Nordic CFM in Norway

The Nordic football family joined forces in Norway to kick-off another national edition of UEFA's Certificate in Football Management (UEFA CFM) education programme.

Oslo welcomed 34 participants to the city's Ullevaal Stadion. They ranged from staff members at the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) and representatives of Norwegian clubs and the country's professional football league to guests from the national associations of Sweden and Finland. The two-day course focused on an introduction to various aspects of football management.

The nine-month UEFA CFM programme involves six interactive online modules and three face-to-face seminars. Topics include studies in football organisation, strategy and strategic management, operational management, marketing and sponsorship, communications, media and public relations and event management.

Participants enhance their management skills, which will serve them in good stead in their current work, as well as providing them with crucial experience to accompany them in other roles in the future. Oslo's UEFA CFM group includes representatives from marketing, women's football, club development, grassroots management and coaching.

Graduates receive certificates awarded by the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration (IDHEAP) at the University of Lausanne, and the academic content of the programme is the responsibility of respected academics from universities in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Former players are learning essential skills thanks to UEFA's programme. Christer Basma won 40 caps for Norway and made nearly 350 top-flight appearances, winning eight domestic titles with Rosenborg BK, and is now working in player development.

"This is very exciting," Basma told the NFF website. "I've worked on the football circuit for a few years, but this course makes you go even more in-depth. The more one knows, the better it is. It's exciting to see if you can manage to bring [this learning] into what you do in everyday life, while also building for the future."

Senior club officials are also profiting from the UEFA CFM. "It's terrific to have this opportunity," reflected the CEO of Norwegian club SK Brann, Vibeke Johannessen. "There are not too many courses that are related to football management, so this is a unique chance for those of us who have come here. This is something from which we can all benefit."