At Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, a group of Premier League footballers and international stars traded their boots for mortarboards to graduate from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Business School, earning postgraduate diplomas in global football sport directorship. The 2026 cohort featured prominent names including Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi, Wycombe Wanderers defender Steve Cook, and former Spain defender Cesar Azpilicueta, challenging long-standing stereotypes about athlete education while preparing for life after playing.
The 2026 PFA Business School Graduation at Emirates Stadium
The ceremony brought together elite players who have won major honors across Europe alongside members of their extended families. He sought out former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, who now works in Qatari football, to discuss the art of scoring goals following the ceremony.
“Obviously there are stereotypes around footballers,” Dewsbury-Hall told BBC Sport. “But in every industry there are smart people and there are people who aren’t so smart. You’d be surprised how many intelligent people there are in football.”
Balancing Elite Playing Careers with Postgraduate Studies
The curriculum is specifically structured to run alongside an active professional football career, with seminars scheduled to minimize conflicts with training sessions and match days. Players study independently during their own time. Dewsbury-Hall noted that he frequently received “weird looks” from fellow travelers while reviewing course materials on an iPad during journeys home from away matches.
Awoniyi, 29, who joined Coventry City from Nottingham Forest during the summer, balances his coursework with international duty for Nigeria as they attempt to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Holding a degree in business management and an additional diploma, the striker views this latest qualification as his third. His pursuit of education fulfills a promise made to his father, Solomon, who maintained a strict approach to academics throughout his upbringing in Ilorin, Nigeria.
“I say to people I am a quiet dreamer,” Awoniyi said. “I always felt education was important. 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.”
Overcoming Adversity and Looking Beyond the Pitch
Awoniyi’s commitment to academic development runs parallel to a career marked by severe physical challenges. In May 2025, the striker suffered a life-threatening injury during a match for Nottingham Forest against Leicester City, colliding with a goalpost and rupturing an intestine. The incident required him to be placed in a medically induced coma.
Reflecting on those events, Awoniyi emphasized the importance of recognizing that life extends far beyond athletic performance. “It’s not like a 9-5 job in football. We go in and sometimes finish quite early and, although it’s challenging, I think every footballer has time in the evening for something like this business school,” he said. “Yes, football is our passion, but we are normal human beings as well and maybe that’s something the world doesn’t always see.”
Preparing Future Executives and Better Players
For former Spain international Cesar Azpilicueta, who retired from playing at the end of the previous season following stints with Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, and Sevilla, education served as a vital tool during his playing days. Azpilicueta famously studied for his MBA from Harvard University on the morning of the 2021 Champions League final, which he subsequently captained Chelsea to win 1-0 against Manchester City in Porto.
“Normally I’d have a nap after lunch if the game was later in the day, but that day it was impossible. You could hear the fans and you knew a big game was coming up. Having my studies also helped me focus and improve myself away from football,” Azpilicueta told BBC Sport, adding that the curriculum enhances on-field leadership rather than solely preparing athletes for retirement.
The PFA program features guest sessions from industry leaders such as Brighton chief executive Paul Barber, providing graduates with comprehensive insights into club operations. While many members of the 2026 cohort remain focused on their playing duties, the qualification positions them to step into future roles as coaches, executives, and sporting directors.
Frequently Asked Questions About the PFA Business School
What qualification do players earn through the PFA course?
Graduates receive a postgraduate diploma in global football sport directorship designed to prepare active and former players for executive roles within the sport.
How do footballers manage to study while playing professionally?
The program schedules seminars to minimize clashes with training sessions and matches, allowing players to complete coursework independently during their free time.
Which notable players graduated in the 2026 cohort?
The 2026 graduating class included Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Taiwo Awoniyi, Steve Cook, and Cesar Azpilicueta.
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