FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - OLEKSANDR KUCHERIAVYI

Oleksandr Kucheriavyi

Current position: Strategic Development Manager for National Associations at UEFA

Year of graduation: 2013 (13th edition)

Nationality: Ukrainian

What does your current role involve?

I subscribe to the theory that if you find a job that you enjoy doing, you will never have to work a day in your life. In my role with UEFA’s National Associations division, focusing on Strategic Development for National Associations, the key element is strategic management. Ultimately, our focus is on promoting the strategic growth of football across our stakeholders. This demands an integrated approach, from the bottom of the football pyramid, to the highest level of the game, and everything in between. We provide multi-layered strategic business support for our stakeholders as we look to achieve joint successes.

My role, and that of the colleagues whom I work with on a daily basis, continues to inspire me. I consider it a vocation. It takes me from UEFA’s HQ in Nyon, Switzerland, to all over the continent. From this I am able to see the difference we make together and how worthwhile our joint initiatives are.

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

The FIFA Master programme has a leading reputation in the international sports industry.  The balance of academic knowledge and practical application is unrivalled and the success rate of FIFA Master graduates in the sports sector is a testament to this. The programme has given me the opportunity to work at a high level in the industry and provided a platform for my professional achievements to date.

The programme curriculum strikes a perfect balance in providing a range of perspectives, and giving candidates a holistic perspective of the industry. The FIFA Master journey takes the students from Leicester’s De Montfort University, where the focus is on the historical origins and cultural roots of sport as a social phenomenon, to Milano’s SDA Bocconi, where a strong focus on business, finance and strategy is provided. The course then concludes in Neuchatel, Switzerland, at the heart of the global sports industry, where legal and regulatory aspects of sports governance and development are explored. Each aspect of the programme was fundamental to my career and continues to guide me in my day-to-day work.  

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

From the very first day, try to take every single opportunity which is made available to you – and there will be many provided during your studies. Embrace not just the academic opportunities but also the practical and social experiences too. Go the extra mile and invest all of the time, energy and creativity you possibly can. Finally, remember the FIFA Master can be a pivotal point not just in your career, but also in your life too.

FIFA Master - International Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport, ranked No.1 Course in Europe 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 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).

As of 3rd October 2022 the CIES has officially opened the application process for the 24th edition (2023-2024) of the FIFA Master.

Please note that the deadline for applying is midday (12pm) Central European Time on Friday 13th January 2023.

Please click on this link to access the online application form.