Merchandise & Retail Manager

What the role involves

• Plan product ranges with suppliers
• Manage stock, pricing and online sales
• Run retail stores and match-day sales

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

  Sales or hospitality background

  Commercial, ticketing and hospitality teams recruit people who have already sold, served customers and hit targets.

• 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.

• Self-built

  Start your own team, camp or business

  Many football businesses begin with a single group of players or one local idea: a team, camp, five-a-side league, kit brand or app.

Qualifications and licences

These can strengthen an application but are not a gate.

• 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.

• 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.

Skills and knowledge

• Commercial Sales
• Brand & Marketing
• Finance & Budgeting
• Logistics & Travel Planning

Tools you may use

• Ticketing and CRM systems
• Spreadsheets

Where this role is found

• Brands, kit & equipment
• Top-flight clubs

Where this role leads

• Head of Commercial / Commercial Director

  Helpful

  Leads club revenue from sponsorship, ticketing, retail and brand.

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.