FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - TIZIANO GAIER

Tiziano Gaier

Current Position: UEFA - Head of Club Competitions and Nations League Finals

Year of graduation: 2005 (5th edition)

Nationality: Italian/Swiss

What does your current role involve?

I joined UEFA in 2012, after seven years at TEAM Marketing as Event Manager contributing to the organization and delivery of various Club Finals. Then for four years I was Event Lead for the UEFA Champions League Final, being overall responsible for the event and leading approximately 35 functional areas.

Since 2020, I am now Head of Club Competitions and Nations League Finals at UEFA and leading a team of 12 staff with the overall responsibility of the events (6 in total). The Finals are organized in conjunction with the National Association’s but many of the areas are led and managed by UEFA staff. The month of May is usually very hectic, but actually an extremely motivating month as we see our preparation work turning into reality.

Which aspects of the FIFA Master course have helped you most in your career?

Certainly, the FIFA Master opened my eyes to the sports world and its specific requirements. My previous background was more in the private sector and the sports industry definitely has specific dynamics that need to be acknowledged.

Also, the international makeup of the course is key as it allows students to develop an understanding of various cultures. Interacting with many nationalities on a daily basis in my class enabled me to be more efficient when having to organise events in various European cities.

I am grateful how my career has evolved from a field I liked to work in, to now working in an industry that I am passionate about. The FIFA Master enabled me to turn my career around and made me ready to become an event manager. I merged my previous skills and knowledge with the new ones gained during the FIFA Master.

What advice would you give to future students on the course?

It is important to take full advantage of your time on the course and to be fully immersed in your course studies. The knowledge exchange platform and strong foundations that are created by the FIFA Master are extreme. You will have a unique opportunity to engage with a huge variety of backgrounds and cultures - both on the student side but also with the different universities, lecturers and field visits you will experience.

Students should maximise their time during the course to absorb all of the aspects that are available - from the various cultures and learning approaches, to exploring sports evolution from a Humanities, Management and Legal perspective.

It is a privilege to participate on the FIFA Master and to have such a unique learning experience. Grasp it with both hands!

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked  Europe's No.1 course a record 11 times by SportBusiness.

Organised by CIES in partnership with De Montfort University (UK), SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy) and the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland).