FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - HICHAM EL AMRANI
Hicham El Amrani
Current Position: Senior Advisor at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation
Year of Graduation: 2004 (4th Edition)
Nationality: Moroccan
What does your current role involve?
I advise the leadership of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) on strategic and management projects and I was involved in the Bid campaign of SAFF for the hosting of the AFC Asian Cup 2027, as well as in charge of the International Relations for the FIFA World Cup 2034 Bid.
In addition to the management and promotion of international relations with other member associations, confederations and FIFA, I also work on international communication, research and education initiatives, such as recently launching the SAFF Institute of Research which is focused on football related topics, consolidating a network of researchers and establishing a large database of material linked to football; whether related to economics, social studies, or technical issues as just a few examples.
How has the FIFA Master helped you in your career?
The FIFA Master was the first critical step that allowed me to understand football as an industry, but also to be aware of the historical significance of the game through the study of the history and social impact of football. Furthermore, living in three different European countries together with colleagues from across the globe teaches you how to deal with various cultures and various standards, making you a better human being.
The link between the degree and FIFA was also instrumental in creating a connection with FIFA professionals and other experts already working in the industry. As we graduated in 2004, it was the year in which FIFA was celebrating its 100th anniversary. As we were invited to attend the FIFA Congress that year in Paris, I was lucky to meet on that occasion the person in charge of human resources at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) who was looking at hiring interns. This is how I managed to get interviewed at that time for an internship and secured one later on.
What advice would you give to future students?
The year spent on the FIFA Master is probably one of the most rewarding times I had in my life as everything you embark on is new and exciting. Studying and living in an international environment with people from such diverse backgrounds was a great learning curve, so I would advise anyone to benefit from this. Also, be curious about others, to understand where they come from and what they aspire to be.
In addition, I would also recommend that future students get fully immersed in the cultural environment of the three countries (UK, Italy and Switzerland), using the time not only to study hard but also to discover what makes these countries so special.
My last piece of advice would be to not worry about having a clear idea of what to do next after graduation. The football industry today has grown a lot and there are many more opportunities than before, especially with the advancement of technology and artificial intelligence.
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