PRACTICE MAKES PURPOSE - LIAM CURRY (FIFA MASTER 25th EDITION)

Liam Curry came into the world on a December morning at 5:28AM in Geneva, Switzerland, a reluctant debut by his own account. “I always say that I was too comfy in there,” he jokes. “I didn’t want to come out and face the big bad world.” The son of a Filipina mother and an Irish father, this hesitation seemed fitting for someone who would grow up balancing multiple cultures. “I never felt like I had a true place where I was from growing up. Still now I don't feel like it.” This feeling of in-betweenness would shape much of Liam’s life.

In a French-speaking school where he didn’t yet speak the language, Liam found early friendships difficult. “I would speak English at home and I didn’t know any French, so I found kindergarten very challenging. I wasn’t able to make many friends back then, so I was always just chilling by myself.” But over time, French began to click. Once he found his voice through language, it was only a matter of time before he also found it through music, a guitar, and the joy of performing.

Once Liam started at the English-speaking International School of Geneva, a more confident, expressive side emerged, one that sang, strummed, and maybe even flirted a little. “I was playing guitar and I was singing. I would do every talent show I could,” he recalls with a smile. “I really enjoyed that time in my life.” Surrounded by a diverse and dynamic community, Liam thrived. But just as he was finding his rhythm, a sudden move to New York disrupted everything.

The move to New York came with little warning: just a few weeks’ notice before Liam and his family packed up and left Geneva behind. “I had to text my friends to say I was leaving. Everyone was on holiday, so I had left without much fanfare.” He started at an international school in Manhattan, but the academic transition proved difficult. Previously set on studying mechanical engineering, Liam was unable to enroll in the courses he needed. “They told me I could take all the classes I wanted... and then when I arrived, they said they were full.” That disruption led him to Colby College in Maine, but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit.

Halfway through his first semester at Colby, Liam made the difficult decision to leave. Back home in Geneva, unsure of his next steps, he enrolled in a short-term international law programme designed for visiting students. Though technically not studying abroad, he joined a diverse group of peers – many older and from all over the world – and quickly found himself back in his element. “I was the only local guy, so I’d take them around, show them the spots.” The experience rekindled his curiosity and sense of direction, prompting him to start exploring university options across Europe.

Liam eventually chose to continue his studies in the Netherlands, landing in the university town of Maastricht to pursue a degree in economics. His time there extended beyond the requisite academics. It was also a period of creative exploration. Together with a friend, he launched Couscous Discous. “It started small. We’d cook couscous at home, play disco, and invite friends,” he says. “The only rule was that the music had to be fun and funky.” What began as a basement party eventually grew into a warehouse event at a local festival, attracting hundreds. It was during these years that Liam began to understand how much he enjoyed building things, whether they be sound systems, bicycles, or new ideas.

Liam’s love for the hands-on continued beyond music. He became increasingly drawn to mechanical work: fixing bikes, building sound equipment, and even maintaining his first car, a 1999 silver Subaru Legacy, affectionately nicknamed The Silver Surfer. “I loved that car,” he says. “I’d fix it myself, piece by piece.” Whether it was adjusting brakes or assembling a custom bicycle from a bare frame, Liam found quiet satisfaction in making things work.

After graduating, Liam returned to Geneva and began working in project management for a healthcare consultancy. Though grateful for the opportunity, he quickly realized the work didn’t energize him. When his partner relocated to Paris, Liam made the leap with her, hoping for a fresh start. The transition wasn’t immediate. “I was unemployed for six months and really struggling to find something that felt right,” he says. But during that time, he found himself drawn back to football, watching matches, reflecting on what the sport had meant to him growing up, and wondering if he could build a career in it. To keep moving, he took a job at a local bike shop. “It was some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done,” he says. “You get a bike, you fix it, you give it back, and you see the result every day.” It was satisfying work, but it also made Liam realize he was ready to apply that same sense of purpose to something he cared even more about: football.

With his renewed interest, Liam began searching for roles in the sport and applied to the very first opening he came across. To his surprise, he landed the job. Based in Paris, the role focused on organizing scouting showcases for an app that connected amateur players to professional clubs. “I’d spend weeks calling players and their clubs, convincing them to come. Then I’d be coordinating with scouts from Milan, Liverpool, Lyon, all kinds of teams.” One standout moment came when a player he helped bring into the showcase eventually signed with a professional club and went on to represent the French U19 national team. “Seeing that happen was incredible,” Liam says. “Just knowing I played a small part in it felt amazing.”

As Liam settled into the football world, he began to notice a pattern: many of the tasks he enjoyed most (building systems, managing data, coordinating logistics) leaned heavily into technology. “I never thought of myself as the tech guy,” he admits, “but when I looked at what I was doing, it made sense.” From running event operations to contributing to scouting tools, he realized he was most energized by projects that involved practical problem-solving using innovative tools. When his company restructured and he was laid off, he took on freelance work in football analytics and returned briefly to the bike shop to stay busy. But something had shifted. He was ready for more and began looking for ways to take the next step.

Unlike previous moments of uncertainty, Liam felt a rare sense of clarity when he discovered the FIFA Master. It combined everything he had been circling around for years: sport, global perspective, hands-on collaboration, and the chance to explore new corners of the industry. “I didn’t apply to a dozen programmes, just this one,” he says. “For some reason, once I got the interview, I had this feeling: this is it.” With a multicultural background, a passion for development, and experience in both operations and tech, the programme felt like a natural fit.

For much of his life, Liam grappled with not fully belonging to any one place or path. But through those twists – including the ones on the dance floor at disco nights – a few constants emerged. He finds meaning in work he can feel, build, and see through. The FIFA Master hasn’t answered every question, but it has given him momentum and provided a reminder that purpose isn’t all found at once. It’s something you build with time, with effort, and with practice.

By Geneva Decker

FIFA Master 25th edition student

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked Europe's No.1 course a record 12 times by SportBusiness.

FIFA Master - 25 years of Excellence in Sport Business Education - organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).