Premier League stars study sport directorship at Emirates

Under the gleaming lights of Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, a sea of caps and gowns swirled like an Oxbridge graduation, but the graduates were Premier League players and former stars, each poised to add a new qualification to their footballing résumé.

Graduation ceremony at the Emirates

The Professional Footballers’ Association Business School held its 2026 graduation at the Emirates Stadium, where the scene resembled a university ceremony rather than a football event. Those gathered in caps and gowns were Premier League footballers or former players who have won major honours in Europe and around the world. The cohort included Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi and a host of well‑known figures.

Players add academic credentials

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, 28, travelled by train from Merseyside to London to attend the ceremony and, despite being in the best form of his career, completed a postgraduate diploma in global football sport directorship. Former Leicester City and Chelsea player Steve Cook told, "I hope I've got a long time left in football. But as a person, I'm always trying to learn and develop away from the pitch. I don't want to stop playing and then just sit around doing nothing. This was something that genuinely interested me. Whether I use it in the future, we'll see, but it's always good to do it now rather than wait until you've finished playing. If the time ever comes when an opportunity presents itself, luckily I've got something that can help me."

"I hope I've got a long time left in football.." – Steve Cook

In the same event, Cesar Azpilicueta recounted how studying on the morning of the 2021 Champions League final helped him keep his mind off the occasion before he captained Chelsea to a 1‑0 win over Manchester City in Porto.

Balancing study with a professional career

Taiwo Awoniyi, 29, joined Coventry from Nottingham Forest during the summer and remains part of Nigeria’s squad as they aim to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. He has already earned a degree in business management and another diploma, making this his third qualification. Awoniyi reflected, "I say to people I am a quiet dreamer. I always felt education was important. It was a promise I made to my dad that if I played football, I would keep studying. That's what I have done and I am proud of it."

"I say to people I am a quiet dreamer.." – Taiwo Awoniyi

He also recalled the serious injury he suffered in May 2025, when a collision with a goalpost while playing for Nottingham Forest against Leicester City ruptured his intestine and led to a medically induced coma. Despite that setback, he believes footballers have enough evening time for study, adding, "It's not like a 9‑5 job in football. We go in and sometimes finish quite early and, although it's challenging, I think every footballer has time in the evening for something like this business school. Of course, it demands a lot from you and it's all about how willing you are to do it. Yes, football is our passion, but we are normal human beings as well and maybe that's something the world doesn't always see."

"It's not like a 9‑5 job.." – Taiwo Awoniyi

Awoniyi brought members of his extended family to the ceremony, while Dewsbury-Hall sought out former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, now working in Qatari football, to discuss the art of scoring goals.

The PFA Business School course is designed to run alongside a football career, with seminars scheduled to minimise clashes with matches and training sessions. By enabling players to study while they compete, the programme aims to prepare the next generation of sporting directors and executives, ensuring that the insight gained on the pitch can be translated into strategic leadership off it.