The FAI and SETU have launched the 2023 Sports Coaching and Business Management course & the Sports Management and Coaching courses for anyone looking to start their career in football.

The courses, which are run in conjunction between the FAI and SETU, are perfect for anyone looking for a career in the football and sports industry in a variety of different areas.

The two courses, the three-year level 7 Sports Coaching and Business Management (Football) (SE931) and the four-year level 8 Sports Management and Coaching (Football) (SE909), covers a range of modules with a focus on player development, coach education, performance analysis, business and sports science.

The broad nature of the course has allowed graduates to gain employment in coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning, in the sport and fitness industry, as professional footballers and in a range of business-related roles.

Seventeen graduates are currently working full-time at the Football Association of Ireland in a variety of roles including MNT Performance Analyst, High Performance Coaches, Coach Education Tutors, Grassroots Development Officers, FAI ETB Course Co-ordinators, Grassroots Executives and Women’s U-16 Manager.

A further bonus to the course is that students can work towards the UEFA B Coaching Qualification in the third year of the course, which has seen over sixty students gain this qualification in the past four years.

Current students on the course and graduates are coaching throughout the League of Ireland, including the under-age sections.

"We're encouraging as many applicants as possible to apply before the February 1st deadline, anyone who wants to work in football or the sports industry, this is the perfect avenue for them," said Luke Hardy, SETU Course Assistant.

"The course is aimed at people who have a broad interest in the sport. Whether that is coaching, performance analysis, strength and conditioning or the business side of sport, which our course has a number of modules directed towards, the course offers a lot of different opportunities in a wide variety of roles.

"The course started in 2009 and a number of graduates have gone on to work full-time in football in some fantastic roles. Tom Elmes, the current WNT assistant manager, Megan Smyth-Lynch, current Grassroots Executive, and Gary Seery, who currently works with MNT manager Stephen Kenny as a performance analyst; these are all great examples of people graduating from our course and working in a variety of roles.

"We look forward to welcoming the applications, it is an exciting time of year as we launch what will hopefully be another successful year for the course."

Early application deadline through the CAO is February 1; late applications are accepted through the CAO until May 1.

62 SE909 BA Hons (Honours) in Sports Mgmt and Coaching (Football) Jan23 P03 (2).pdf

61 SE931 BA Sport Coaching and Business Mgmt (Football) Jan23 P03 (1).pdf