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Congratulations to our new cohort of managers and coaches who this week started the prestigious 2026-27 LMA Diploma in Football Management.
The 25 strong group completed a week-long residential at the University of Liverpool marking the start of their learning journey on one of football’s leading professional and career development programmes.
Since its launch in 2002, more than 350 managers and coaches have graduated from the LMA Diploma in Football Management, which is firmly established as an industry-leading qualification, equipping football managers and coaches with vocationally relevant skills and knowledge to succeed in the game.
Throughout the week, the students took part in a series of interactive sessions hosted by industry experts covering key topics, including:
• Career Development
• Self-Awareness
• Personal Branding
• Presentation & Communication Skills
Centred around the LMA’s Personal Development model, the opening residential provided students with a series of engaging sessions led by industry experts.
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The residential began with Emeritus Professor Sue Bridgewater, who delivered a session on personal branding and marketing, helping students prepare for their first assignment and consider how they present themselves as leaders in the game.
On day two, David Slemen and Anna Edwards of Elite Performance Partners led an interactive career development workshop, covering key topics including the recruitment process, progressing from longlist to shortlist, interview preparation, and the importance of effectively communicating personal experiences and achievements. Later in the day, Sporting Executive Marc Canham offered valuable insights into the recruitment of managers and head coaches from a Sporting Director’s perspective.
Day three focused on personal growth and self-awareness, with High Performance Sports Psychologist Katie Mobed exploring the importance of understanding individual values, motivations and purpose, encouraging students to identify and articulate their own ‘why’.
The residential concluded with a session on effective presentation and communication skills delivered by broadcaster Mark Clemmit. Students were challenged to present in front of their peers, developing their confidence and ability to communicate with clarity and impact in a professional environment.
There was also the opportunity for the students to engage with LMA Members and Diploma Alumni, David Artell, Ryan Lowe and Darren Moore, who provided their expert insight into the world of football management and coaching. These contributions helped provide an informed perspective on the unique challenges that come with leadership in the modern game.
Following the residential, students will now focus on completing their first assignment before reconvening at St George’s Park in September for the first of a series of one-day masterclasses.
Stay tuned to our social media channels to follow their progress.
