How to become a football sporting director in Spain: qualification, RFEF course and alternatives
Spain's Sports Act (Ley 39/2022) does not mention the sporting director, so no state qualification requiring it is on record. The reference programme is the RFEF and URJC Curso Superior Universitario de Director Deportivo en Fútbol (university higher course for football sporting directors).
- 2027 call: in person, 1 February to 30 April 2027.
- Fee: 3,600 euros, with no scholarship available.
- Entry: a prior qualification at MECES level 3, according to the URJC.
- Places: 160, with at least 25 enrolled students for it to start.
What qualification do you need to be a football sporting director
The Ley 39/2022, de 30 de diciembre, del Deporte (Spain's Sports Act) does not mention the sporting director in its consolidated text in the BOE (the official state gazette). Its sixth final provision orders the Government to submit, within six months, a bill regulating the sports professions.
RFEF rules (the Royal Spanish Football Federation) do recognise the role. Article 104.2.i of the Reglamento de Competiciones (Competitions Regulations) includes the DD licence (Director/a Deportivo/a, sporting director), annotated "Necesario contrato y diploma federativo" (a contract and a federation diploma are required). The text does not define which diploma that is or who issues it. That wording comes from the 2025/26 season Regulations, published with RFEF Circular no. 34 (12 November 2025).
There is also a regional rule to bear in mind: Law 6/2016 of the Community of Madrid defines the Director Deportivo (art. 11) and requires (art. 17) a Grado or Licenciatura in CAFD (Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport) or, when the activity covers a single sport, the Técnico Deportivo Superior title in that sport. It is a regional rule: it applies only in the Community of Madrid.
Neither the RFEF nor the URJC presents the course as that federation diploma, or says it qualifies you for the DD licence on its own. If the licence is your goal, ask the RFEF before enrolling.
The RFEF Curso Superior Universitario de Director Deportivo en Fútbol
The Curso Superior Universitario (CSU) de Director Deportivo en Fútbol is run by La Academia RFEF together with the Centro de Estudios del Deporte (Sports Studies Centre) of Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC). In the 2027 call, the URJC presents it as an Experto en director deportivo en fútbol (expert in football sporting direction), a university own-degree programme developed in collaboration with the RFEF. It is neither an official academic degree nor a federation licence.
The 7th had more than 150 students at its start on 2 February 2026.
The 2027 call has six modules:
- Module 1: the sporting director (skills and profile).
- Module 2: institutional and human resources management.
- Module 3: legal and financial management.
- Module 4: sports planning and methodological leadership.
- Module 5: communication, marketing and new technologies.
- Module 6: the final project, a Sporting Direction Project (Proyecto de Dirección Deportiva) that brings the previous five areas together.
The 2027 call is worth 8 credits and has 80 in-person hours at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas, the RFEF headquarters, from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 15:30 to 19:30.
Next edition of the sporting director course: dates and pre-registration
The URJC listing publishes the February to April 2027 call, with pre-registration open from 1 October 2026. Compared with the 7th edition, which has already taken place, the dates and deadlines change:
| Item | 7th edition (2026) | 2027 call |
|---|---|---|
| Course dates (in person) | 2 February to 25 May 2026 | 1 February to 30 April 2027 |
| Pre-registration | 2 to 23 January 2026 | 1 October 2026 to 30 January 2027 |
| Enrolment | Not published | 1 to 30 January 2027 |
| Fee | 3,600 € | 3,600 € |
| Places and students | More than 150 students at the start | 160 places, minimum 25 enrolled |
The course only starts if at least 25 students enrol. The 2027 call details come from the URJC listing, which does not give the payment schedule or number the edition. Before enrolling, it is worth checking them against La Academia RFEF.
Fee for the RFEF sporting director course
The 2027 call costs 3,600 euros, and the URJC listing states that no scholarship is available. The 7th edition (2026) showed the same fee in the La Academia RFEF listing. The listing does not detail the payment schedule or whether the amount covers other items.
The 3,000 euro figure belongs to earlier editions. The 5th edition (29 January to 29 April 2024) cost 3,000 euros in three payments of 1,000 euros, with a 500 euro discount on the last instalment for players who had competed at national level. The 2027 listing mentions neither that discount nor the three payments.
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Entry requirements and selection criteria
According to the URJC listing (2027 call), the course is aimed at students with a prior qualification at MECES level 3. This is the requirement as the university publishes it; if you are unsure whether a specific qualification meets it, confirm with the URJC or the RFEF. There are two special cases:
- Conditional entry: anyone enrolled in a Grado or Doble Grado (bachelor's or double bachelor's degree) with at most 30 ECTS left can join, without certification until they prove the qualification.
- No university degree: exceptionally, someone who can show work experience in the field may join, but only qualifies for a university extension diploma or certificate.
If there are more applications than the 160 places, the listing sets the selection order like this:
- Graduates in Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport (CAFD, Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte) with a federation football qualification. If more than 135 applications fit this profile, the 135 with the best academic record are chosen.
- If the 160 places are not filled, the reference is a coaching qualification or experience with a Diploma Federativo level I, II or III (Básico, Avanzado or Profesional course) or UEFA B, A and PRO.
- After that, professional or academic profiles closely linked to football.
The 5th edition (2024) asked for something different: a Diploma Federativo de Entrenador UEFA C, B, A or Pro, and/or a Diploma de Entrenador de Fútbol Sala Nacional (national futsal coach diploma), and/or a federation player licence in Primera, Segunda, Primera Federación or Segunda Federación (with equivalents in futsal and women's football). Those were that call's requirements and cannot be assumed to hold in 2027.
Alternatives to the RFEF course: Universidad Europea and LALIGA masters
Two 60 ECTS masters cover football management with more credits and a longer duration than the RFEF course. Neither institution publishes the fee on the programme page.
| Programme | Institution | Credits | Duration and format | Start | Entry | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSU de Director Deportivo en Fútbol | RFEF and URJC (own-degree programme) | 8 | 80 in-person hours | February 2027 | MECES 3 qualification | 3,600 € |
| Máster en Dirección de Fútbol | Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid, Universidad Europea (own degree) | 60 ECTS | 9 months, in person in Alcobendas; an online version exists | October 2026 | One of the profiles in the list below | Not published |
| Máster en Dirección, Metodología y Análisis en el Fútbol | LALIGA Business School | 60 ECTS | 8 months, in person at LALIGA headquarters (Madrid), Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings | November 2026 | University degree or higher qualification and previous experience in the football industry | Not published |
The Universidad Europea master includes a 4 ECTS Practicum (one week plus placements at Real Madrid C.F.) and a 6 ECTS final master's project (TFM). It is taught in Spanish or English. To get in you must meet at least one of these requirements:
- A título de técnico deportivo superior en fútbol (which can be taken during the master) or at least a UEFA A / FIFA A licence.
- A graduate in Sciences of Physical Activity and Sport (CAFD), or in sports management.
- A former professional football player.
- A sporting director or youth academy director.
- Another football professional with demonstrable experience in management or player recruitment.
- Other university graduates, under the conditions detailed on the master's page.
The LALIGA master has four modules, each a university specialist course (Especialista Universitario). Module II, Dirección Deportiva en el Fútbol (sporting direction in football), runs from January to March 2027. Places are limited, and holding an official coaching licence is valued. The master's page does not name the university that issues the degree.
What to study first: degree, coaching qualification and experience
None of the three programmes sets a single degree, but each asks for or prioritises something different:
- CAFD degree: the first selection criterion for the RFEF and URJC course (with a federation football qualification) and one of the entry profiles for the Universidad Europea master.
- Sports management degree: listed among the entry profiles for the Universidad Europea master. LALIGA accepts any university degree if you add experience in the sector.
- Coaching qualification: the RFEF course uses it as its second selection reference (Diploma Federativo level I to III or UEFA B, A and PRO). The Universidad Europea master accepts a UEFA A licence or a técnico deportivo superior title, and LALIGA values it without requiring it.
- Experience: LALIGA asks for previous experience in the football industry, and the Universidad Europea admits sporting directors, youth academy directors and former professional football players.
If you have no coaching qualification, you can start with the UEFA C licence. What each qualification allows you to coach is explained in what you can coach with UEFA C, B, A and Pro, and the difference between the Técnico Deportivo and the licence is in Técnico Deportivo versus UEFA licence. If your qualification is foreign, see how to validate a coaching qualification in Spain.
Your route depending on where you start
The path depends on what you already have. These are the routes that fit:
- CAFD graduate with a federation football qualification: this is the priority profile for the RFEF and URJC course. Pre-registration for the 2027 call runs until 30 January 2027.
- Coach with UEFA A or Pro and no prior university qualification: the URJC listing asks for a prior qualification at MECES level 3, and the exceptional route without a university qualification requires work experience in the field and only gives an extension diploma or certificate. The Universidad Europea master accepts the UEFA A licence as an alternative requirement. If you already hold the UEFA A, see what you can coach with UEFA A and Pro; for the RFEF federation training, see the UEFA B&A course at the Escuela Nacional.
- You already run a youth academy or come from youth football: the Universidad Europea admits youth academy directors. For the earlier path from the touchline, see how to become a youth football coach.
- University degree and sector experience, no coaching qualification: this is the profile LALIGA asks for, and it only values a coaching licence.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a mandatory qualification to be a football sporting director?
Spain's Sports Act (Ley 39/2022) does not mention the sporting director. The RFEF Reglamento de Competiciones (2025/26 season) annotates the DD licence "Necesario contrato y diploma federativo" (a contract and a federation diploma are required) without defining that diploma. In the Community of Madrid, Law 6/2016 requires a Grado or Licenciatura in CAFD, or in a single sport the Técnico Deportivo Superior title in that sport, to work as a Director Deportivo; it is a regional rule.
How much does the RFEF sporting director course cost?
The 2027 call costs 3,600 euros, and the URJC listing states that no scholarship is available. The 7th edition (2026) showed the same fee. The 3,000 euro figure belongs to the 5th edition in 2024 and is not the current fee.
When is the next RFEF sporting director course and until when can you pre-register?
The 2027 call is in person from 1 February to 30 April 2027. Pre-registration runs from 1 October 2026 to 30 January 2027 and enrolment from 1 to 30 January 2027. It only starts with at least 25 enrolled students.
Is the RFEF sporting director course an official qualification?
No. It awards the Experto en director deportivo en fútbol title, a URJC own-degree qualification worth 8 credits in the 2027 call. It is neither an official academic degree nor a federation licence, and neither the RFEF nor the URJC presents it as the federation diploma for the DD licence.
Do you need to be a UEFA coach or a former professional player to take the course?
As an entry requirement, the URJC listing for the 2027 call asks for a prior qualification at MECES 3 level. A coaching qualification appears only as a selection criterion: if there are more applications than places, priority goes to CAFD graduates with a federation football qualification, and then to coaches with a federation diploma or UEFA B, A and PRO. A player licence was one of the entry routes for the 5th edition.
Are there online sporting director courses?
The RFEF and URJC course is in person, as is the LALIGA Business School master. Universidad Europea states that its Máster en Dirección de Fútbol has an online version; the master's page publishes no fee.
Are there scholarships or discounts for the sporting director course?
For the 2027 call the URJC listing marks "No" for scholarship availability. The 5th edition (2024) included a 500 euro discount on the last instalment for national-level players, and the 2027 listing does not mention it.
How many places does the course have, and can you miss out?
There are 160 places in the 2027 call. Selection prioritises CAFD graduates with a federation football qualification (up to 135, by academic record). If there are more applications than places, some people will miss out, and the course only starts with at least 25 enrolled students.
Official sources
- URJC: Curso Superior Universitario de Director Deportivo en Fútbol listing
- RFEF: pre-registration for the 7th CSU de Director Deportivo en Fútbol
- La Academia RFEF: 7th edition course listing
- RFEF: call for the 5th edition of the CSU de Director Deportivo (PDF)
- RFEF: Circular no. 34 with the 2025/26 Reglamento de Competiciones
- BOE: Ley 39/2022, de 30 de diciembre, del Deporte
- Universidad Europea: Máster en Dirección de Fútbol Real Madrid
- LALIGA Business School: Máster en Dirección, Metodología y Análisis en el Fútbol
- BOE: Madrid Region Act 6/2016 on sports professions (consolidated text)