Commercial, Marketing & Fan Engagement · Entry / volunteer
Commercial Assistant
Supports sponsorship, retail and marketing teams.
Do you need a qualification?
Helpful A qualification helps but is not required.
Often a degree is requested for screening, but enthusiasm and relevant work experience are valued.
Salary.
What the role involves
- Support sales, events and partner reporting
- Maintain CRM records
- Prepare proposals and presentations
Ways in, with or without formal qualifications
Experience, knowledge and interests count in football. These routes are what people in this role commonly point to.
Experience
Work experience and internships
Placements at clubs, associations, agencies and sports businesses. Often unpaid or low-paid, but the strongest way to get a first contact.
Experience
Sales or hospitality background
Commercial, ticketing and hospitality teams recruit people who have already sold, served customers and hit targets.
Experience
Matchday and event work
Stewarding, hospitality, ticketing and fan-zone work for clubs and stadiums. It is paid, flexible and puts you in the building.
Qualifications and licences
These can strengthen an application but are not a gate.
Degree
Degree in Any Subject
Many football employers ask for a degree in any subject as a screening requirement for graduate-level jobs. The subject matters less than evidence of skills and football involvement.
Business & management
Marketing & Digital Marketing Qualifications
Qualifications in marketing, digital advertising, CRM and analytics. Useful for career changers, but portfolios and campaign results matter strongly.
Skills and knowledge
Tools you may use
Where this role is found
Where this role leads
Sponsorship Sales Executive
Helpful
Sells sponsorship and partnership packages to brands.
Marketing Manager
Helpful
Plans campaigns and brand activity for a club or football business.
Hospitality & Ticket Sales Executive
Not needed
Sells match-day hospitality, memberships and packages.
Common stepping stones into this role
Usually an entry point reached directly through study, volunteering, playing or work experience. See the routes below.
Pay and context by region
Illustrative estimates scaled from a UK baseline. Check local job adverts and union or association data.
| Region | Indicative pay | Football structure |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £18K to £28K GBP | Premier League, EFL Championship, League One and League Two, then the National League system and a deep grassroots pyramid. |
| Spain | €17K to €26K EUR | LaLiga EA Sports and LaLiga Hypermotion, then Primera Federación and regional leagues. |
| Germany | €21K to €33K EUR | Bundesliga, 2. |
| Italy | €17K to €26K EUR | Serie A, Serie B, Serie C and the Serie D amateur tier. |
| France | €18K to €28K EUR | Ligue 1, Ligue 2, National and regional leagues, with a highly developed training-centre system. |
| United States & Canada | $29K to $46K USD | MLS, NWSL and USL pro tiers, a pay-to-play youth model, and a large college (NCAA, NAIA, USports) football system that doubles as a career route. |
| Brazil | R$44K to R$69K BRL | Série A to D, state championships and an intense youth system that sells many players abroad. |
| Saudi Arabia & the Gulf | SAR 97K to SAR 150K SAR | Professional leagues backed by major state investment, with fast-growing academies and a strong demand for international staff. |
| India | ₹500K to ₹770K INR | The Indian Super League and I-League sit above state leagues. |
| Nigeria & West Africa | ₦7.2M to ₦11M NGN | Domestic leagues feed a strong export route to European clubs, with many private academies and scouting networks. |