FIFA MASTER: THE LAST GOODBYE FROM THE 23RD EDITION

Almost 11 months ago, as a group we were just twenty-six human beings who had never met each other before. We were complete strangers. At that time the only two things we had in common were a shared passion for sport and also a nervousness prior to arriving in Leicester for the year of studies which would completely change our lives. Now, those same twenty-six human beings are forever bonded.

We, as the 23rd edition of the FIFA Master, have already said goodbye to the course. We have now left behind the De Montfort University, SDA Bocconi and Université de Neuchâtel classrooms. However, small pieces of our hearts will always remain in Leicester, Milano and Neuchâtel for the rest of our lives.

In unison, we can say this was the best year in our young and not-so-young existence. The knowledge, experience and network that this academic programme provided has been overwhelming. It is definitely one of the top sport management courses in the world. Believe that advertisement because now we feel totally ready and capable to positively impact our respective fields within the sports industry.

Further still, and what will stay attached to our souls, are the friendships that were created during our time living and working together on the FIFA Master. Colleagues that studied and passed exams with you. Friends that laughed and teared up with you. Brothers and sisters that celebrated your triumphs and suffered your defeats through almost a year as if they were theirs. And, even though most of us are now resting for a short while in our native homes, we are still doing it.

Therefore, advice for the next editions to come would be to study hard but to absorb harder. This is not about grades, it is about embracing a hyper-charged environment of multicultural ideas, ways of life, and thinking processes that will make your mind explode more than a few times along the journey. Use all of this for your personal and professional growth.

To end the last of the nine articles published in this series about our class as a collective group, I want to use my final paragraph to add a message just from me as the writer.

So, for the last goodbye, I want to personally say to Adel, Xin, Nihan, Youjin, Mateo, Ahmed, Mikkel, Vansh, Jai, Jae, Alex, Bia, Nicolas, Changmin, Okenna, Jules, Tuale, Buhle, Farid, Mario, Amobi, Byrom, Renae, Vero, and Altaf, shine brightly as you all can. Change the world. And thanks for every moment. This lucky Costa Rican has been extremely proud to be part of the prestigious FIFA Master 23rd edition. I hope we can all meet again soon!

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

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).