Back after the holidays - refreshed, refueled, and excited!

The 23rd edition of the FIFA Master is back in session. After a well-deserved break for the winter holidays, the twenty-seven students who are part of this world-recognized programme were reunited for the Sport Management module of our journey in Milan, Italy, at the amazing facilities of the SDA Bocconi School of Management.

Some members of our class travelled home to countries such as South Korea, South Africa, India, Brazil, Nigeria, Canada, for example, to absorb a little bit of their local energy. Meanwhile, others flew throughout the globe to gather even more cultural insights in order to add to what the twenty-three different nationalities present in our edition have already taught us.

Therefore, whether home-nurtured or well-travelled, we finally met again on 5th January, undoubtedly better-rested and with every intention to link up and resume all the knowledge from our previous Humanities of Sport module studies which we completed at De Montfort University’s International Centre for Sports History and Culture, in Leicester, United Kingdom.

Hugs were the daily special of the first day, since class members had not seen each other for a couple of weeks after living and strongly bonding for three months previously. Trust us, we are really happy to be back together again.  We missed each other far too much!

Nevertheless, we acknowledge that there will not be much time for playing. Finance, Marketing, Tech, Sustainability, and many other deep topics within the world of sports will now be on the teaching schedule for us. This is good news. That is what we are here for and we like the challenge (but we’ll still try to go for as many ‘aperitivos’ and Italian matches as time allows us!).

Excitement is one of the many feelings which has not vanished during the months we have been enrolled on the FIFA Master. It can even be said that it has increased by awaiting this new stage which, even though it comes with more exams, more readings, and more lectures, will involve field visits to places such as San Siro / Giussepe Meazza Stadium and the Ferrari headquarters, to name just a few.

Life is going to be different in Milan to what it was in Leicester. A few days in Italy is already more than enough to notice this. But collectively, we agree that changes are to be enjoyed.

So, we welcome Milan and please welcome us too, because we are here to learn how to be better leaders, better professionals and better people.

David Goldberg (Costa Rica), FIFA Master 23rd edition student.

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.