme
- Dr Babatunde Buraimo - Director of Studies, Football Finance and Football economics
- Dr Rory Miller – Football Finance and Latin American expert
- Professor Sue Bridgewater - Director of Centre for Sports Business, Placement Co ordinator, Sports Marketing and Sponsorship
- Professor Brian Barwick – Visiting Professor of Strategic Management
- Dr Juan de Dios Tena Horillo, Sports Economics
- Phil Thompson – Visiting Fellow
- Neil Doncaster – Visiting Fellow
- Rick Parry - Visiting Fellow
Structure of the MBA
- Modules: Managing Financial Resources, Managing the Environment, Managing People, Managing Change, International Football Industry, Football and the Law, Football and Finance, Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, Becoming a Football Executive
- Students also have to write a 15,000 word dissertation and / or complete a work-based project in football.
Students on the MBA(FI) also benefit from a Guest Speaker Programme, the involvement of football practitioners in several of the modules, and from a Placement Scheme, in which students have worked in leading football clubs, governing bodies and other sporting organisations around the world. In recent years, students have worked on placements with, amongst others, Manchester United FC, Manchester City FC, Everton FC, Celtic FC, Liverpool FC, Borussia Mönchengladbach, LA Galaxy, the Football Association, Nike and Adidas. The course also includes an optional visit to UEFA to work on a simulation exercise and behind-the-scenes visits and sessions in a number of football clubs.
Since its inception, MBA(FI) graduates have gone on to work for (amongst others): Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Celtic, Everton, Wigan Athletic, MK Dons, Lech Poznan, FC Seoul, FIFA, UEFA, AFC, FA, Football League, SPL, Baltic League, J-League, K-League, Octagon, Sportfive, Sport+Markt, MP&Silva, Traffic, ESPN, Yahoo!, Red Bull, LG, Diageo, Nike, Adidas, Deloitte Sport, Prozone and Soccerex.