General information
- Qualification: Official Executive Programme in Executive Program in Sports Strategy & Global Growth Certificate, issued by using blockchain technology to guarantee the authenticity and integrity of the certificate.
- Duration: 54 hours total : 24 hours online + 30 hours face-to-face
- Start: March 2026
- Schedule:
Online (M1-M4):
Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
M1 - Week 2 March
M2 - Week 16 March
M3 - Week 6 April
M4 - Week 20 April
-
In-person (M5):
M5 - 4, 5, and 6 May 2026 on campus
In-person sessions run from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (3 days, 30 hours total), with a two-hour break including meals. - Modality: Hybrid: 4 weeks online + 3 full-time days in person
- Language: English
- Price: € 9,000 (€ 500 Enrollment Fee + € 8,500 Tuition Fee + € 30 Registration Fee - The Registration fee is nonrefundable). Fees for the academic year 2025.-26
- Payment methods: Possibility of installment payments.
- Enrollment: Registration open until the start of the programme. Limited seats available.
The program may be subject to change.
The institution reserves the right to cancel the edition of the program if it does not meet the minimum number of students.
Introduction
Johan Cruyff Institute and ESADE bring together world-class expertise in management and sports leadership. Their combined strengths ensure a rigorous, innovative, and industry-relevant learning experience that empowers professionals to drive the growth of sports organizations today while preparing for future challenges.
This executive degree offers a unique opportunity for professionals in the sports industry or other industries related to sport to enhance their leadership and strategic management capabilities, ensuring they are equipped to drive the growth of sports organizations today while preparing for future industry challenges.
Participants will not only gain in-depth expertise in strategic decision-making and organizational leadership but will also engage with industry experts, fostering valuable connections that bridge knowledge and practice.
Additionally, the program provides sports professionals transitioning from their athletic careers with the essential business expertise, leadership skills, and industry network needed to successfully establish and grow their own ventures in the sports industry. Through a dynamic and immersive learning experience, this degree empowers participants to become key players in shaping the future of the sports business landscape.
Objectives
STAY AHEAD
Gain a comprehensive view of the global sports industry, its market trends, key players, and evolving business models. Explore how innovation and sustainability are reshaping the competitive landscape.
INNOVATING SPORTS
Discover how technology and entrepreneurship create new opportunities in sports. Looking for new business opportunities for growing.
DRIVING SUCCESS IN SPORTS
Master strategic planning, leadership, and decision-making to effectively manage sports organizations. Learn how to enhance efficiency, drive financial sustainability, and lead successful teams in a fast-changing industry, with a special focus on financial models that support growth strategies.
EXPANDING SPORTS GLOBALLY
Learn how to scale organizations and develop strong partnerships. Understand how sports organizations leverage sponsorships, expand their global reach, and build sustainable business models for long-term success. Internationalization and new business opportunities.
Aimed at
This executive degree is designed for two key profiles within the sports industry:
- Experienced professionals or mid-level managers (including C-level executives and Area Directors) working in the sports industry or related fields such as sponsorship and sports event management. These professionals seek to enhance their strategic management expertise and leadership capabilities. They aim to drive sustainable growth in today’s sports organizations while preparing for future industry challenges. By developing advanced decision-making skills and engaging with industry experts, they gain the tools needed to navigate an evolving sports business landscape effectively.
- Sports professionals transitioning from their athletic careers who aspire to enter the business side of sports. This program equips them with strategic business expertise—both theoretical and practical—along with leadership skills and valuable industry connections. Through an immersive learning experience, they bridge their competitive mindset with the essential management competencies required to thrive in the sports industry.
This program empowers both profiles to become key drivers of growth and innovation, ensuring they are prepared to lead, adapt, and create a lasting impact in the sports business world.
Program
This executive degree is structured into four key modules plus a final case challenge, ensuring a comprehensive, forward-thinking approach to sports management. The content integrates strategic planning and leadership, innovation, and industry-specific challenges, reflecting the expertise of the partnering institutions.
The 54-hour programme features expert-led sessions, dynamic group activities, and networking opportunities. Participants will work on a real-world Case Challenge and present their strategic solutions to a panel of experts on the final day.
Where are you playing? (Understanding the industry & key trends)
Webinars of 2 hours each one:
S1 – Mapping the global sports industry
- Understand the structure and segments of the global sports industry.
- Identify key stakeholders and market players.
- Recognize different business models within the sports ecosystem.
S2 – Key trends shaping the industry
- Identify and evaluate emerging trends in the sports industry.
- Understand the impact of innovation on sports.
- Recognize how sustainability initiatives are influencing strategy.
S3 – The evolving competitive landscape
- Analyse how trends and innovation are reshaping competition in sports.
- Apply strategic tools to assess market dynamics.
- Reflect on opportunities and challenges within your own professional context.
How to play? (Building a winning strategy & operational excellence)Webinars of 2 hours each one:
S1 – Strategic thinking in sports management
- Understand core concepts of strategy in the sports context.
- Learn to set objectives and align resources effectively.
- Apply strategic frameworks to real-life sports scenarios.
S2 – Operational excellence & financial sustainability
- Understand the link between operations and strategy.
- Learn how to manage resources and processes for efficiency.
- Explore key concepts of financial management in sports.
S3 – Leadership & decision-making in a fast-changing industry
- Strengthen leadership and decision-making skills for sports executives.
- Understand how to lead diverse and high-performing teams.
- Build resilience and agility in dynamic environments.
How to win? (Innovation, technology & leadership in sports)Webinars of 2 hours each one:
S1 – Driving innovation & creativity in sports
- Understand the role of innovation and creativity in sports organizations.
- Identify methods to foster an innovation culture.
- Explore successful cases of creativity and disruptive ideas in sports.
S2 – Digital transformation & emerging technologies
- Explore how digital transformation is reshaping the sports landscape.
- Analyze key technologies (AI, blockchain, AR/VR, IoT, etc.) influencing sports.
- Understand data-driven strategies for performance and fan engagement.
S3 – Entrepreneurship & leading change in sport
- Understand how entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship create new ventures and revenue streams in sports.
- Learn how to lead innovation projects and manage change.
- Explore how sports clubs and organizations are becoming startup incubators.
How to succeed in the future? (Growth strategies & strategic partnerships) Webinars of 2 hours each one:
S1 – Growth & global expansion strategies
- Understand different growth strategies available to sports organizations.
- Learn how to internationalize and expand into new markets.
- Identify success factors in scaling operations sustainably.
S2 – Strategic partnerships for business growth
- Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships for business growth.
- Understand the evolving role of sponsorships and brand collaborations.
- Explore co-creation and value-sharing approaches in partnerships.
S3 – Experiential marketing & business sustainability
- Learn how to foster long-term connections with fans.
- Understand strategies for building resilient and sustainable business models.
- Explore how fan engagement and partnerships drive business longevity.
On-campus module: Skills development & case challenge training (Barcelona, Spain) – Johan Cruyff Institute and Esade Campus – Barcelona30 hours total, including 2 hours of experiential learning each day and social events
During this intensive three-day on-campus experience, participants will advance their sport management capabilities through hands-on training, guided workshops, experiential learning, and team collaboration.
Learning model
LEARNING APPROACH: AN ENGAGING, TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY
This executive program is designed around a three-dimensional learning framework that delivers an engaging and action-oriented development journey:
EXPLORE
Expand your perspective through high-impact sessions led by thought leaders, uncovering emerging trends and long-term strategic insights.
CONNECT
Engage in interactive dialogues, case explorations, and peer-to-peer exchanges that unlock shared knowledge and collective expertise.
IMPLEMENT
Turn ideas into action through immersive labs, scenario-based challenges, and applied strategic exercises.
A FRAMEWORK BUILT FOR REAL-WORLD RELEVANCE
This integrated approach ensures participants not only deepen their strategic acumen but also sharpen their leadership mindset and operational agility—key capabilities to lead and evolve sports organizations in today’s fast-moving environment and beyond.
By combining ESADE’s strategic management and leadership excellence with the sports industry expertise of Johan Cruyff Institute, this executive degree offers an unparalleled learning experience. Participants benefit from a holistic approach that blends business acumen, leadership development, innovation, and hands-on industry insights, making it the most complete and future-ready program for professionals in the sports industry.
- ESADE’s leadership in business strategy and innovation ensures a world-class management perspective tailored to sports.
- Johan Cruyff Institute’s expertise in sports management provides deep industry knowledge, practical insights, and networking opportunities.
- A hands-on, executive-level approach that blends theory, practice, and real-world application to create future-ready sports leaders in high-growth companies.
Faculty
The teaching team for this program combines experienced educators with active professionals from the sports sector, who are experts in their fields and connected to sports institutions and organizations.
The program also includes in-person sessions, company visits, and learning spaces led by top professionals, aimed at adding value, fostering real connections, and enriching your education from a practical, up-to-date perspective.
EXPERT PROFESSIONALS
Throughout the program, you will engage with top-tier professionals who share not only their knowledge but also their real-world experience managing clubs, events, sponsorships, innovation, and other key areas of the sports sector. Each edition includes professionals who are national and international trendsetters, providing a strategic and current perspective rooted in the real world of sports.
ACADEMIC DIRECTORS
Prof. Dra. Ivana Casaburi
Ivana Casaburi is Academic Director at Esade, where she leads the academic design and development of executive programmes. She is currently co-responsible for this new programme developed in collaboration with Johan Cruyff Institute, which explores the intersection of sport, strategy, and sustainability.
Prof. Víctor Jordán Vallverdú
Víctor Jordán is the Academic Director at Johan Cruyff Institute, where he leads the academic management and development of online, blended, and on-campus programs in sport management. He has been a member of the management team at Johan Cruyff Institute for over 13 years, overseeing the brand, programs, and—most importantly—the legacy of Johan Cruyff.
Student services
LEARNING 3.0
Diverse learning environments and technologies.
WORLD-CLASS FACULTY
Access to expert teachers and active industry professionals.
COLLABORATIVE TOOLS, TEAMWORK, COMMUNICATION, AND DEBATE
Develop essential soft skills through active participation, shared projects, and constructive dialogue.
SPORTS-INDUSTRY ORIENTED
Bringing education closer to the realities of the sports business.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Designed to support professional growth.
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