The Open University (OU) and The Football League Trust have teamed up to launch a free online short course offering an insight into the business and complexities behind the beautiful game.

The Business of Football will be available free of charge to the general public via the OU’s free learning website OpenLearn. The course draws on academic perspectives and interviews with those working in football at traditional clubs, such as Chesterfield, and new ones, such as MK Dons, with interactive resources that will be offered on a weekly basis.

Lessons will analyse how the football business has expanded to become an influential global network, how power relationships have played a part in shaping this, and what makes football truly unique from any other business.

“Parallels between business and football are often drawn through themes of commitment, motivation, team dynamics and the need for effective leadership and management,” said dean of the OU Business School Professor Rebecca Taylor.

“Our course goes one step further and looks at the business of football; a lens through which to understand the challenges and opportunities of running a commercial and international operation in a high-profile and volatile industry.”

As part of the new tie-up with The Football League Trust, the OU will also be launching a Business Management (Sport and Football) bachelors degree, in which students can apply business tactics to the global game, selecting business and sports modules to match their career ambitions.

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