These men and women have all been awarded an executive master’s degree by the University of Limoges (60 ECTS credits) in 2017, and are now looking to use their newly-acquired skills beyond the football pitch.
Class of 2017
Éric
ABIDAL
Graduates > Class of 2017
Éric ABIDAL
Work History
+
Consultant, beIN Sports;
Marketing and sponsoring, Olympiacos Foundation;
President, Éric Abidal Foundation
Football Career
+
Played for AS Lyon-Duchère, AS Monaco FC, Lille OSC, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Barcelona and Olympiacos FC;
67 caps for the French national team;
UEFA Champions League winner, 2009 and 2011; UEFA Super Cup winner, 2009 and 2011; FIFA Club World Cup winner, 2009 and 2011; three-time French league winner; four-time Spanish league winner; Greek league winner; two-time Spanish Cup winner; Greek Cup winner; part of the 2007 UEFA Team of the Year.
Languages
+
French
English
Spanish
Kiki
BONED
Graduates > Class of 2017
Kiki BONED
Work History
+
Director, Olimpic Club sports centre, Murcia
Languages
+
Spanish
English
Education
+
Currently studying for:
Diploma in business studies, University of Murcia;
Advanced sports technician higher level, with a specialization in futsal;
Master’s degree in sports management, Spanish Olympic Committee;
Advanced qualification in leadership and team management.
Other Activities
+
Given various presentations for international companies
Contributed to publications on sport and business
Keld
BORDINGGAARD
Graduates > Class of 2017
Keld BORDINGGAARD
Work History
+
Assistant coach, 1. FSV Mainz 05, Germany;
Head coach, Silkeborg IF;
Head coach, Danish Under-21s;
Head of the A+ project (a player development programme supported by the Danish FA);
Assistant coach, Danish senior team;
Head coach, Vejle BK;
Assistant coach, Vejle BK;
TV consultant.
Football Career
+
Played for Silkeborg IF, Odense BK, Vejle BK, Panionios GSS and Wichita Wings;
4 caps for the Danish senior team;
Winner of the Claus Rode Award, an award given to people whose work has developed, inspired or in other ways improved Danish football.
Languages
+
Danish
English
German
Education
+
UEFA Pro licence;
Bachelor’s degree in scientific physical education, University of Southern Denmark (in progress).
Other Activities
+
Project development for the national football centre in Denmark.
Balima
BOUREIMA
Graduates > Class of 2017
Balima BOUREIMA
Work History
+
General Secretary, Burkina Faso Football Federation;
Technical inspector, deputy chief executive’s office, postal service, Burkina Faso;
Advisor, Burkinabe embassy, Washington DC;
Attaché, Burkinabe embassy, Accra;
Manager, national postal service office, Burkina Faso;
Member of the Burkinabe national assembly;
Second vice-president of the Afro-Arab parliament in Syria.
Football Career
+
Played for Etoile Filante de Ouagadougou;
52 caps for the Burkinabe national team;
As a player: three-time Burkinabe national champion; three-time Burkinabe Cup winner; Burkinabé SuperCup winner;
As a coach: four-time Burkinabe national champion, two-time Burkinabe Cup winner.
Languages
+
French
English
More
Hausa
Ashanti
Education
+
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a specialization in human resources, University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC;
Training on innovation and postal services, Ecole des Postes de Rotterdam;
Coaching diploma, FUTURO II;
Inspector of postal services and financial resources diploma, Ecole Nationale des Postes et Télécommunications, Paris
Bruno
CHEYROU
Graduates > Class of 2017
Bruno CHEYROU
Work History
+
Sporting Director, PSG Women;
Football consultant, BeIN Sports;
Sport director, FC Nantes.
Football Career
+
Played for FC Nantes, Anorthosis Famagousta FC, Stade Rennais FC, FC Girondins de Bordeaux, Olympique de Marseille, Liverpool FC, Lille OSC and RC Lens;
Three caps for the French national team;
Two-time French league winner
Languages
+
French
English
Spanish
Italian
Education
+
University diploma to become a general manager in sports organisations, Centre for the Law and Economics of Sport, Limoges;
BTEC Higher National Diploma in marketing.
Nikos
DABIZAS
Graduates > Class of 2017
Nikos DABIZAS
Work History
+
Sporting director, Panathinaikos FC.
Football Career
+
Played for Pontioi Verias, Olympiacos FC, Newcastle United FC, Leicester City FC and AEL Limassol FC;
70 caps for the Greek national team;
UEFA EURO 2004 winner; two-time Greek national champion; Greek Cup winner.
Languages
+
Greek
English
Education
+
UEFA Pro licence
Nuno
GOMES
Graduates > Class of 2017
Nuno GOMES
Work History
+
International advisor to the president of SL Benfica.
Football Career
+
Played for Amarante FC, Boavista FC, SL Benfica, ACF Fiorentina, SC Braga and Blackburn Rovers FC;
79 caps for the Portuguese national team;
Played in the 2002 FIFA World Cup; 2006 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist; UEFA EURO 2000 semi-finalist; UEFA EURO 2004 runner-up; played in UEFA EURO 2008; played in the 1996 Olympic Games; two-time Portuguese national champion; two-time Portuguese Cup winner; three-time League Cup winner; Italian Cup winner.
Languages
+
Portuguese
English
Italian
Pierre
ISSA
Graduates > Class of 2017
Pierre ISSA
Work History
+
Football Agent for Play11;
Sport Director, Olympiacos FC.
Football Career
+
Played for Olympique de Marseille, Chelsea FC, Watford FC, Olympic Beirut, Ionikos FC and Ofi Crete FC;
55 caps for the South African national team;
Played in the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2002; played in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2000, 2002 and 2004; Lebanese premier league winner; Lebanese FA Cup winner.
Languages
+
French
English
Arabic
Christian
KAREMBEU
Graduates > Class of 2017
Christian KAREMBEU
Work History
+
Olympiacos FC
Member of the ‘Champions for Peace’ club
Football Career
+
Played for FC Nantes, UC Sampdoria, Real Madrid CF, Middlesbrough FC,
Olympiacos FC, Servette FC and SC Bastia;
53 caps for the French national team;
1998 FIFA World Cup winner; 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup winner;
UEFA EURO 2000 winner; 1998 UEFA Champions League winner;
French national champion; Greek national champion.
Languages
+
French
English
Spanish
Italian
Education
+
Educated to baccalaureate level.
Sebastian
KEHL
Graduates > Class of 2017
Sebastian KEHL
Work History
+
Executive Committee member of the German players’ union;
Football Career
+
Played for Hannover 96, SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund;
31 caps for the German national team;
2002 FIFA World Cup runner-up; third place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup; third place in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup; 2002 UEFA Cup runner-up; played in UEFA EURO 2004; 2013 UEFA Champions League runner-up; three-time German national champion; German DFB Cup winner.
Languages
+
German
English
Other Activities
+
Member of several youth soccer foundations and foundations against racism and child prostitution.
Jessica
LANDSTRÖM
Graduates > Class of 2017
Jessica LANDSTRÖM
Work History
+
Quality controller, Betongindustri AB;
Administrator, ENN Advokatbyra;
Youth coach, Hammarby IF DFF;
Train conductor, Roslagstag AB.
Football Career
+
Played for Kopparberg/Göteborg FC, Djurgardens IF, 1. FFC Frankfurt, Sky Blue FC and Hammarby IF DFF;
64 caps for the Swedish national team;
Third place in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup; played in UEFA Women’s EURO 2009; played in the 2008 Olympic Games; UEFA Women’s Champions League runner-up; Swedish national champion; German DFB Cup winner; Swedish Cup winner; voted 2009 player of the year by the Swedish elite women’s referees; voted 2008 breakthrough of the year at the Swedish Football Awards.
Languages
+
Swedish
English
German
Education
+
Master’s degree in mechanical engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology (in progress);
Course in psychology, University of Gothenburg;
Course in German, VHS Frankfurt;
Course in industrial economics, Linköping University;
Technical preparatory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology;
Coach, Swedish Football Association.
Mbo
MPENZA
Graduates > Class of 2017
Mbo MPENZA
Work History
+
Ambassador, Football Against Racism in Europe;
Honorary president of L’extrascolaire au Coeur de l’intégration;
Manager, MMP SPRL.
Football Career
+
Played for KV Kortrijk, R. Excelsior Mouscron, R. Standard de Liège, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Galatasaray AŞ, RSC Anderlecht and Larissa FC;
56 caps for the Belgian national team;
Played in the FIFA World Cup, 1998 and 2002; played in UEFA EURO 2000; Portuguese national champion; two-time Belgian national champion; Belgian Cup winner; two-time Belgian Super Cup winner.
Languages
+
French
English
Dutch
Education
+
Baccalaureate in physical education.
Patrick
MÜLLER
Graduates > Class of 2017
Patrick MÜLLER
Work History
+
Football Education Assistant, UEFA;
Operations Assistant, UEFA.
Football Career
+
Played for Servette FC, Grasshopper Club Zürich, Olympique Lyonnais, RCD Mallorca, FC Basel 1893 and AS Monaco FC;
81 caps for the Swiss national team;
Played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup; played in UEFA EURO 2004 and 2008; six-time French national champion; French Cup winner; two-time Swiss national champion.
Languages
+
French
German
English
Education
+
Diploma from the André-Chavanne business school, Geneva;
Coaching diploma for youth football, Geneva.
Geremi
NJITAP
Graduates > Class of 2017
Geremi NJITAP
Work History
+
Vice-president of Cameroon’s national footballers’ union, in charge of human resources, public relations, and direct communication with Cameroonian professional footballers;
Member of the FIFPro Technical Committee;
Member of the Executive Committee of the Cameroonian Football Association.
Football Career
+
Played for RC Bafoussam, Cerro Porteño, Gençlerbirliği SK, Real Madrid CF, Middlesbrough FC, Chelsea FC, MKE Ankaragücü and Larissa FC;
110 caps for the Cameroonian national team;
Two-time Africa Cup of Nations winner; 2000 Olympic Games gold medallist; two-time UEFA Champions League winner; three-time English national champion; Spanish national champion; Cameroonian premier league winner; English League Cup winner; FA Cup winner; FA Community Shield winner; Spanish Super Cup winner; Cameroonian Cup winner; nominated for the 2000 FIFA Ballon d’Or.
Languages
+
French
English
Spanish
Viola
ODEBRECHT
Graduates > Class of 2017
Viola ODEBRECHT
Work History
+
Administrator, VfL Wolfsburg;
Tutor, the European Sports Academy, Brandenburg;
Sales and marketing assistant, Hyapur Deutschland GmbH;
Internship with the Social Democratic Party of Germany;
Internship with the German association for disabled sport.
Football Career
+
Played for VfL Wolfsburg, 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam, SC 07 Bad Neuenahr, FCR 2001 Duisburg, Valur Reykjavík, Florida State University and SV Nagema Neubrandenburg;
49 caps for the German national team;
2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner; third place at the 2004 Olympic Games; four-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner; seven-time German national champion; Icelandic national champion; four-time German Cup winner.
Languages
+
German
English
Education
+
Diploma in sports science (main focus on sports economics and marketing), German Sport University Cologne.
Raí
OLIVEIRA
Graduates > Class of 2017
Raí OLIVEIRA
Work History
+
Founder and president, Gol de Letra foundation;
Founder and vice-president, Atletas Pelo Brasil;
Founder and partner, Raí+Velasco;
Training and education manager, São Paulo FC.
Football Career
+
Played for Botafogo FC, São Paulo FC, and Paris Saint-Germain;
51 caps for the Brazilian national team;
1994 FIFA World Cup winner; 1996 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup winner; Copa Libertadores winner in 1992 and 1993; 1992 Intercontinental Cup winner; French national champion; Brazilian league winner; five-time São Paulo state league winner; two-time French Cup winner; two-time French League Cup winner; 1992 South American footballer of the year; winner at the 2012 Laureus World Sports Awards; captain of the Brazilian national team.
Languages
+
Portuguese
French
English
Spanish
Education
+
First year of a bachelor’s degree in history, Barão de Mauá University;
First year of a bachelor’s degree in physical education, UNAERP University;
FA International Coaching Licence course;
Various short-term philosophy courses.
Other Activities
+
Given more than 150 lectures on subjects including leadership, motivation, how to manage conflicts and work atmosphere;
Written various publications, including two football books and one children’s fiction book.
Juninho
PERNAMBUCANO
Graduates > Class of 2017
Juninho PERNAMBUCANO
Work History
+
Consultant, Globo TV, Brazil
Football Career
+
Played for Sport Club do Recife, CR Vasco da Gama, Olympique Lyonnais, Al Gharafa SC, and New York Red Bulls;
44 caps for the Brazilian national team;
2005 FIFA Confederations Cup winner; seven-time French national champion; French Cup winner; French Champions’ Trophy winner.
Languages
+
Portuguese
English
French
Spanish
Bianca
RECH
Graduates > Class of 2017
Bianca RECH
Work History
+
Team management, 1. FC Köln GmbH & Co. KGaA;
Head of administration, FC Viktoria Köln 1904 e.V.;
Assistant coach, 1. FC Köln women’s team, first and second division;
Assistant general coordinator, FIFA Women’s World Cup, Canada;
Team liaison manager, Team New Zealand, FIFA Women’s World Cup, Germany;
Fitness coach and personal trainer, Just Fit GmbH & Co, Köln;
Sport soldier, German army Sportfördergruppe;
Project assistant, Proxenos GmbH;
Marketing assistant, Arena One GmbH;
Soccer camp coordinator and coach, Los Angeles.
Football Career
+
Played for 1. FC Köln, FC Bayern München, Sunnanå SK, 1. FFC Frankfurt, SC 07 Bad Neuenahr, and SG Westum Löhndorf;
20 caps for the German national team;
2002 UEFA Women’s Champions League winner; German national champion; German Cup winner.
Languages
+
German
English
Spanish
Education
+
Diploma in sports management, University of Applied Sciences, Schmalkalden;
Certificate in sports sponsoring, IST Institute, Düsseldorf;
Certificate in commercialisation and sport events, IST Institute, Düsseldorf;
Bachelor’s degree in sport facility management and operations, IST Institute, Düsseldorf;
A-level coaching licence, German Football Association.
Jason
ROBERTS
Graduates > Class of 2017
Jason ROBERTS
Work History
+
Founder and chairman, Jason Roberts Foundation;
Founding member, Get on Board course;
Founding member, Sports People’s Think Tank;
Committee member, Professional Footballers’ Association Management Committee;
Panel member, BBC Sports Personality of the Year;
Advisor, BBC Diversity Committee;
Leader of media outlets and presenter for BBC Sport’s Match of the Day, World Have Your Say and BBC Radio 5 live’s 606 football phone-in.
Jason is currently the Director of Development for CONCACAF.
Football Career
+
Played for Hayes FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, Torquay United FC, Bristol City FC, Blackburn Rovers FC, West Bromwich Albion FC, Portsmouth FC, Wigan Athletic FC and Reading FC;
16 caps for the Grenada national team;
2012 English national championship winner.
Languages
+
English
Education
+
An introduction to business studies, Open University, UK;
Corporate governance qualification, Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners.
Other Activities
+
Invited attendee, FIFA Task Force against Racism and Discrimination.
Simon
ROLFES
Graduates > Class of 2017
Simon ROLFES
Work History
+
Chairman, Real Estate Company Olympia Buildings AG;
Founder, partner and CEO, S. Rolfes & M. Elsässer GmbH;
Member of the economic advisory board of the Mittelrhein football association;
Member of the Players‘ Committee of the German players‘ union.
Football Career
+
Played for SV Werder Bremen, SSV Reutlingen, TSV Alemmania Aachen and Bayer 04 Leverkusen;
26 caps for the German national team;
UEFA EURO 2008 runner-up; German national championship runner-up; German Cup runner-up; captain of Bayer 04 Leverkusen for seven years.
Languages
+
German
English
Spanish
French
Latin
Education
+
Master’s degree in sports management, University of Applied Sciences, Koblenz (in progress).
Other Activities
+
Given more than 150 lectures on subjects including leadership, motivation, how to manage conflicts and work atmosphere;
Written various publications, including two football books and one children’s fiction book.
Dan
ROMANN
Graduates > Class of 2017
Dan ROMANN
Work History
+
Assistant coach and analyst for the Under-19 squad, Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Football Career
+
Played for Hapoel Jerusalem FC, Hakoah Maccabi Amidor Ramat Gan, Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC, Maccabi Petah-Tikva FC, Hapoel Ramat Gan FC, SC Veendam, Beitar Tel-Aviv Ramla FC and Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem FC; Toto Cup winner.
Languages
+
Hebrew
English
Dutch
French
Education
+
Bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology, combined with a general degree in humanities, Tel Aviv University;
Master’s degree in humanities, Tel Aviv University (in progress);
UEFA B diploma, Israel Football Association;
UEFA A diploma, Israel Football Association (in progress).
Other Activities
+
Co-founder and voluntary committee member of the New Israeli Football Players Organisation.
Roberto
ROSETTI
Graduates > Class of 2017
Roberto ROSETTI
Work History
+
Project Leader – VAR, UEFA referee observer, referee coach and instructor and Referee Convention advisor;
Chairman of the Italian Serie B Referee Committee;
Chairman of the Italian Serie C Referee Committee;
Head of the refereeing department, Russian Football Union;
National advisor, Italian National Union of Kinesiology;
Technical director and head of rehabilitation, Turin;
Teacher, SUISM (University of Sports Sciences/Physical Education), Turin;
Head of public relations and marketing and communications director, San Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo hospital, Turin;
Financial consultant, Banca Fideuram.
Languages
+
Italian
French
English
Education
+
Degree in sports management, University Claude Bernard Lyon;
Degree in sports and physical sciences, SUISM, Turin;
Master’s degree in sports management and marketing, SDA Bocconi University, Milan;
Master’s degree for executives of health companies, Milan.
Refereeing Career
+
2005 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final; 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup round of 16; FIFA Under-20 World Cup, 2003 to 2009; UEFA EURO 2008 opening game and final; Three UEFA Champions League semi-finals; 2009 FIFA Club World Cup semi-final; Serie A referee, 1996 to 2010; Serie A referee of the year, 2006 to 2009; 2008 International Federation of Football History and Statistics best referee in the world.
Other Activities
+
Author of the book Nessuno parla dell’arbitro (Nobody talks about the referee).
Hannu
TIHINEN
Graduates > Class of 2017
Hannu TIHINEN
Work History
+
Technical director (head of player development), Football Association of Finland;
President of the Finnish players’ union;
Assistant director, FC Zürich.
Football Career
+
Played for Kemin Palloseura, HJK Helsinki, Viking FK, West Ham United FC, RSC Anderlecht, and FC Zürich;
76 caps for the Finnish national team;
Finnish national champion; two-time Belgian champion; two-time Swiss champion; Finnish Cup winner; Norwegian Cup winner; voted best defender in the Finnish league in 1999 and best defender in the Axpo Super League in 2009; captain of the Finnish national team.
Languages
+
Finnish
English
Swedish
German
Norwegian
French
Flemish
Education
+
UEFA A, B, C, and D licence;
Training in organization leadership, Aalto Open University, Espoo;
UEFA Certificate in Football Management, Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration, University of Lausanne.
Other Activities
+
Board member of the Finnish Olympic Committee;
Board member of the Urhea sport academy of Southern Finland;
Member of the UEFA Development and Technical Assistance Committee.
Māris
VERPAKOVSKIS
Graduates > Class of 2017
Māris VERPAKOVSKIS
Work History
+
Chairman of the board, FK Liepāja.
Football Career
+
Played for FK Liepājas, Skonto FC, FC Dynamo Kyiv, Getafe CF, HNK Hajduk Split, RC Celta de Vigo, Ergotelis FC and FC Baku;
104 caps for the Latvian national team;
Three-time Latvian national champion; Ukrainian national champion; three-time Latvian Cup winner; two-time Ukrainian Cup winner; Azerbaijani Cup winner; four-time Baltic Cup winner; 2004 Latvian sports personality of the year; 2004 FC Dynamo Kyiv player of the year; Latvian footballer of the year in 2003 and 2004; top scorer in the history of the national team.
Languages
+
Latvian
Russian
English
Spanish
Croatian
Education
+
First year of a bachelor’s degree in economics, Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration.
