By: Odeh Favour
Professional footballers are increasingly looking beyond their playing days, turning to higher education to prepare for executive, coaching, and sporting director roles within the sport.
This trend was highlighted at the 2026 graduation ceremony of the PFA Business School, held at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, where active and retired players gathered to celebrate earning academic qualifications alongside their athletic careers.
Among the graduates celebrated at the event were Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi, with former Chelsea and Spain captain César Azpilicueta also in attendance.
For Awoniyi, a commitment to learning started during his childhood in Nigeria. The 29-year-old striker whose career has spanned Nigeria’s Imperial Soccer Academy, Liverpool, Union Berlin, and the Premier League—already holds a degree in business management alongside a diploma, making the PFA qualification his third academic credential.
Awoniyi shared that his father, Solomon, instilled the value of education early on, ensuring football never got in the way of his studies.
“I always felt education was important,” Awoniyi said. “It was a promise I made to my dad that if I played football, I would keep studying. That’s what I have done, and I am proud of it.”
Awoniyi emphasized that a footballer’s non-traditional schedule provides ample time for personal growth.
“Yes, football is our passion, but we are normal human beings as well, and maybe that’s something the world doesn’t always see,” he said.
Similarly, 28-year-old Dewsbury-Hall completed a postgraduate diploma in global football sport directorship, traveling to London for the graduation ceremony.
“As a person, I’m always trying to learn and develop away from the pitch,” Dewsbury-Hall told BBC Sport. “I don’t want to stop playing and then just sit around doing nothing.”
He added that earning the qualification early will serve him well when transition opportunities eventually arise after his playing days conclude.
The PFA Business School structures its curriculum to accommodate the rigorous schedules of professional athletes. Seminars are timed to avoid conflicts with training sessions and matchdays, allowing players to study at their own pace. Dewsbury-Hall even admitted to drawing curious looks from teammates while studying on his iPad during team travel home from away games.
Former Chelsea captain César Azpilicueta serves as another prime example of balancing education with elite performance. Azpilicueta studied prior to turning pro at age 17 with Osasuna and later completed an MBA at Harvard University during his nine-year tenure at Chelsea.
His dedication to his studies remained steadfast even on the morning of Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League final against Manchester City in Porto a match Chelsea won 1-0 as he lifted the trophy as captain. Studying provided a necessary mental break from the intense pressure surrounding the fixture.
“Having my studies also helped me focus and improve myself away from football,” Azpilicueta stated.
Now retired after additional stints with Atlético Madrid and Sevilla, Azpilicueta views education as valuable well beyond retirement preparation.
“It’s not only about preparing for life after football,” he said. “It’s about becoming a better version of yourself in your football career as well.”
Former Bournemouth captain Steve Cook also utilized the program to return to formal education following his school years. Having already earned his coaching badges, Cook is taking proactive steps as he approaches the latter stages of his playing career.
While each graduate harbors distinct goals, the qualifications open pathways to becoming coaches, club executives, or sporting directors underlining the message that a career in football doesn’t end when the final whistle blows.
