A new group of current and former professional footballers has completed the PFA Business School programme, with players including Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi among those preparing for possible careers beyond the pitch.
The 2026 graduation ceremony was held at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium and brought together players with experience at the highest levels of domestic and international football.
Many of the graduates are still years away from retirement, but the programme reflects a growing interest among players in developing qualifications while their football careers are still active.
Dewsbury-Hall Builds Options Beyond Football
Dewsbury-Hall, 28, completed a postgraduate diploma in global football sport directorship while continuing his playing career.
The former Leicester City and Chelsea midfielder travelled from Merseyside to London for the graduation and said his decision to study was driven by a desire to continue developing outside football.
Although he remains focused on playing and is enjoying a strong period in his career, Dewsbury-Hall wants to have options available when his time on the pitch eventually ends.
He has not committed to pursuing a specific role in football administration, but believes completing the qualification now could prove valuable if an opportunity emerges later.
The course has been designed around the demands of professional football, with seminars arranged to avoid unnecessary clashes with matches and training. Players can also complete much of their work independently.
Dewsbury-Hall has regularly studied on an iPad while travelling back from away matches, occasionally attracting surprised reactions from teammates and other passengers.
Awoniyi Continues Long-Term Commitment to Education
Awoniyi, 29, has followed a similar path while maintaining his career in professional football.
The Nigeria international joined Coventry from Nottingham Forest during the summer and remains part of the national-team setup during qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The PFA course represents his third academic qualification after previously completing a business management degree and another diploma.
Education has played an important role throughout Awoniyi’s life. His father, Solomon, placed strong emphasis on academic progress when he was younger, and Awoniyi committed to continuing his studies if he was allowed to pursue football.
He eventually moved from Nigeria’s Imperial Soccer Academy to Liverpool before establishing himself in Germany with Union Berlin and later returning to England.
His outlook has also been shaped by the difficult periods of his playing career. In May 2025, Awoniyi suffered a ruptured intestine after colliding with a goalpost while playing for Nottingham Forest against Leicester City. The injury was serious enough for him to be placed in a medically induced coma.
That experience strengthened his belief that players should continue developing interests and skills outside football.
Awoniyi believes professional schedules still leave enough time for education, particularly during evenings, although combining study with elite football requires significant personal commitment.
Azpilicueta Used Study to Manage Champions League Pressure
Former Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta was another prominent figure at the graduation event.
The former Spain defender described how education remained part of his routine even before some of the most important moments of his playing career.
On the morning of the 2021 Champions League final, Azpilicueta spent time studying before captaining Chelsea to a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in Porto. Concentrating on academic work helped distract him from the pressure surrounding the match.
Azpilicueta turned professional with Osasuna at 17 and initially left formal education behind as his football career accelerated.
He later returned to studying during his nine-year spell at Chelsea and completed an MBA at Harvard University in the United States.
After finishing his playing career with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla, Azpilicueta retired at the end of last season. He is not planning to immediately move into another football role and intends to consider his next step carefully.
Graduates Prepare for Football’s Next Chapter
Other players in the latest PFA Business School group include Wycombe Wanderers defender Steve Cook.
The former Bournemouth captain returned to formal education for the first time since leaving school. Having already completed coaching qualifications and now approaching the final stages of his playing career, Cook is considering several possible directions for the future.
The programme also gives players access to senior figures from across the football industry. Brighton chief executive Paul Barber is among those who have contributed sessions explaining how different areas of club and football management operate.
Graduates also used the ceremony to exchange ideas and experiences. Dewsbury-Hall, for example, spoke with former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, who now works in Qatari football.
The PFA programme is intended not only to prepare players for retirement but also to develop skills that can help them during their playing careers.
For many members of the 2026 group, football remains the immediate priority. However, the qualifications could eventually lead some into coaching, sporting-director positions, executive roles or other areas of the industry once their playing careers come to an end.