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The AFC Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE) is an education initiative aimed at developing the skill sets and expertise of the future “ACE” leaders of Asian football.

As a starting point, the AFC ACE offers two international level courses the AFC Football Management Certificate (FMC) the AFC Football Management Diploma (FMD)

You will be able to apply by submitting the application form and all the necessary supporting documents (CV, a copy of your passport, and copies of your education certificates) to academy@the-afc.com email address when the subsequent editions are open for application. To know when the applications open, check the programme's page on our website.

Not a penny. Everything available from AFC ACE is absolutely FREE as of now.

The FMC is designed to assist in developing a set of skills specific to football aimed at the junior management of the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs), Regional Associations (RAs), football stakeholders and independent applicants. Each Member Association (MA), Regional Association (RA) and AFC Stakeholder is entitled to nominate staff members to participate in the AFC Football Management Certificate. They should hold a permanent position (full-time for at least a year) within the MA, RA, league, club or at other AFC stakeholders; Independent applications for those working in or connected to the football or sports industry; Independent applicant who is passionate about football; Fluent command of English (written and spoken); Fundamental knowledge of football operations; Has not completed a similar education programme in football including sports business and management programmes in the past; and Highly motivated and dedicated.

The FMD is designed to help develop a set of skills specific to football aimed at middle management, future senior management and/or higher management of the AFC’s Member Associations (MAs), Regional Associations (RAs), football stakeholders and independent applicants. Each Member Association (MA), Regional Association (RA) and Stakeholder is entitled to nominate staff members to participate in the AFC Football Management Diploma. They should hold a permanent position (full time for at least three and a half years) within the MA, RA, league, club or at other AFC football stakeholders and middle/higher/future senior management level in leading positions; Independent applicant who is working in or connected to the football or sports industry with at least three and a half years’ experience and in a middle/high/future senior management level; Independent applicant who is passionate about football and in a middle/high/future senior management level; Since the AFC Football Management Diploma is a build-up from the AFC Football Management Certificate, graduates of the AFC Football Management Certificate (at beginner/junior management levels) are welcome to ultimately continue their educational pathway with the AFC Football Management Diploma; Fluent command of English (written and spoken); Fundamental knowledge of football management; Has not completed any other similar education programme in football including sports business and management programmes in the past; and Highly motivated and dedicated.

You are most welcome to apply. Our programmes have open seats for independent participants from around the globe which is equal to 20% of total numbers for each edition.

There's no limit to how much you can grow with our programmes! You'll discover insightful modules which include the Organisation of World Football International Sports Federations Strategic Management Financial Management Income Generation Media and Communications Event Management Operational Management Human Resource Management Child Safeguarding Social Responsibility Sports Law Club Licensing

Both the FMC and FMD are designed in partnership with the AFC’s academic partner – the Football Business Academy (FBA) based in Switzerland. All modules will be delivered by some of the most renowned experts in world football.

The FMC will be held over five (5) months and comprises five (5) live sessions (online) over five (5) days (depending on the module complexity). Sessions start at 15:00 Malaysian time (GMT+8) and last two (2) hours each day. The total anticipated study time for each participant in this course is approximately 290 hours.

The FMD will be held over 13 months and comprises ten (10) live sessions (online) over ten (10) days (depending on the module complexity). Sessions start at 15:00 Malaysian time (GMT+8) and last two (2) hours each day. The total anticipated study time for each participant in this course is approximately 460 hours.

Both programmes are open for everyone to apply. However, the enrolment for the programmes in either FMD or FMC depends on the interview session and the evaluation.

There is no time interval.

All Modules and Sessions are conducted online. You can watch videos, read materials, participate in the live sessions and learn more about Football Management from anywhere.

Hard copy of your Certificate will be couriered to you once you have successfully completed the programme.

If 5 Live Sessions have been missed, participant will be unenrolled in the programme.

Module Structure: Pre-reading materials; Online Quiz; Live Session - Lecture and Discussion; Live Session - Group Assessment; Live Session - Presentation; Student Business Project - For FMC only.

Pre-live session MCQ - 15%; Group Assessments - 30%; Attendance (Live Session) - 7.5%; Class Participation (Live Session) - 7.5%; Final Exam - 40%; TOTAL - 100%

AFC ACE programmes are delivered in English as of now. Pre-recorded videos have English subtitles.