Sports Management: European Football

Course Description

DESCRIPTION AND GOALS
The course examines the sport management system of European football (soccer). The main goal is that students become familiar with the basic characteristics of the management of a professional football club. In order to do so, different areas of management are explored, together with the main tasks that underlie each one of them.

Real Madrid, F.C. Barcelona, Manchester United or Bayern Munich are perhaps the clearest examples of successful models of sports management, although there are also others closer to home such as Athletic Bilbao, which will also be examined during the course.

An essential element around which everything is structured is that football is a game. Practical activities outside the classroom will be organized with this in mind.

PREREQUISITES
No previous experience or qualifications in soccer required.

CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION
2. FINANCIAL REALITY
3. FINANCING AND SPONSORSHIP
4. MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION
5. SPORTS MANAGEMENT
6. FROM EUROPE TO THE WORLD
7. INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
8. CASE STUDY: ATHLETIC BILBAO
9. METHODOLOGY OF FOOTBALL TRAINING

FIELD TRIPS
One of the consolidated activities is developed under the structure of the professional football club of La Liga, Real Sociedad (1909). In this fundamental part of the class, students will have the opportunity to know the training facilities of the Real Sociedad (Zubieta XXI), its different professionals, its competition stadium (Anoeta 1993 and 2019) and those details that are hardly understandable sitting in the classroom.

Another key point in this process will have to do with the analysis of the Athletic Club de Bilbao phenomenon. In addition to trying to disengage its particularities through its history, culture and figures, students will have the opportunity to recognize and visit the stadium San Mamés (2014), one of the most important sports venues in Europe at an architectural, technical and aesthetic level.

METHODOLOGY
The course will combine lectures with activities that require the active participation of the students. Debates, oral presentations and group tasks will play an important part. For the practical aspects of football, there will be visits to key sports facilities in the area, and technical sessions in the field.

ASSESSMENT
-Participation: 10%
-Assignments: 10%
-Football Practice: 20%
-Group Project: 30%
-Final Exam: 30%

Note:
1. Class attendance is essential in all courses. Therefore, it will be checked daily. Missing
classes will negatively affect the student’s final grade.