UEFA Pro License
Encyclopedia
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
ing licence from UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
(the governing body of association football in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
). The UEFA Pro Licence is the final coaching qualification available, and follows the completion of the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
'B' and 'A' Licences.
A UEFA Pro Licence is required by anyone who wishes to manage a football club in the top level of the nation's league system on a permanent basis (i.e. more than 12 weeks – the amount of time an unqualified caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
is allowed to take control). This applies to both the head coach or team manager, and such a licence is also required to manage in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
or UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
.
Each current manager of a top-flight team in Europe was set a deadline of 2010 to acquire the licence, or else face losing his post.
Course
The course contains workshops involving topics from fitness to injury prevention and player agents to transfer protocols. There are three levels of progression, with each focusing on more in-depth detail. After each section applicants must take a written exam from a number of topics and successfully conduct a supervised training session.Managerial heavyweights such as Sir Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....
, Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
and Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello
Fabio Capello is an Italian football manager and former player. He is the manager of the England national football team.Capello has the distinction of winning the domestic league title with every club he has coached throughout his career...
have lent their experience to course students over the years.
Although the Football Association has granted a few extensions, all current managers have until 2010. It was introduced following agreement between the Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
, Professional Footballers Association and League Managers Association
League Managers Association
The League Managers Association is the organisation which collectively represents all Premiership and Football League managers in English football...
in 2000 to bring England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
into line with UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
regulations.
In 2003, the Premier League chairmen agreed to making the qualification a mandatory requirement to manage at the top level in England.
Qualification
Following an induction period, those wishing to qualify for the Pro-Licence need to undergo a year-long course which involves around 240 hours of study combining a mixture of distance learning, online learning and conference calls. Once this has been successfully completed there is a residential study week at University of WarwickUniversity of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
.
Other managerial qualifications
The UEFA Pro Licence is the final qualification and follows the completion of the UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
'B' and 'A' Licences.
In 2003, an FA Coaching Diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
was awarded to all coaches who had at least 10 years experience of being a manager or head coach or who had attended that summer's Diploma Course.
Challenges to regulations
In 2006, Newcastle UnitedNewcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
was granted a two-week extension to the 12-week restriction to allow Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Victor Roeder is an English football manager and former player, most recently in charge at Norwich City. As a player, Roeder represented England B on 7 occasions...
to continue as their caretaker manager
Caretaker manager
In association football, a caretaker manager is someone who takes temporary charge of the management of a football club, usually when the regular manager is dismissed or leaves for a different club. However, a caretaker may also be appointed if the regular manager is ill or unable to attend to his...
until the end of the season despite him not holding a Pro Licence. He had enrolled in 2003 but, due to ill health, had to drop out without completing the course. In early May 2006 Freddy Shepherd
Freddy Shepherd
Freddy Shepherd , is an English businessman and the former chairman of Newcastle United football club.During his time at Newcastle, both as an active assistant to and later replacement of Sir John Hall as chairman for ten years, Shepherd proved an often outspoken and controversial figure, at times...
, the Newcastle United chairman made it clear that, after a successful run as caretaker, the Newcastle board wanted to appoint Roeder as their full-time permanent manager. Shepherd asked the FA Premier League if they would waive their rule and the two-week extension could be continued for a further season, during which time Roeder would complete the Pro Licence. The FA stated that this would have to be put to a vote of all the Premier League clubs. On 11 May 2006 Newcastle announced that the other Premier League clubs were in agreement and that they would be introducing Roeder as their new manager the following week.
In June 2006, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough F.C.
Middlesbrough Football Club , also known as Boro, are an English football club based in Middlesbrough, who play in the Football League Championship. Formed in 1876, they have played at the Riverside Stadium since August 1995, their third ground since turning professional in 1889...
appointed Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate in Crawley, West Sussex is a retired English footballer and ex-manager. He is known as the "Penalty Misser of '96." He served as manager of Middlesbrough from June 2006, until he was dismissed in October 2009...
to be their new manager despite his lack of a UEFA Pro Licence. The club, and Southgate, said that he has been unable to gain the qualification in previous summers due to involvement with England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and was hampered, in 2006, by Middlesbrough's success in getting to the final of the UEFA Cup. They also quote the Newcastle/Glenn Roeder situation as having set a precedent though Southgate made it clear he will study for the qualification as soon as possible. In November 2006, he was given special dispensation to remain in charge of Middlesbrough until the end of the season.
In September 2007, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
appointed Avram Grant as manager. His previous role was Director of Football at the club. Grant did not hold the UEFA Pro Licence required by the Premier League to manage a club in England or by UEFA to manage a club participating in European competitions.
In June 2008, Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
appointed Paul Ince
Paul Ince
Paul Emerson Carlyle Ince is an English football manager and a former professional player. He has managed Blackburn Rovers, Milton Keynes Dons and Macclesfield Town...
as manager, with UEFA allowing him to take the role despite having gained neither the UEFA Pro Licence nor the lesser UEFA B Licence, but "giving him two years' grace to earn the necessary qualifications".
External links
- UEFA
- What is a Uefa Pro Licence? BBC Sport, 23 June 2008
- How does the coaching badge system work? Telegraph, 5 December 2005
- Uefa licences - has anyone actually failed the exam? The Guardian, 14 December 2005