Become A Professional Football Manager
So you fancy being that person who stands on the sidelines of a football game, watching the match with palpable anticipation. It’s a dream job for many fans of the game, as it pays well and it gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself into a sport you love entirely. But since a manager’s decisions can make or break their team and affect the outcome of the game, it requires hard work, skill, dedication, and as a consequence, becoming a football manager isn’t an easy process, and requires years of experience, clubbed with a number of processes, screenings and background checks. But if you still think the job is for you, read on to find out how you can go about doing just that.
But first of all - What does a football manager do?
A football manager can be compared to a chess player. They control their players like chess pieces on a board. This metaphor is a reach; bus similarities can be drawn between the two. Managers control everything from choosing whom to play, formation, strategy to be employed, etc. They also coach players in between games, and are in charge of transfers and player contracts. Managers also act as the public spokesperson of the team and handle all administrative issues.
How do you become one?
1. Know your game
While not all managers are expert football players, they have a clear understanding of how it works. Being a manager requires you to make tactical decisions all the time, both on and off the field, and this requires proper knowledge of how things work.
2. Get a relevant degree
While practical experience can make you an amazing teacher, you’ll be surprised at how much a degree in sports management or football studies can help you. You can learn everything from sports psychology to injury prevention to nutrition, as well as how to handle the less exciting administrative side of things.
3. Volunteer
Local football clubs are always on the lookout for extra hands that could help coach their players. Volunteering could help you gain relevant experience, put your name out there, as well as meet individuals in the field who would make great connections.
4. Start small
Starting as a small-time coach at your local club, or even school is an efficient first step towards acquiring that dream job as head coach. Starting from the bottom is a good idea, and adds to your credentials. There are many levels you have to move up to become a head coach.
5. Obtain badges and licenses.
This is probably the most integral step towards becoming a football manager. The process differs based on the country you’re in, and the level of you want to manage at. To earn the UEFA Pro Licence for example, which is required to become a Premier League coach, you must obtain all your FA badges, as sit through quite an intensive course. Even with this degree, you need years of experience to make it.
