Ignacio Mas Bagà, director of the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona, reveals the specializations in demand in the football industry in order to advance in its professionalization
On September 21, the third edition of the Master in Football Business in partnership with FC Barcelona will begin under the direction of Ignacio Mas-Bagà. The CEO of Girona FC since 2015 joins the structure of the Johan Cruyff Institute to lead the program, which presents new content adapted to the situation of such a far-reaching industry that is constantly being updated and that needs more and more specialized professionals to manage it. Ignacio Mas-Bagà is very sure of the specializations in demand in the football industry and the three areas that, right now, have more weight when it comes to making a difference in the management of a football club.
Finance
“It’s very important to understand the finance and the regulations of each country, of each league. It’s crucial to understand the numbers of this business because it makes the difference. Depending on how you manage the finance, you will be able to sign a better player or not,” says the CEO.
Content marketing
Another area that clubs, companies and entities linked to the football business need to strengthen is the marketing and communication department. “It is also important to have knowledge in content marketing because you have to innovate, create more appealing content than your competitors.”
Digital innovation
And then finally, innovation and digitalization. “I think it’s crucial, not only for the business side, but also for the technical area because we all work with data. And if you manage the data well it makes a difference.”
Regarding the incorporation of new generations of managers in the football industry, Mas-Bagà considers that “it’s very important for young people to enter in this business because it will professionalize it. At the end of the day, it’s an industry, a business, because we manage clubs as a business. That’s why this kind of master’s degree has helped professionals to understand the industry, because it’s true that it’s different and it has different elements that you should understand and learn before entering into this business, because then you will be better prepared.”
