Where the Best of the Game Come to Learn and Grow

In a nondescript hotel in Newport, Wales, a group of football’s biggest names has gathered for one of the most prestigious coaching courses in the world. The Uefa Pro Licence, run by the Football Association of Wales, is the ultimate qualification for aspiring managers, and it’s a program that attracts the crème de la crème of the sport.

Among the candidates is Nuri Sahin, the former Turkey international who won league titles in Spain and Germany as a player and has already managed in the Champions League. For Sahin, the course is a no-brainer, a chance to learn from the best and take his coaching career to the next level.

“I’ve learned so much,” Sahin says, reflecting on his time on the course. “This will prepare me not only for my coaching career but the rest of my life. It’s like Harvard for coaching.”

The Pro Licence course is a grueling program that requires candidates to commit to long hours, both at home and during their contact periods with the FAW. The curriculum is extensive, covering everything from tactical theory to virtual reality seminars, and the candidates are expected to deliver presentations and participate in practical tests and training sessions on the pitch.

Despite the challenges, the atmosphere on the course is one of camaraderie and mutual respect. The candidates, who include former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Gael Clichy, former Wales and Leicester midfielder Andy King, and Wales women’s boss Rhian Wilkinson, have formed strong bonds and are learning from each other’s experiences.

“It feels like a family,” says Dante, the Nice captain and Brazil international. “We learn together, we do everything together. It’s a special experience.”

The course is not just about football; it’s also about personal growth and development. The candidates are encouraged to share their stories and experiences, and to learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

“Everyone had to deliver a presentation about the four Hs – history, heartache, heroes, and hopes,” says Adie Harvey, who coaches Wales Under-16s boys. “It was a really powerful experience, and it really connected us as a group.”

The FAW’s chief football officer, Dave Adams, oversees the course and is responsible for developing Welsh football at all levels. He appointed both senior national team head coaches last year and is committed to creating a program that reflects the needs of head coaches.

“We get close to 400 applicants for 20 Pro Licence places every two years,” Adams says. “It’s highly competitive, but we recognize that by having people like Nuri Sahin and Mikel Arteta, we can learn from them and grow as an association.”

The Welsh Way, an ethos underpinning everything from the elite level to grassroots, is at the heart of the FAW’s work. It’s a vision for football in Wales, how to develop the game and foster its sense of national pride.

“It’s our mantra, Together Stronger,” Adams says. “In any department, being small, being agile, being dynamic and everyone feeling a part of something is really important. Whether you’re the head coach or the masseur or the chef, you’ve all got a vital part to play and got to buy into the vision of the head coach.”

The Pro Licence course is just one part of the FAW’s efforts to develop Welsh football, and it’s a program that is making a real difference in the lives of those who are lucky enough to participate. As the candidates graduate and go on to become top coaches, they will carry the lessons they have learned on the course with them, and they will help shape the future of the game in Wales and beyond.