Management in performance oriented football (CAS)

  • Flexible alongside sport & job

  • Top lecturers from the Bundesliga & European soccer

  • Prestigious certificate in German-speaking soccer

Hol dir die
Punkte!

Hol dir die
Punkte!

Management in performance oriented football (CAS)

  • Flexible alongside sport & job

  • Top lecturers from the Bundesliga & European soccer

  • Prestigious certificate in German-speaking soccer

Starts in September 2025

Starts in September 2025 in Munich/Ismaning

EXPAND YOUR COMPETENCIES IN MANAGEMENT FOR PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED FOOTBALL

Do you want your decisions to stand for success? Are you already active in the club sector and interested in a leading management role? Are you also fascinated by life and developments in and around your club? Then the CAS “Management in performance-oriented soccer” is just right for you. In the program, which is specially tailored to soccer, you will lay the foundation for your successful work as a competent soccer manager for your club.

With us, you will develop a 5-year strategy for your club. The individual modules will successively prepare you for this. This will benefit you and your club immediately and in the years to come.

We see it in all our conversations with the top personalities in the industry: the importance of strategically thinking and future-oriented soccer managers, who take care of both the day-to-day organization and are responsible for the long-term strategy of a club, is constantly increasing. Because only professional management can exploit the full development potential of a club.

Thanks to the unique semi-virtual study concept (e-learning and attendance phases), you can also complete our modern training and further education to become a manager in performance-oriented soccer while working. We attach great importance to small learning groups, which is why the number of participants is limited to 30.

It is therefore best to register immediately for the next certificate course.

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TOP EXECUTIVES FROM THE SOCCER MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY

OUR PARTICIPANTS RATE US

Grade 1,51 Ø

Quality of the lecturers

Grade 1,71 Ø

Individual support

Grade 1,96 Ø

Learning Platform/Virtual Phase

Grade 1,66 Ø

Overall impression of the face-to-face event

OUR PARTICIPANTS RATE US

Grade 1,51 Ø

Quality of the lecturers

Grade 1,71 Ø

Individual support

Grade 1,96 Ø

Learning Platform/Virtual Phase

Grade 1,66 Ø

Overall impression of the face-to-face event

YOUR ADVANTAGES: YOU DEVELOP YOURSELF AND YOUR CLUB FURTHER

As you are surely aware, it is increasingly important to act in a future-oriented manner and to make all decisions with a view to the positive development of the club.

This means that the focus is on the individual. Team development, conflict management and the individual leadership style influence the progression in a club immensely. These soft skills paired with practical management know-how for the industry are the focus of the certificate course. Excellent speakers guarantee a program at the highest level.

You will deal intensively with your own management style, strategic club development, the organizational structure geared to this with regard to full-time and honorary positions, the marketing of your club through sponsorship, among other things, and

Project management from match day to club anniversary – always individually aligned to your current situation and your club. For this purpose, there will be a task in each module related to your club (see “Your Benefit” under module descriptions).

In your final paper, you will develop a strategy for the next five years in your club, taking into account the module topics. The focus should be individually aligned with the current challenges and needs of your club. This way you and your club will profit directly and in the years to come.

You will acquire know-how specifically geared to performance-oriented soccer, which is of great importance to the entire club. Your qualification creates confidence among all other internal decision-makers and has an extremely positive effect on external stakeholders in the industry.

  • EXCLUSIVITY
    Deepen your expert status in soccer & set yourself apart from your competition thanks to exclusive learning content

  • NETWORK
    Benefit from our relationships with key decision makers in top-level soccer & expand your personal network

  • SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE
    Learn from top people with expertise from the Bundesliga, DFB and European club soccer

  • FLEXIBILITY
    Use modern e-learning & educate yourself comfortably besides sports & job

  • PRACTICE NEARBY
    Gain insights into the daily challenges of people with expertise & use these insights for your daily work routine

  • PRESTIGE
    Secure a nationally recognized certificate that enjoys a high reputation in German-speaking soccer

SHORT PROFIL OF THE CAS “MANAGEMENT IN PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED FOOTBALL”

  • ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
    University entrance qualification or vocational training and at least three years of professional experience. People without a university entrance qualification can also be admitted to the CAS under certain conditions (more under “Target group“)

  • RANGE OF SERVICES
    18 ECTS points (creditable at selected universities)

  • LEARNING CONCEPT
    Blended Learning (Online+Presence)

  • COURSE FEES
    3,465 € (including 199 € registration fee)
    Per month 377,50 €

  • TARGET GROUP
    Club presidents or sporting directors from performance-oriented soccer (women’s, youth and men’s), committed officials from the amateur sector, former professionals, people fascinated by soccer management, students from the fields of business administration, sports management, etc.

  • CONTACT PERSON
    Benjamin Birzer

  • PLACE OF STUDY
    Munich/Ismaning

  • REGISTRATION DEADLINE
    August 17, 2025

  • STARTING DATE
    September 01, 2025

  • COURSE DURATION
    6 months (3×3 attendance days)

  • COURSE DATES
    Module 1: tbd
    Module 2: tbd
    Module 3: tbd

  • MODEL OF STUDY
    Part-time

TARGET GROUP OF THE CAS “MANAGEMENT IN PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED SOCCER”

The CAS is a professional training and further education program and is aimed at club chairpersons or sporting directors from the performance-oriented soccer sector (women’s, youth and men’s). Committed officials from the amateur sector are also very welcome. People who are fascinated by and interested in soccer management also have the chance to gain a place on the certificate program.

For students from the fields of business administration, law, sports management, etc., whose goal is to end up in professional soccer, the certificate offers an excellent opportunity to develop soccer management-specific skills.

The content of the certificate also benefits active and former professional footballers who want to put their practical knowledge into practice and possibly continue to pursue a career in the soccer industry.

The profession of soccer manager has become an integral part of (professional) soccer. As in almost all areas, strong leadership and success-oriented dialog are also required in performance-oriented soccer. We see know-how in the areas of strategic club development, organizational structure between full-time and voluntary staff and marketing the club as key drivers of a successful future.

Prerequisites for participation in the certificate course are a qualified school-leaving certificate and a keen interest in soccer management. Personal experience in performance-oriented soccer is an advantage.

EXPERIENCE REPORTS & GRADUATES’ VOICES

“I particularly liked the practical relevance of the great lecturers and the fact that you can also apply the theoretical input optimally in other professional contexts outside of football.”

“Since I would like to continue playing as an active player in football after my career, I have always been interested in what happens off the pitch in a football club.
In the Certificate Management in Performance-Oriented Football, you will be given exactly this overall insight in the various modules that deal with specific sub-areas.
Particularly noteworthy are the lecturers from top-level football, who, in addition to the theoretical content, also bring very exciting and valuable practical experience with them.”

“My expectations for the certificate course “Management in Performance-Oriented Football” from the IFI were exceeded. The combination of theoretical topics with practical content was excellently transferred to us participants by the very good speakers. The group work and the exchange between us participants rounded off this training perfectly.”

“Das Zertifikat Management im Leistungsorientierten Fußball, ist für jeden interessant der professionell in einem Verein arbeiten möchte. Die Präsenztage sind zeitlich super aufgebaut. Die Dozenten kommen aus den unterschiedlichsten Bereichen und bringen durch ihr Fachwissen die nötige Expertise mit. Ich bin dem IFI dankbar für die Möglichkeit einer Hospitation bei Dynamo Dresden. Nicht nur Top Trainer sondern auch angehende Sportliche Leiter oder Teammanager können von dieser Möglichkeit nur profitieren. “

“With the Certificate Management in Performance-Oriented Football, qualified lecturers give you an insight into the inner structures of football clubs. On face-to-face days, you learn how the theoretical basics are put into practice at football clubs. The learning platform was very well prepared and gave me the opportunity to deal more deeply with individual topics with additional knowledge.”

YOUR LEARNING CONTENT IN THE CASE “MANAGEMENT IN PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED SOCCER”

Those who complete the CAS recognize the need for modern soccer managers to be able to optimally manage the entire club as a decision-making body.

The program also underlines the fact that there are clear tasks and areas of responsibility in the club and that appropriate knowledge and skills are required for this, which participants can acquire in this program in a theoretically sound but practical way.

The content is taught exclusively by top personalities with expertise.

The certificate specifically addresses the requirements, challenges and individual solutions for active and prospective managers in the performance-oriented soccer business. In the individual modules, participants deal intensively with the topics of leadership, strategic club development, goal-oriented organizational structure, marketing and sponsoring, as well as matchday and project management.

The learning platform provides you with the basics of sports management It gives you the individual opportunity to refresh or acquire new knowledge. Texts and instructional videos are provided for this purpose. The content of this module is reduced to the content taught in the bachelor’s degree program with a focus on soccer management at the University of Applied Management.

Module 1: LEADERSHIP – FUTURE-ORIENTATED MANAGEMENT

The leadership competences module generally deals with future-oriented leadership. Different leadership styles are explained and reflected upon. Finally, leadership competences for challenging situations are simulated. 

Your benefit: You reflect on your own understanding of leadership and define your personal guidelines and values. You describe current challenges and find ways to overcome them. 

In this subject area, participants learn about self-management and the associated principles for increasing their own success. Self-management and time management as well as individual leadership styles are then dealt with in depth. Further topics include team development and conflict management as well as personnel management (e.g. in voluntary work). 

Module 2: STRATEGIC AlIGNMENT OF A FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION 

Participants deal with strategic club development and the associated far-sighted shaping of the future. They will gain insights into strategic management tools. They will then focus on club goals (vision/mission/mission statement) and current examples of club development from professional and amateur football. Mega-trends and their significance for football are also discussed. Corporate identity is also focussed on as a central component of the strategy. Finally, selected topics with future relevance are discussed (including corporate social responsibility and eSports). 

Your benefit: You will create or revise your organisation’s mission statement. In doing so, you should take the club’s vision and mission into account. If these do not yet exist, you will develop a concept for creating a vision/mission. 

In this module, participants gain an insight into agile organisational development and the goal-oriented combination of full-time and voluntary work in the association. They deal with the recruitment and retention of volunteers and analyse work processes in the club (e.g. the office). This is where the topic of needs-orientated personnel development in professional and amateur sport comes in. The Code of Conduct and its relevance in the future will also be discussed. 

Your benefit: You create or revise your club’s organisational chart. If you do not see a need for this, you can also draw up a code of conduct for your club. 

Module 3: MARKETING POTENTIALS IN FOOTBALL

The Marketing & Sponsoring module deals with successful communication and selling, among other things. With reference back to the strategy module, the core product and unique selling proposition (USP) of a club should be filtered out. This is followed by the marketing of the club (e.g. sponsoring, brand management). The use of social media and merchandise as a means of communication will also be discussed. Successful negotiations with sponsors are simulated. This is followed by member recruitment and retention as a key factor for the future. 

Your benefit: For example, you will plan a 12-month membership campaign for your club, taking into account the aspects discussed in the module, or develop a sponsorship concept for your club. 

The last module deals with matchday and project management. The focus is on efficient planning, taking into account relevant stakeholders (interest/stakeholder groups of your club). Using so-called stakeholder management tools, participants learn about tools that can be used to do justice to stakeholders. Case studies from the Bundesliga are used to demonstrate the practical relevance of the content. 

Your benefit: You will create a club and project-related stakeholder action matrix based on the stakeholder management tools used. Ideally, you will use a project that is coming up at your club (e.g. club anniversary, charity match, training camp, etc.). 

OUR LEARNING CONCEPT: BLENDED LEARNING, FLEXIBLE ALONGSIDE SPORT & WORK

Blended learning is even more than e-learning: it combines the classic face-to-face seminars with various online learning formats, thus making learning more modern, flexible and transfer effective. Due to the semi-virtual concept and the block models, the programs are extra-occupational and can therefore also be carried out alongside sport and family.
The certificate program is therefore much more than an online or distance learning program.

In order to test the knowledge gained, online tests are just as possible as study papers on individual topics.
The innovative learning approach guarantees the compatibility of work, sports and further education.
Lecturers with enormous subject expertise impart practical knowledge at the highest level during the ten days of attendance.

  • BALANCED MIX OF ONLINE LEARNING AND FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING

  • MULTIMEDIA STUDY MATERIAL

  • PERSONAL CONTACT PERSONS

  • INTERACTIVE EXCHANGE

  • PROMOTION OF DIGITAL SKILLS

  • INDIVIDUAL LEARNING AT YOUR OWN PACE

  • HIGHEST APPLICATION ORIENTATION AND FLEXIBILITY

  • IDEAL TRAINING ALONGSIDE SPORT AND WORK

OUR LEARNING CONCEPT: BLENDED LEARNING

Blended learning is even more than e-learning: it combines the classic face-to-face seminars with various online learning formats, thus making learning more modern, flexible and transfer effective. Due to the semi-virtual concept and the block models, the programs are extra-occupational and can therefore also be carried out alongside sport and family.
The certificate program is therefore much more than an online or distance learning program.

In order to test the knowledge gained, online tests are just as possible as study papers on individual topics.
The innovative learning approach guarantees the compatibility of work, sports and further education.
Lecturers with enormous subject expertise impart practical knowledge at the highest level during the ten days of attendance.

  • BALANCED MIX OF ONLINE LEARNING AND FACE-TO-FACE TEACHING

  • MULTIMEDIA STUDY MATERIAL

  • PERSONAL CONTACT PERSONS

  • INTERACTIVE EXCHANGE

  • PROMOTION OF DIGITAL SKILLS

  • INDIVIDUAL LEARNING AT YOUR OWN PACE

  • HIGHEST APPLICATION ORIENTATION AND FLEXIBILITY

  • IDEAL TRAINING ALONGSIDE SPORT AND WORK

CAS SIMPLY EXPLAINED

Extra-occupational training and further education courses that can be completed with a Certificate of Advanced Studies – CAS for short – offer the opportunity to deal with a topic academically and acquire a qualification below an academic degree (e.g. Bachelor). CASs are also assessed according to credit points under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Accordingly, these credit points are also recognized throughout Europe. CASs can be upgraded to a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) or other academic degree programs by attending further CASs and writing an academic thesis.

YOUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AS A MANAGER IN PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED SOCCER

If you are a convincing manager in performance-oriented soccer, you can take on maximum responsibility as a leading force in sports clubs and lead the club into a successful future. With your skills and knowledge, you will become one of the faces of the club and make a significant contribution to its success.

With the benefits from each module (see “Your Benefits” under module description), your club will benefit in the immediate future and in the long run. You may have the chance to make the next step in your career or to turn your hobby into a profession.

Within the certificate course you get the opportunity to create your own visions for your club. With the appropriate strategy development you lead your club future-oriented.

Your cooperation and your area of responsibility extend across all levels and range from volunteers, fans, club members and sponsors to the team and the team behind the team. Successful communication and efficient planning have a significant influence on the success of your club and therefore continuously increase your personal value on the transfer market.

Do you want to take the next step? Then continue your development with our CAS Management in Performance-Oriented Football!

THESE COOPERATION PARTNERS TRUST
IN OUR EXPERTISE

By cooperating with us, our partners come into direct and personal contact with decision-makers from the soccer industry who work for us as lecturers or people with expertise.
In addition, partnerships enable contact with people who already work at clubs or associations and who are already deciding, or will soon be deciding, on their own collaborations with partners.

The early point of contact with current and future executives enables the development of new business areas.
During excursions, cooperation partners can also present themselves as attractive employers.

THESE COOPERATION PARTNERS TRUST
IN OUR EXPERTISE

By cooperating with us, our partners come into direct and personal contact with decision-makers from the soccer industry who work for us as lecturers or people with expertise.
In addition, partnerships enable contact with people who already work at clubs or associations and who are already deciding, or will soon be deciding, on their own collaborations with partners.
The early point of contact with current and future executives enables the development of new business areas.
During excursions, cooperation partners can also present themselves as attractive employers.

STUDIENORT: ISMANING

The Stuttgart campus is located right in the heart of the Neckar metropolis.

Here, modern and friendly seminar rooms await you, which are optimally adapted to your learning needs.

Ideally connected to public transport and the highway, you can be in the heart of the state capital or at the airport in less than 20 minutes. Accommodation in all categories is available in the immediate vicinity of Steinheilstraße.

Steinheilstraße 4, 85737 Ismaning

FAQ

By successfully completing our CAS, you will earn experience points that you can use for the DFB’s coach training for the entrance examination procedure.

The course consists of a total of 3 modules. There is one attendance block per module with 3 consecutive attendance days, which take place at six-week intervals. Between these attendance days, there is the opportunity to deepen and learn the discussed and further content on the online learning platform as part of the virtual learning phase and to work on individual and group tasks.

The course takes place in Ismaning.

Our CAS lasts 6 months. In addition, certificates are awarded in a special ceremony at the end of the certificate period.

Our CAS takes place every one year.

The exact dates of each course can be found on the certificate website.

No, the locations can change annually.

The attendance days within the course are not mandatory, but attendance is expected and highly recommended for successful completion.

The size of the course group is a maximum of 30 participants.
This ensures a productive, interactive and pleasant learning atmosphere.

To participate in the CAS, you must have a university entrance qualification or have completed vocational training and have at least three years of professional experience. Persons without a university entrance qualification can also be admitted to the CAS under certain conditions (more under “Target group“)

The final project of the CAS is a written paper in which the participants take on a fictitious role specific to the topic and put the knowledge acquired in the respective course into practice.

Zudem müssen die Teilnehmenden nach dem letzten Präsenztag eine virtuelle Abschlusspräsentation vor der Prüfungskommission halten und Ihre Ideen und Überlegungen präsentieren.

Registration takes place via the “REGISTER NOW” button on the certificate website.
After sending the fully completed registration form, the applicant will immediately receive a confirmation email listing all the necessary documents required for registration.

Our CAS is certified, recognized in the soccer industry and enjoys a very good reputation, especially among clubs and associations. In addition, the credit points earned can be recognized at selected universities.

The total fee for the CAS is € 3,465 (including € 199 registration fee). Payable in 6 installments of € 577.50/month each.

Contact

BENJAMIN BIRZER

Manager Training & further education

International Football Institute
Steinheilstr. 8
85737 Ismaning

+49(0)-89 6209 787 200

++ LIMITED TO 30 PLACES – REGISTER NOW! ++

++ LIMITED TO 30 PLACES – REGISTER NOW! ++

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