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News

Mon. 15 February 2021

FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - FERNANDO ROITMAN

Fernando Roitman

Current Position: Founder of CIES Sports Intelligence

Year of Graduation: 2015 (15th edition)

Nationalities: Argentina and Italy

What does your current role involve?

Following brief experiences at the World Union of Olympic Cities and UEFA, I joined CIES at the end of 2016 to work on a research mandate for FIFA. As this eventually resulted in other similar projects, I proposed to create a new area within our organisation - CIES Sports Intelligence - which aims to support stakeholders in their decision-making processes by delivering fact-based analyses covering mostly financial, regulatory and governance aspects of sports.  We have since had the chance to work with international federations and rights holders - but also individual clubs and agencies - on a variety of interesting projects, delivering insights on the global club football landscape, the status of the football intermediation market, trends in club ownership and the format of the Youth Olympic Games amongst others. In parallel, we also carry out our own studies and publications to promote CIES Sports Intelligence activities and grow our awareness and reputation in this field of expertise.

Leading a small team, I am directly involved throughout all phases of the projects we deliver, from conceptualization to execution. In general terms, this includes managing relations with both internal and external stakeholders as well as overseeing data collection and data analysis processes. In addition, I am also responsible for developing the overall strategy of CIES Sports Intelligence, including the planning and implementation of the department’s communications plan.

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

The FIFA Master presented the perfect opportunity for me to bridge the gap between my previous experiences and the knowledge and competences required to enter the sports industry at an international level.  With regards to my current role, the multi-disciplinary approach of the course was instrumental for me to be able to tackle projects of a varied nature, across several different subjects. The FIFA Master certainly widened my views, introducing me to concepts that are specific to sports and that I can now apply almost on a daily basis.  Of course, the other aspect I have benefited from is the rich sporting network of alumni. Besides the social and cultural elements that come with it, many times I reached out to fellow alumni to draw from their first-hand knowledge and perspective on a specific topic to better inform the projects I was working on.

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

Many of us alumni say the same and there must be a reason for that; just enjoy the unique experience and all the opportunities of personal development the course provides. Eventually, this will also be the most constructive way for you to prepare for your career afterwards. You may also find that your own personal definition of ‘dream job’ will change along with your increasing knowledge and understanding of the international sports industry. This is a further motive to keep an open mind throughout the whole duration of the course and make the most of all the learning possibilities that will arise from the lessons in class, but also from the social interactions with your classmates, professors, guest speakers and the FIFA Master network more in general.

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked No.1 Course in Europe 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 by the SportBusiness International global rankings.

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

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