The Football Business Academy

What The Football Business Academy does

The Football Business Academy (The FBA) is a Geneva-headquartered private educational institution founded in 2017 (concept originated 2015) that delivers specialized business education focused exclusively on the football industry. Its flagship offering is a 12-month Professional Master in Football Business structured across four sequential modules: two online modules (live virtual lectures, discussion sessions, and digital coursework), a guaranteed 3-month personalized internship placement with a partner organization, and a final on-campus intensive at Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE) in Carcavelos, Lisbon. A separate Football Agent Certificate program targets aspiring licensed agents, and a Business Solutions vertical delivers custom workshops, certificates, and diplomas to football organizations such as AFC and ECA.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: per-student tuition for the Professional Master (paid in installments, non-refundable once paid), fees for the Football Agent Certificate, and B2B fees from Business Solutions engagements. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, but scholarships — including an Early Bird Scholarship of up to 15% and a Women in Football Scholarship of up to 40% — modulate net tuition. Distribution is sales-led and selective: candidates apply through an online portal (motivation letter, CV, degree copy, passport) for March or September intakes, supported by a dedicated admissions team, alumni referrals, partner-organization promotion, and presence at industry events such as the World Football Summit.

The FBA's go-to-market leverages a 90+ partner ecosystem spanning clubs (SL Benfica, Brighton & Hove Albion, Rangers FC, RCD Espanyol, Venezia FC, RB Leipzig, Seattle Sounders, and others), federations and confederations (FIFA, UEFA, CONMEBOL, AFC, NWSL, USL, K League, Saudi Pro League, Liga Portugal, Royal Belgian FA, Irish FA), and agencies (Arowana Sports). Outcomes reported by the FBA include 330+ alumni across 15 editions, 90% employment within 12 months of graduation, 96.8% graduation rate, 80+ nationalities represented, an average graduate salary of $92,316, and a Top 40 worldwide / Top 10 in Europe ranking in the 2025 SportBusiness Postgraduate Rankings. Headcount is 11–50 employees, financial information is not publicly disclosed, and ownership structure beyond co-founder Dorian Esterer and CEO Kristian Dobrev is opaque.

Name

The Football Business Academy

Legal name

The Football Business Academy

Website

https://the-fba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Football Business Academy is a Geneva-based private educational institution offering a 12-month hybrid Professional Master's in Football Business, a Football Agent Certificate, and custom Business Solutions for football organizations, serving aspiring and current football industry professionals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Management Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Referee, Umpire & Coach Education/Certification Academies (MPAKAJAN)

Keywords

• Football business education
• Sports management programs
• Professional master's degree
• Football agent certification
• Football industry training

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Master in Football Business Tuition: 12-month hybrid program (6 months online, 3 months internship, 2 months on-campus) with tuition fees that can be paid in installments. Tuition is non-refundable once paid.
2. Football Agent Certificate: Separate certificate program for aspiring football agents with its own application and fees.
3. Business Solutions: Custom workshops, certificates, and diplomas delivered to football organizations. First business solutions clients included AFC and ECA in 2021.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Football Business Academy (The FBA) is a private educational institute that delivers a 12-month hybrid Professional Master in Football Business program (online modules, a guaranteed 3-month industry internship, and an on-campus module at Nova SBE in Lisbon), a Football Agent Certificate program, and custom Business Solutions (workshops, certificates, and diplomas) sold to football clubs, federations, leagues, and agencies.

Product overview

The Football Business Academy offers a portfolio of football business education programs centered around its flagship Professional Master in Football Business, a 12-month hybrid degree combining online coursework, a guaranteed 3-month industry internship, and an on-campus module in Lisbon. The company also provides a Football Agent Certificate program and custom Business Solutions (workshops, certificates, and diplomas) tailored for football organizations. The educational approach is built on three pillars: Knowledge (industry expert-led classes), Experience (guaranteed internships and real-world projects), and Network (access to industry events and connections).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Master in Football Business A 12-month hybrid (online + in-person) professional master's program for aspiring and current football industry professionals, structured in four modules: two online study modules, a guaranteed personalized 3-month internship with a football industry partner, and an on-campus module at Nova SBE in Lisbon. It covers football governance, commercial operations, and strategic management.
• Football Agent Certificate A certificate program for individuals seeking to become licensed football agents, providing education on the business and legal aspects of player representation.
• Business Solutions Customized workshops, certificates, and diplomas designed and delivered for football-related stakeholders including confederations, clubs, leagues, and federations (e.g., AFC, ECA) to address specific organizational training and development needs.

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Los Cabos UnitedminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2025Mexican Premier League club partnership providing internship and real-world project opportunities. Club founded in 2022 with ambitious growth plans.
• Internacional de BogotáminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2025First FBA partnership in Colombia, marking significant expansion in South America. Provides internship opportunities and Student Business Projects aligned with club's strategic priorities.
• Nova School of Business & Economics (Nova SBE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Educational partnership bringing Module 4 of the Professional Master to Nova SBE's campus in Carcavelos, Lisbon. Partnership fosters exchange of know-how and intercultural experiences.
• Girona FCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Spanish football club, among the first club partners of The FBA starting in 2018.
• Olympique LyonnaiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018French football club, among the first club partners starting in 2018.
• CONMEBOLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth American football confederation partnership providing internship and networking opportunities for FBA candidates in South American football.
• SL BenficacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese football club partnership offering internship opportunities and industry exposure for candidates. Benfica was among first club partners starting in 2018.
• Rangers FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScottish football club partnership providing internship and educational collaboration opportunities.
• Brighton & Hove AlbioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier League club partnership, the first Premier League partner, offering internship and project opportunities.
• NWSLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Women's Soccer League partnership providing opportunities in women's football in the United States.
• ECA (European Club Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Club Association partnership for business solutions and industry collaboration. ECA was among first business solutions clients in 2021.
• RCD EspanyolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish football club partnership providing internship and learning opportunities.
• Socios.comcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFan engagement and tokenization platform partnership supporting football business innovation.
• K LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Korean football league partnership providing Asian football business exposure.
• Royal Belgian Football AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational football federation partnership for internship and educational collaboration.
• World Football SummitcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual industry networking event partnership. Candidates attend WFS during Networking Week, gaining exposure to industry leaders and networking opportunities.
• AFC (Asian Football Confederation)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAsian Football Confederation was among first business solutions clients in 2021, receiving custom workshops and educational content.
• Saudi Pro LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaudi Arabian football league partnership for educational collaboration and industry development.
• Club Nacional de FootballcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUruguayan football club partnership expanding FBA presence in South America.
• Venezia FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian football club partnership, first FBA partner in Italy.
• Common GoalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball sustainability organization partnership for social impact projects.
• Double PasscoreTechnology or IntegrationFootball analytics and performance technology company partnership for educational collaboration.
• USLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Soccer League partnership (includes USL Championship, USL League One) for North American football education.
• Mazatlán FCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMexican football club partnership for internship and project opportunities.
• CF Rayados / Club AméricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Mexican football club partnerships for educational collaboration.
• Independiente del ValleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcuadorian football club partnership expanding South American presence.
• Real MallorcaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish football club partnership for internship and educational opportunities.
• Tigres UANLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Mexican football club partnership for educational collaboration.
• Liga PortugalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese football league partnership for Student Business Projects and industry collaboration.
• Arowana SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFootball agency specializing in sponsorships and partnerships, founded by former Real Madrid executive. Provides internship opportunities and is led by FBA alumnus.
• The Irish FAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorthern Ireland football association partnership for internship and educational collaboration. Announced in May 2022.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• UCFB: UK-based higher-education institution offering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees combining sport and education with football-industry focus and ties to the English football pyramid. Directly comparable to the FBA as a specialist football-business education provider targeting aspiring global football industry professionals.
• Johan Cruyff Institute: Barcelona-headquartered specialist in sports management education delivering master's degrees in sport business, marketing, and football business across multiple continents. Directly comparable to the FBA as an internationally focused postgraduate football/sports business education competitor targeting a similar candidate segment.
• LaLiga Business School: Spanish football league's education arm offering master's programs in football business, law, and marketing. Comparable to the FBA as a football-body-affiliated postgraduate program targeting the same candidate segment of aspiring football industry professionals seeking accredited specialist credentials.
• CIES (FIFA Master): Swiss-based academic center offering the FIFA Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport in partnership with De Montfort University, the University of Bologna, and SDA Bocconi. Direct comparator to the FBA as a Switzerland-headquartered international football/sport management master's with similar price points and postgraduate target candidates.
• University of Liverpool Football Industries MBA: UK Russell Group university's flagship distance-learning MBA focused on the football industry, with alumni across leagues worldwide. Comparable to the FBA as a postgraduate football-business degree targeting a global, often career-switching candidate base and relying on industry network effects.

Broad incumbents

• AISTS: Lausanne-based international academy delivering postgraduate sports management programs founded by the IOC and academic partners. Comparable to the FBA in Swiss location, postgrad sports management focus, and industry-network-driven model, though with multi-sport rather than football-only positioning.
• Birkbeck, University of London: London-based college offering master's in sport management and business with strong industry connections. Comparable to the FBA in postgraduate sports business education space, but operating as a more generalist sports management degree rather than a 100% football-focused program.
• NYU Tisch Institute of Sports Industry: US-based postgraduate program covering sports business including football at the NYU School of Professional Studies. Comparable to the FBA as a postgraduate sports business degree provider targeting internationally mobile candidates, though generalist rather than football-only.

Emerging players

• Universidad Europea (Real Madrid partnership programs): Spanish university delivering sports management postgraduate programs through its high-profile Real Madrid Universidad Europea partnership. Comparable to the FBA's football-industry brand-led education model, though broader than the FBA's 100% football focus and more generalist in curriculum.
• ISDE: Spain-based specialized law and business school with strong football and sports law programs serving Latin American and Iberian football industry professionals. Comparable to the FBA as a niche provider of football industry-focused postgraduate training, particularly for football agents and club executives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thefba
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX_onw1_Q5BlAi1--MOXqNw
• Facebookfacebook.com/thefootballbusinessacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-football-business-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/footballbusinessacademy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Football Business Academy