Ana Rossell, an alumnus of the FIFA/CIES Executive Programme in Sports Management (Curso Universitario Superior de Gestión del Deporte), which is organised in cooperation with Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) and the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF), has proved that her course is not only theoretical. Indeed, three years after completing her studies, she is today the successful manager of a company which implements and continues her final group work on the theme of women’s football.
When she completed the 2012-2013 edition of the FIFA/CIES Programme in Spain, Ana Rossell devoted her final group project – along with three other students - to the theme of women’s football and more specifically to the creation of a women’s section at Real Madrid CF. The project was in fact selected by URJC to participate in the FIFA/CIES Network Prize for 2014.
Following on from the project phase, three years ago Ana founded AR10. The objective of the business is to develop women’s football in four key areas: Management, training, consultancy and technology to ensure that “each and every girl gets to be on the pitch”. AR10 also offers consultancy services for the creation of leagues and the representation of female football players.
With her team, Ana Rossell also created AR10 Soccer Talent, as an excellence hub which brings together both established talent and also young women currently undergoing training in football techniques. The institution is approved by various official bodies such as the Global Sport Innovation Centre and allows female players to participate in international competitions.
In addition, the former student is continuing her work in club management. After running the women’s section at CD Canillas, she was responsible for the entity becoming the CD Tacón club, with the ambition of soon playing first division matches.
Commenting on her road to success over the past three years, Ana said, “The FIFA/CIES Executive Programme changed my professional career. Thanks to the knowledge I acquired and to my experiences in the world of sport, I was able to create my own business which is a pioneer in its field. I had the great honour of being considered the most influential woman in Spanish sport in 2016. Without this Programme, none of this would have been possible.”
We extend our congratulations to Ana who has perfectly managed the transition from theory to practice, for the good of women’s football!