Sports directors in Argentina, graduates of the diploma course created by the Argentinean union and FIFPRO South America

• As of this year, all sporting directors working in the first and second divisions of Argentinean football must be graduates of the Diploma for Sporting Directors, organised by Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados, and have their Pro Licence
• The diploma course is part of the ambitious educational project carried out by FIFPRO South America
• Sergio Marchi, president of FIFPRO, FIFPRO South America and secretary general of FAA: "It is a professional tool to insert ourselves in the industry"

The start of the 2026 Argentinean first division in January brought with it a historic novelty: all sporting directors working at participating clubs must have a university diploma in sport management and a Pro Licence that formally qualifies them to hold the position.

Both the diploma course and the licence, organised locally by Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados (FAA), in conjunction with the University of Tres de Febrero, are part of the ambitious educational project carried out by FIFPRO South America, in which footballers and ex-footballers are trained free of charge to provide them with knowledge tools during their sporting career and job placement for life after retirement.

Thanks to FAA's agreement with the Argentinean Football Association (AFA), reached in June 2025, the requirement of this diploma and the Pro Licence to hold the position of sporting director is mandatory as of this year for clubs in the Professional League and Primera Nacional B (Argentina's second division), and from 2027 for teams in the First Division of Women's Professional Football and other promoted categories of men's football.

"In 2020 we thought we had to work on something outside of technical direction or sports management. And the idea of the diploma course was born," said Sergio Marchi, president of FIFPRO, FIFPRO South America and secretary general of FAA, during the graduation event of the first generation of official graduates, held last December.

"We did it with love and a lot of hope to be able to insert a lot of footballers and ex-footballers who sometimes ask themselves 'what can I do, but I don't know what I can do'. And we started to spread the project by word of mouth, to say that this was the way to incorporate knowledge and to have a professional tool to enter the industry.

The diploma course was created in 2021 and has already trained more than 300 footballers and former footballers from South America. Today, the division's educational options also include a diploma in Sports Coaching and courses in Sports Consultancy, Scouting, Video Analysis, languages and more.

Nicolas Burdisso, former Inter Milan and Argentina national team player, is the academic director of the diploma course. Pablo Burtovoy is the executive director.

The word of footballers and ex-football players

"The diploma gave me a lot of experience, a lot of knowledge and prepared me in a better way. There is no doubt that I am much better prepared than I would have been if I hadn't taken the diploma course.
Sebastian Saja, former footballer and sporting director of Racing de Avellaneda.

"The education we were given was of quality, with impressive exponents. I was still at the end of my career, with the uncertainty of what I wanted to do. Undoubtedly it has to do with and is related to football, but the management and organisation of clubs is something very exciting".
Carlos Izquierdoz, Lanus footballer.

"This diploma is very important for us. It makes us grow and makes us learn.
Alejandro "Chori" Domínguez, former Argentine footballer.

"I think it's a very nice thing for the ex-footballers, for the sport. It is a great opportunity, even for work, for so many ex-players so I feel privileged".
Fernando Cavenaghi, former footballer and sporting director of Racing (Uruguay).

"It is a very important kick-start for ex-players once we take this step [of leaving a football career].
Mariano Andujar, former footballer and sporting director of Banfield in 2025.