Region
United Kingdom
The largest football jobs market in the world outside the playing pitch. Academies are graded under the Elite Player Performance Plan, and top clubs hire large analysis, medical and commercial teams. An Independent Football Regulator for England was created under the Football Governance Act 2025.
GBPcurrency
100%pay level vs UK, illustrative
9key bodies
League structure
Premier League, EFL Championship, League One and League Two, then the National League system and a deep grassroots pyramid. Professional women's football is led by the WSL and Women's Championship.
Governing bodies and unions
The FA, Scottish FA, FA Wales, Irish FA, Premier League, EFL, PFA, LMA, PGMOL.
Coaching licences
The FA, Scottish FA, FA Wales and Irish FA each run UEFA-linked coaching licences. Football staff working with children need safeguarding training and background checks.
Qualification recognition in United Kingdom
- Introductory Coaching Award (FA Level 1) (Strong)
- UEFA Coaching Licences (C, B, A, Pro) (Strong)
- Youth Coaching Award (FA Youth Award) (Strong)
- Goalkeeper Coaching Licences (Strong)
- Safeguarding Children Training & Background Check (Strong)
- First Aid in Football (Strong)
- Referee Course & Referee Grades (Strong)
- Football Management Certificate (UEFA CFM) (Strong)
- Executive Master for International Players (UEFA MIP) (Strong)
- Football Law Programme (Strong)
- International Master in Sport (FIFA Master) (Strong)
- Football Agent Licence (FIFA Agent Exam) (Strong)
- Sport or Football Business Degree (Strong)
- Sports Law Qualifications (LLM or Solicitor/Bar with Specialism) (Strong)
- Accounting Qualification (ACCA, ICAEW, CIMA or local equivalent) (Strong)
- Sport & Exercise Science Degree (Strong)
- Strength & Conditioning Accreditation (Strong)
- Physiotherapy Degree & Professional Registration (Strong)
- Sports Therapy Degree (Strong)
- Medical Degree & Sport and Exercise Medicine Training (Strong)
- Sport Psychology Training & Registration (Strong)
- Sports Nutrition Qualifications & Registration (Strong)
- Sports Massage & Soft-Tissue Therapy Courses (Strong)
- Performance Analysis or Sports Analytics Degree (Strong)
- Data & Analytics Courses (SQL, Python, Machine Learning) (Strong)
- Scouting & Talent Identification Courses (Strong)
- Journalism Qualification (NCTJ, broadcast or degree) (Strong)
- Marketing & Digital Marketing Qualifications (Strong)
- Groundsmanship & Turf Management Qualifications (Strong)
- Sports Ground Safety Officer Qualifications (Strong)
- Spectator Safety Steward Training (Strong)
- Vocational Sport Qualification (BTEC or equivalent) (Strong)
- Coaching or Sport Apprenticeship (Strong)
- Teaching Qualification (QTS or equivalent) (Strong)
- Language Certificates (Strong)
- Degree in Any Subject (Strong)
- Confederation Coaching Licences (AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, Concacaf) (Recognised)
Roles and indicative pay
Illustrative estimates in GBP. Many roles are unpaid or part-time at grassroots level.
| Role | Qualification | Indicative pay |
|---|---|---|
| Playing & Player Development | ||
| Academy Scholar | Not needed | £3K to £20K |
| Semi-Professional Player | Not needed | £2K to £25K |
| Professional Player (Lower Leagues) | Not needed | £25K to £120K |
| Top-Flight Professional Player | Not needed | £150K to £2.5M |
| Coaching & Technical | ||
| Grassroots Coach | Strongly preferred | Unpaid or expenses, up to £8K |
| Community Football Coach | Strongly preferred | £16K to £28K |
| Academy Coach | Required | £22K to £55K |
| Academy Head of Coaching | Required | £55K to £130K |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Strongly preferred | £22K to £120K |
| Set-Piece Coach | Helpful | £35K to £250K |
| Assistant Coach | Required | £40K to £400K |
| Head Coach / Manager | Required | £60K to £3.5M |
| National Team Coach | Required | £80K to £1.5M |
| Medical, Performance & Sports Science | ||
| Sports Therapist | Strongly preferred | £22K to £45K |
| Club Physiotherapist | Required | £32K to £110K |
| Head of Medical | Required | £65K to £220K |
| Club Doctor | Required | £70K to £250K |
| Sport Scientist | Strongly preferred | £22K to £50K |
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Strongly preferred | £28K to £95K |
| Head of Performance | Strongly preferred | £65K to £220K |
| Sport Psychologist | Required | £32K to £110K |
| Performance Nutritionist | Strongly preferred | £30K to £90K |
| Soft-Tissue Therapist (Masseur) | Helpful | £18K to £38K |
| Analysis & Data | ||
| Match Data Collector | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £12K |
| Performance Analyst (Academy / Lower League) | Helpful | £18K to £36K |
| First-Team Performance Analyst | Helpful | £30K to £75K |
| Opposition Analyst | Helpful | £28K to £70K |
| Football Data Scientist | Strongly preferred | £40K to £100K |
| Football Data Engineer | Strongly preferred | £45K to £110K |
| Head of Analysis | Helpful | £60K to £170K |
| Football Trader / Odds Compiler | Strongly preferred | £28K to £80K |
| Scouting & Recruitment | ||
| Match Scout (Part-Time) | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £14K |
| Academy / Youth Scout | Strongly preferred | £16K to £38K |
| Professional Scout | Not needed | £28K to £75K |
| Recruitment Analyst | Helpful | £26K to £60K |
| International Scout | Not needed | £20K to £70K |
| Loan & Player Pathway Manager | Helpful | £32K to £80K |
| Chief Scout | Not needed | £55K to £160K |
| Head of Recruitment | Not needed | £65K to £220K |
| Sporting Direction & Football Management | ||
| Football Administrator | Not needed | £18K to £28K |
| Player Liaison / Player Care Officer | Not needed | £22K to £45K |
| Club Interpreter / Translator | Not needed | £22K to £55K |
| Player Registration & Compliance Officer | Strongly preferred | £24K to £55K |
| Academy Education & Welfare Officer | Required | £24K to £48K |
| Football Operations Manager | Helpful | £35K to £95K |
| Academy Manager | Required | £60K to £170K |
| Technical Director | Strongly preferred | £80K to £350K |
| Sporting Director / Director of Football | Strongly preferred | £90K to £1.2M |
| Agents & Player Representation | ||
| Agency Assistant / Intern | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £24K |
| Licensed Football Agent | Required | Unpaid or expenses, up to £300K |
| Senior Agent / Head of Representation | Required | £60K to £3M |
| Agency Founder / Director | Required | Unpaid or expenses, up to £5M |
| Image Rights & Brand Manager | Helpful | £30K to £110K |
| Match Officials | ||
| Youth Referee | Required | Unpaid or expenses, up to £3K |
| Grassroots Referee | Required | £1K to £9K |
| Semi-Professional / National-List Referee | Required | £5K to £28K |
| Professional Referee | Required | £50K to £160K |
| Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Official | Required | £45K to £140K |
| Referee Assessor / Observer | Required | Unpaid or expenses, up to £20K |
| Referee Development Officer | Strongly preferred | £26K to £48K |
| Stadium, Pitch & Matchday Operations | ||
| Match-Day Steward | Strongly preferred | Unpaid or expenses, up to £12K |
| Kit Manager | Not needed | £18K to £45K |
| Groundsperson | Helpful | £18K to £34K |
| Head Groundsperson / Pitch Manager | Strongly preferred | £38K to £110K |
| Travel & Logistics Coordinator | Not needed | £22K to £42K |
| Ticketing Manager | Helpful | £28K to £70K |
| Supporter Liaison Officer | Not needed | £20K to £40K |
| Safety Officer | Required | £35K to £90K |
| Stadium Operations Manager | Helpful | £35K to £90K |
| Commercial, Marketing & Fan Engagement | ||
| Commercial Assistant | Helpful | £18K to £28K |
| Hospitality & Ticket Sales Executive | Not needed | £22K to £50K |
| Sponsorship Sales Executive | Helpful | £24K to £55K |
| Social Media & Digital Content Manager | Not needed | £22K to £60K |
| Fan Engagement Manager | Helpful | £32K to £70K |
| Merchandise & Retail Manager | Helpful | £28K to £65K |
| Marketing Manager | Helpful | £32K to £75K |
| Partnerships Manager | Helpful | £38K to £85K |
| Head of Commercial / Commercial Director | Helpful | £70K to £250K |
| Media, Content & Broadcasting | ||
| Football Content Creator | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £60K |
| Club Press & Communications Officer | Helpful | £24K to £50K |
| Club Video Producer / Editor | Not needed | £22K to £48K |
| Football Photographer | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £45K |
| Local Football Reporter | Strongly preferred | £20K to £34K |
| Football Journalist | Strongly preferred | £28K to £75K |
| Broadcast Producer | Helpful | £30K to £80K |
| Match Commentator | Not needed | £10K to £250K |
| Pundit / Analyst (Media) | Not needed | £5K to £500K |
| Governance, Legal & Finance | ||
| Club Accountant | Strongly preferred | £26K to £60K |
| Club Finance Director | Required | £80K to £300K |
| Football Lawyer | Required | £45K to £220K |
| Football Compliance & Regulation Officer | Strongly preferred | £38K to £95K |
| Safeguarding Officer | Required | £28K to £60K |
| Club Secretary / Administrator | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £40K |
| Football Governance & Regulatory Officer | Strongly preferred | £35K to £85K |
| Club Chief Executive | Not needed | £100K to £1.5M |
| Community, Grassroots & Education | ||
| Club Welfare Officer | Required | Unpaid or expenses, up to £3K |
| Grassroots League Secretary | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £12K |
| Community Foundation Officer | Strongly preferred | £20K to £34K |
| Disability & Inclusion Football Coach | Strongly preferred | Unpaid or expenses, up to £28K |
| Football Development Officer | Strongly preferred | £25K to £45K |
| Physical Education Teacher (Football Focus) | Required | £28K to £52K |
| Coach Educator / Tutor | Required | £30K to £85K |
| Club Foundation Director | Helpful | £40K to £90K |
| Business, Enterprise & Football Tech | ||
| Coaching Camp / Academy Owner | Strongly preferred | Unpaid or expenses, up to £100K |
| Five-a-Side Venue Manager | Not needed | £24K to £55K |
| Football Tech Founder | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £200K |
| Football Apparel & Equipment Entrepreneur | Not needed | Unpaid or expenses, up to £120K |
| Football Tech Product Manager | Strongly preferred | £45K to £110K |
| Football Data Account Manager | Helpful | £26K to £60K |
| Football Travel & Experience Operator | Not needed | £20K to £70K |