Russia: Roman Shirokov becomes “Sports Leader” for the HSE/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme

On Friday 22nd September, the Higher School of Economics with the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) announced that Roman Shirokov, an alumnus of the 2017 HSE/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme in Sports Management, had been appointed to the position of Sports Leader for the Programme.

The main responsibility of the "Sports Leader" is to enhance dialogue with the professional sports world and to increase the practical orientation of the curriculum. Indeed, one of the key goals of the Programme is to facilitate the transition and re-qualification of athletes who have completed their professional sport careers and who now wish to take part in the development of the sports industry and its infrastructure at national and international levels.

Roman Shirokov is a well-known former Russian international football player. Playing for several Russian clubs during his career, he became a UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup winner in 2008, a 3-time winner of the Russian Premier League (2008, 2012, 2016), 2-time winner of the Russian Super Cup (2008, 2011) and winner of the Russian Cup 2010. In addition, he was a bronze medalist at the UEFA EURO 2008 with the Russian national team. Twice he was named Russian player of the year (2012, 2013) and was the long-term captain of the Russian A-squad.

After such a successful professional football career on the pitch, Roman Shirokov wishes to continue working in football, but instead of becoming a coach he has decided to work as a manager. So far, he has been appointed as Chairman of the All-Russian Football Trade Union, Advisor to the Moscow Region Minister of Sports, Physical Education and Youth Policy, and also Football Advisor to the All-Russian Physical-Culture and Sports Society "Dynamo".

We would like to congratulate Roman Shirokov on his new status and we wish him great professional success in the training of modern sports managers!