Milan Module kickoff: The FIFA Master goes Italian
After a well-deserved holiday break, we have reunited for the second chapter of our FIFA Master journey, this time in none other than Milan, the Italian capital of fashion, finance and football passion. Unlike our time in Leicester where everyone lived together on campus, the Milan experience has required us to find our own accommodation. Spread across the city’s vibrant neighborhoods, daily commutes have replaced shared dorm corridors.
While the first module at De Monfort University focused on the humanities and history of sport, the Milan module has shifted the perspective from understanding sport’s past to mastering its business future. Hosted by SDA Bocconi’s School of Management, one of Europe’s leading management institutions, we have dived into the core principles that drive the global sports industry. The month of January was structured around three key sub-modules: Foundations of Sport Management, Sport Strategic Planning - which included our first exam - and Sport Finance, quickly becoming everyone’s ‘favorite’ topic. From player representation and athletes’ rights to global venue strategy and club governance, lecture concepts have been brought vividly to life through conversations with an exceptional lineup of guest speakers who have shared first-hand insights from across the sport business landscape. This included none other than Javier Zanetti, former player and legend of FC Internazionale Milano, who currently serves as the club’s Vice President, as well as leaders from prominent sporting organizations such as Raiola and the NBPA.
As always, our learning has extended well beyond the classroom too. Field visits have further enhanced our understanding of the material taught in class and its real-world application. A visit to Ferrari offered an inside look at one of the most powerful brands in global sport and luxury, from performance engineering to global brand management. At Vero Volley Monza, we explored professional club management within elite volleyball and had the opportunity to engage directly with members of the organization, including players.
No Milan module, though, would be complete without football immersion. Our class, therefore, has experienced Italian football nights firsthand at the iconic San Siro Stadium, attending Inter vs Napoli in Serie A and Inter vs Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League. Stadium hopping continued in Turin at the Allianz Stadium, where some of us were able to watch Juventus vs Cremonese and Juventus vs Benfica.
Building on Leicester’s birthday traditions, this month we celebrated our very own PNG legend, Nathaniel, proud wearer of the #11 jersey on the football pitch and a man who scores as many groans as goals thanks to his elite-level sense of humor. And speaking of goals and traditions, Thursday and Saturday football rituals have continued throughout the month, highlighted by our impressive 9–2 victory against the Bocconi MBA students in a Tuesday night show followed, of course, by a friendly post-match pizza gathering between the two teams.
It would be a crime not to mention Italy’s culinary traditions. Despite a busy academic schedule, classic aperitivo evenings, four-times-a-day espresso breaks, and regular pizza and pasta nights have remained non-negotiable. As Milan continues its preparations to host the Winter Olympic Games, the city’s sporting energy is only set to intensify, with February bound to be just as busy and exciting for our class. Andiamo!
By Rita El Idrissi Semlali - FIFA Master 26th edition student.
FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 13 times by SportBusiness.
Organised by CIES in cooperation with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).
"CIES, 30 years of impacting how sport is managed worldwide" & "FIFA Master, 25 years of Excellence in Sport Business Education"
