The European Club Association (ECA), in collaboration with the Harvard Business School Executive Education, today announced the launch of the ECA Executive Leadership Programme at the ECA 31st General Assembly in Athens.
During her keynote speech at the General Assembly, Professor Anita Elberse, Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, announced the newly formed programme. The collaboration between ECA and Harvard Business School represents a significant milestone; combining Harvard’s world-renowned educational approach with a customised curriculum specifically designed to address the issues faced by football executives today.
The Programme will leverage industry leading insights from Harvard Business School, alongside learning from the broader sports and entertainment sectors, ensuring participants gain both practical strategies and cross-industry perspectives that are essential for excelling in top leadership roles.
ECA Chairman, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, commented on the collaboration: “We are honoured to be working with Harvard Business School on the launch of the ECA Executive Leadership Programme. At ECA, we do everything for our members. By bringing together the knowledge of the Harvard Business School with the experience of European football club leaders, I am confident the Programme will produce many ideas to help clubs, its leaders and the wider football family."
The Programme will start in September 2025, with a two-day immersive launch event at the Harvard Business School Campus in Boston, MA, USA. As part of the course, participants will take part in five virtual sessions using the Business School’s state-of-the-art Live Online Classroom. The Programme concludes with a two-day in-person session in Europe, led by Professor Elberse, focusing on hands-on learning and leadership application.
Speaking about the newly formed Programme, Professor Elberse said: “This collaboration with ECA allows us to bring Harvard's world-class educational methods to a course that is specifically tailored to the challenges of modern football leadership, enriched by insights from across the sports and entertainment sectors. We are confident that the Programme will empower participants to become even more effective leaders, driving innovation in their organisations and across the entire football ecosystem."
The Programme is targeted towards top executives and decision-makers in the football industry who are looking to elevate their leadership skills and drive innovation within their organisations. Priority for enrolling in the Programme will be given to ECA Members, ensuring exclusive access to this premium leadership opportunity.
Applications will open in November 2024 until February 2025. For more information please contact campus@ecaeurope.com.
About European Club Association (ECA)
European Club Association (ECA) is at the heart of European football. It is officially recognised by UEFA and FIFA as the sole independent body for professional European clubs, with over 700-strong membership, spanning UEFA’s 55 national associations. ECA gives a voice to every professional club, large or small, and champions the issues our members care about most. With Nasser Al-Khelaïfi as our Chairman, ECA is led by a diverse 37-member Board with representatives from clubs across Europe.
Since our inception in 2008, ECA has been committed to safeguarding, strengthening, and developing our clubs’ interests, delivering value to members through initiatives like the FIFA Club Benefit Programme and the UEFA EURO Club Benefits Programme. In 2023 ECA renewed its Memoranda of Understanding with FIFA and UEFA until 2030, guaranteeing that clubs will remain central to competition decision making and commercial matters across the European football landscape.
Through meaningful collaboration and development, ECA fosters unity between clubs and with other stakeholders from across the continent. Driven by four key pillars - representation, participation, cooperation, and service - ECA is committed to playing a constructive role in European football, strengthening every member for the benefit of all and ensuring clubs shape decision making.
