Kuala Lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC)’s continuous commitment to enrich the expertise of the Continent’s football leaders was further underlined with the unveiling of its latest education-based initiative – the AFC Club Management Programme (ACMP).
The 10-month, fully online offering, which comes under the AFC’s breakthrough Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE), ensures current and emerging leaders are well placed to seize opportunities and meet the challenges inherent in Asia’s rapidly changing club football environment.
In the longer term, the milestone programme will equip stakeholders with the strategic and administrative competencies required to uplift the Asian club ecosystem to greater heights.
Using their newfound capabilities, these leaders will be able to better direct the strategic, operational and cultural resources required to build resilient, high-performing clubs while focusing on innovation and social responsibility.
In launching the course, AFC General Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor John said: “The AFC Club Management Programme reflects the AFC’s enduring commitment to developing resilient, responsible and future-ready clubs. It represents not just a qualification, but a strategic investment in leadership and sustainability while ensuring that our clubs and Member Associations are at the forefront of advancing Asian club football.
“Its class-leading learning methodology and overarching approach incorporate academic frameworks, practitioner insights, peer collaboration and applied projects, enabling participants to implement immediate and practical changes within the clubs and support them in enhancing governance, financial stability and stakeholder alignment.”
The AFC Club Management Programme guides participants through all stages of a club’s journey, from history and governance to stakeholder alignment, performance, infrastructure, digital innovation and social responsibility so as to provide the right balance of sporting ambition, sustainable business practice and community impact.
Spanning 10 carefully curated modules, its pioneering curriculum blends global best practices with the distinctive realities of Asian football, enabling participants to understand the full scope of club operations and possess future-proof leadership skills.
The modules, delivered via five online live sessions each, comprise the History & Evolution of Professional Football Clubs; Governance, Ownership & Regulatory Environment; Stakeholders & Relationship Management; Leadership, Culture & Strategic Alignment; High-Performance Club Functions; Financial Governance & Sustainability; Income Generation; Communication, Corporate Affairs & Brand Engagement; Innovation & Digital Growth; and Clubs, Community and Social Responsibility.
Each Member Association, Regional Association, league and club may nominate Presidents, Chairpersons, Board Directors, General Secretaries, Chief Executives, Department Heads and high-potential Managers for the AFC Club Management Programme.
It also welcomes independent applicants who have graduated from any of the following programmes - the AFC Football Management Certificate (FMC), AFC Football Management Diploma (FMD), AFC Certificate in Football Leadership (ACFL) and AFC Empowering Women in Football Programme (AEWFP) – all of which are offered under the Academic Centre of Excellence.
Applications will be evaluated thoroughly by the AFC, who will also conduct online interviews to assess the worthiness of candidates.
For more information on the AFC Club Management Programme, please visit link.