FIFA MASTER ALUMNI - WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - ALVARO LLORENTE

Alvaro Llorente

Current Position: Sports Business Consultant and FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management coordinator in Colombia

Year of graduation: 2004 (4th edition)

Nationality: Colombian and Spanish

What does your current role involve?

I work as a sport business consultant advising sports organizations on outlining marketing and strategic plans. I have also consulted for brands and marketing agencies.

At the same time, I have taught sports marketing at Colombian universities for more than fifteen years.

Currently, I am the FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management coordinator in Colombia and I am proud to have helped deliver this year the first edition of the CIES Programme in the country.

Since 2021, I have also hosted the FMA LatAm Webinar Series, a show that features Spanish speaking FIFA Master alumni.

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

The FIFA Master academic experience was eye opening. It allowed me to better understand the managerial, legal, historical and social nuances connected to sport.

On a personal level, during the year of the FIFA Master I met classmates from the four corners of the world and all walks of life. This challenged me to become a good listener and a better team player. These are traits which I strive to keep growing even today as a sports business consultant.

Finally, since graduating from the FIFA Master, I have been fortunate to engage with a tight-knit alumni network, which undoubtedly is one of the key assets of the FIFA Master.

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

Given the global appeal of the FIFA Master, I encourage prospective students to get exposed to international environments, by living abroad, participating in multinational workplaces, volunteering for mega sporting events and learning foreign languages where possible.

Further, I would recommend that prospective students keep abreast of the latest news from the sports industry through specialized websites, blogs and podcasts, for example.

After being admitted to the FIFA Master, students should act as ‘sponges’ by soaking up as much knowledge as possible from their lecturers and, just as importantly, from their classmates too.

Moreover, I would recommend that each student reflects on key roles they are comfortable to play in and out of the classroom, as he or she will coexist with about thirty other students, day-in-day-out, for almost one year. At the end of the day, everyone should enjoy this once in a lifetime journey.

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.