The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and South East Technological University (SETU) have launched the 2024 Sports Coaching and Business Management Football Degree for anyone looking to start a career in football.The courses are run in conjunction between the FAI and SETU, and is perfect for anyone looking for a career in football.The two courses, the three-year Level 7 Sports Coaching and Business Management (Football) (SE931) and the four-year Level 8 Sports Management and Coaching (Football) (SE909), cover a range of modules with a focus on player development, coach education, performance analysis, business and sports science.The course is suitable for male, female and mature applicants who are looking to combine their development as players and coaches with their academic studies. Typically, students would be playing at League of Ireland or Junior and Intermediate level, while others have more of a focus on coaching.SETU offers students access to state-of-the-art sports facilities, which include a full-sized 4G astro pitch, high performance gym, performance analysis lab and the new South Sports Campus grass pitches & running track. The facilities provide an ideal environment for students to reach their potential.The broad nature of the course has allowed graduates to gain employment in coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, in the sport and fitness industry, as professional footballers and in a range of business-related roles.Eighteen graduates are currently working full-time at the FAI in a variety of roles including Ireland MNT Performance Analyst, High Performance Coaches, Coach Education Tutors, Grassroots Development Officers, FAI-ETB Course Coordinators, Grassroots Executives and Women’s Under-16 Assistant Coach.A further bonus to the course is that students can work towards the UEFA B Coaching Qualification in the third year of the course, which has seen over 60 students gain this qualification in the past four years.Graduates are now working in full-time coaching roles around the world in countries including United States, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, England, Australia, Qatar, UAE and New Zealand. Current students and graduates are coaching throughout Ireland at grassroots clubs and in the League of Ireland at senior and underage level."We're encouraging applicants to apply before the February 1st deadline, applicants are then invited in for interviews and playing assessments in Easter or the summer," said Luke Hardy, SETU Course Assistant."The course is aimed at people who have a broad interest in football. Whether that is coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning or the business side of sport, which our course has several modules directed towards, the course offers a lot of different opportunities in a wide variety of roles."The course started in 2009 and a many graduates have gone on to work full-time in football in some fantastic roles. Darren McGarry, the FAI ETB Dundalk assistant coordinator, Rachel Graham, FAI Grassroots Executive, and Gary Seery, who is currently working as a Development Officer in Offaly; these are all great examples of people graduating from our course and working in a variety of roles."We look forward to welcoming the applicant’s to the assessment days in Easter and the summer, in what will hopefully be another successful year for the course."At a media event to promote the course, there were 12 players who currently play for clubs in the League of Ireland and Leinster Senior League. They are current course participants and an example of balancing education with football.For anyone interested in the course, the early application deadline is through the CAO until February 1, 2024 with the late application deadline set for May 1, 2024.
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