Official Master's Degree in Sports Management
Course coordinator
PhD Ricard Esparza, UAB coordination
Teaching staff
The university master's degree in Sport Management brings together a core team of university lecturers with teaching and research experience and a group of active professionals who are experts in the subject areas they teach and belong to companies and institutions in the sports sector.
Also planned for are seminars and lectures to be given by outside professionals with great prestige in their respective fields, so as to enrich and add value to the master's programme.
Below you will find the complete list of teachers of all types of the master's degree. At the end of each CV, the subject taught by the teacher and in which or what modalities are indicated in italics.
Lecturers
Ricard Esparza Masana (Coordinator)
PhD in Business Economics from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (2014). He holds two master’s degrees in Economics, with applications related to R&D&I. He is a lecturer in Economic Analysis at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a researcher at the UAB Centre for Research in Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.
His research focuses on innovation policies and the evaluation of public R&D&I policies, as well as the role of innovation in the development of emerging economies. He has published several articles on these subjects in indexed journals, along with other academic materials. He has served as principal investigator on nine European and international projects, collaborating on research and knowledge-transfer initiatives with organisations from more than 40 countries across six continents.
He is a member of several expert committees and government initiatives, including those of the Government of Catalonia and the European Commission. He is Co-Coordinator of the UAB–Johan Cruyff Institute University Master’s Degree in Sports Management.
Subjects: Bridging Courses in Sports Economics and Strategic Management (online in English and Spanish) and Master’s Final Project (on campus and online in English and Spanish).
Contact for inquiries about the programme: campus@cruyffinstitute.org
PhD in Economics, cum laude, from Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain (2016), where she also completed a Master’s Degree in Industrial Organisation and received the Best Student Award in 2012. She also holds an honours degree in Economics from Moscow City Government University of Management, Russia (2009).
Subject: Economics
PhD in Business Creation and Management from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2015). He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Innovation from UVic-UCC (2016) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
He is Director of Business Studies at UManresa–Fundació Universitària del Bages and a lecturer in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Marketing at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
He is an Executive Board Member of Bàsquet Manresa, a professional team competing in the ACB, and the founder of Neòfit and Atàvica Cosmètics. He has more than ten years of experience supporting entrepreneurs.
Subjects: Sports Marketing (on campus in Spanish and online in English)
Founder and coordinator of L’ORIGEN, a project that has combined innovation, ecology, and communication for over a decade. He is the creator of positive-impact initiatives such as the RE-M Marathon and the Climate Emergency Marathon. He has a solid professional background in environmental sustainability and works as a consultant, manager, and trainer in environmental criteria for sports and cultural events. He served as Sustainability Manager for the FINA World Swimming Championships Barcelona 2013 and has collaborated with public institutions such as local councils, the Government of Catalonia, and the Barcelona Provincial Council, as well as organizations like Club EMAS.
He holds a Technical Industrial Engineering degree with a specialization in Environmental Chemistry.
Subject: Digitalisation and Sustainability in Sports (On Campus in Spanish)
He is currently pursuing a PhD in Sport Sciences at UCAM in Murcia, focusing on fan engagement in European football.
He is Online Learning Manager at Johan Cruyff Institute, where he manages and coordinates the portfolio of online programmes. He teaches the online Sports Marketing and Fan Engagement courses.
Subject: Sports Marketing — Online
Pedro Luis Gómez
He holds a PhD from Universitat La Salle–Ramon Llull (UOLS) and has extensive professional experience in auditing (Deloitte), financial management, and executive leadership within the CELSA Group. He has taught at ESADE, ESERP, and Euncet Business School (UPF), and since 2025 has served as a professor and researcher at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).
His areas of expertise include Sports Economics, competitive balance in European sports leagues, and the relationship between on-field performance and financial results. He received the ACCID Award for Best Practical Case in Accounting and Finance in both 2023 and 2024.
Subject: Financial Management (On campus in English and Spanish)
Sports management and business development professional with over seven years of experience in the football industry. Currently serving as Global Partnerships Manager at Barça Innovation Hub, he leads educational initiatives and growth strategies through international collaborations.
His career includes key roles at FC Barcelona, Girona FC, and Johan Cruyff Institute, where he has specialized in project planning, international agreements, and sponsorship activation.
Subject: Strategic Management and Governance in Sports (On campus in Spanish and English, online in Spanish and English)
PhD in Active Tourism and Sustainable Development from the Universitat de les Illes Balears. She also holds a Master’s in Public Management from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and a Bachelor’s Degree in Science of Physical Activity and Sport. She currently works as a researcher at the Universidad de Deusto.
Subject: Digitalisation and Sustainability in Sports (online in Spanish)
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Business Sciences from Pompeu Fabra University, a Master of Business Administration from ESADE Business School and a General Management Programme qualification from IESE Business School.
He also completed the Sport Events Management and Organisation Seminar at AISTS — the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology — in Lausanne, Switzerland.
He is General Manager of Grandvalira-ENSISA, General Manager of the Organising Committee for the Alpine Skiing World Cup events in Grandvalira and General Manager of Andorra’s bid to host the 2027 Alpine World Ski Championships.
He is President of the Andorra Esports Cluster and a member of the World Cup and European Cup subcommittees of the International Ski Federation.
Subject: Sports Event Management — on campus and online in English and Spanish.
Academic Director and member of the Management Board of Johan Cruyff Institute. He is a digital skills lecturer at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and a lecturer, coordinator and consultant at Fundació TecnoCampus Mataró-Maresme.
He is also a guest lecturer in Digital Marketing at the University of Vic. He co-designed one of Pompeu Fabra University’s first MOOCs and created the e-learning department at Johan Cruyff Institute.
He is currently completing his doctoral thesis on the esports industry.
Subject: Digitalisation
Executive MBA (ESADE, 2026), PhD in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (University of Barcelona, 2023), Master’s Degree in Sport Management (University of Lleida, 2018), and Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (INEFC Barcelona). He is accredited as a Lecturer by AQU.
He is currently involved as a Project Manager in several European projects and provides advisory services to multiple sports organizations. He has extensive experience in the design, development, and management of research and knowledge transfer projects in the fields of sport management and innovation.
Subject: Sports Facilities Management (On campus in Spanish and English, online in Spanish and English)
Portal de Recerca de Catalunya
PhD in Business Management and Administration from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (2018).
At Johan Cruyff Institute, he teaches the Innovation Management and Leadership in Sports Companies module in both Spanish and English.
He is Director of Organisations at the Carl Rogers Institute in Barcelona and Director of the Master’s Degree in Coaching and Leadership at Online Business School. He is also an ICF-certified coach.
Subject: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership in the Sports Sector — online in Spanish and English.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Marketing Management and Strategic Management from ESIC (2006) and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Barcelona (2000).
He began his professional career in the United Kingdom at General Motors and in Scotland at Polaroid. He subsequently worked as Marketing Director at Casio Spain for nine years, where he led the repositioning of the brand in the Spanish market.
In 2012, he founded WeAreCentric, a communication, marketing and public relations agency. In 2015, he founded Egoísmo Positivo, an organisation that promotes the inclusion of people with disabilities in sport.
He teaches Marketing on several master’s programmes at ESIC Business School and Johan Cruyff Institute. He is also a regular speaker at marketing-related events and conferences, including the Mobile World Congress and Hoy es Marketing.
Subject: Sports Marketing — on campus.
PhD in Economics from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), where she has developed an extensive academic and university management career. With more than 25 years of experience as a professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, she has held several key positions at the university, consolidating her profile as an expert in labor insertion, dual training and academic management
Subjects: Sports Economy and Strategic Management (Sports Economy) (On campus and online in Spanish)
Edgar is a seasoned executive with international experience in strategic partnerships, sports management, and marketing. He holds a PhD in Sports Organizations from the University of Barcelona and a Master’s in Sport Management from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Johan Cruyff Institute.
Throughout his career, he has collaborated with leading sports properties, brands, and public and private organizations, with expertise in sponsorships, fan engagement, VIP hospitality, revenue generation, and international expansion.
He previously served as Global Corporate Relations Manager at the Johan Cruyff Institute and currently works as Manager, Hospitality & Partnership Manager for the F1® Barcelona-Catalunya GP at QuintEvents International. He also remains active in academia through scientific contributions, lecturing, and supervising master’s theses in leading sport management programs.
Course: Sports sponsorship (online in Spanish and English)
Executive and entrepreneur in the sports sector with a strong track record in management, marketing, and sponsorships. He is currently co-owner of CF Badalona (3rd RFEF). Previously, he led CA Sports, managing clients such as Hyundai and Coca-Cola across EMEA and LATAM. An expert in sports strategy (IESE, Johan Cruyff Institute), he combines his executive role with teaching. His multidisciplinary profile spans business development and team leadership, always with a focus on innovation and sustainable growth within the sports ecosystem.
Subject: Sports Sponsorship (On campus in Spanish and English)
PhD in Entrepreneurship and Business Management from the UAB (thesis awarded with an Extraordinary Prize). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management and in Market Research and Techniques from the UAB, and a Master’s degree in Marketing Management from ESADE. Serra Hunter Fellow (Professor) in the Department of Business at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) and member of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation Research (CREIS). Previously, he served as a professor at the Utrecht University School of Economics (Netherlands). His research focuses on the conditioning factors of corporate entrepreneurship from a quantitative perspective. He has published several articles in international journals on this topic and currently participates in various national and international projects in this field.
Subject: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership in the Sports Sector (On campus in Spanish and English)
Perfil de Google Scholar
Portal de Recerca UAB
MBA from Esade (2004), Master in Sport Management from Loughborough University (1997) and Bachelor of Science in Physical Activity and Sport from INEFC-Barcelona. Partner-director and founder of Itik Consultoria Esport i Lleure SL. Previously, he was general director of the Balthus wellness center in Santiago de Chile from 1999 to 2002 and manager of CD Terrassa Hockey from 1997 to 1999. He is the author of various studies on elements of the sports system, such as studies on sports clubs in Catalonia, the situation of municipal sports services, public-private collaboration systems in Catalan sports as well as sports habits of the population. He is a member of the Social and Educational Research Group on Physical Activity and Sport (GISEAFE).
Subjects: Strategic Management and Governance in Sport (On campus in Spanish and English, online in Spanish and English), Management of Sports Facilities (online in Spanish).
Víctor Rodrigo Zamora
Víctor Rodrigo Zamora is a specialized legal consultant and independent lawyer based in Barcelona. He has nearly seven years of experience at FIFA in Zurich, where he held senior positions such as Senior Legal Counsel and Group Leader, focusing on football regulatory matters and the Ethics Committee. He previously chaired the Sports Law Committee at the Barcelona Bar Association (ICAB) and worked at leading law firms such as Pintó Ruiz & Del Valle and Uría Menéndez. He has published extensively on financial fair play and FIFA regulations. He holds a law degree from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and a master’s degree in Sports Law.
Subject: Economics and Sports Law
Ricardo Salinas
Ricardo Salinas specializes in corporate finance and strategic planning, with extensive experience in asset and liability management (ALM), debt structuring, and international financing. He combines professional practice with postgraduate teaching, fostering the development of analytical and strategic skills among higher education students.
Subject: Financial Management
Galia Dvorak
Galia Dvorak is a senior sports manager and educator with an outstanding career that includes participation in four Olympic Games: Beijing, London, Rio de Janeiro, and Tokyo. She currently serves as Deputy Secretary General of the European Table Tennis Union (ETTU), where she leads strategic planning, development programs for member associations, and the coordination of educational activities at continental level.
She has a strong academic background, including master’s degrees in Marketing and Sports Management, as well as Business Communication. Her experience provides her with an expert perspective on leadership, team dynamics, and international relations.
Subject: Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Leadership.
Roser de Puig
Roser de Puig is a Project Manager in the Institutional Relations, Public Relations, and Protocol Department at FC Barcelona. She holds a law degree and a master’s degree in Sports Law. She joined FC Barcelona in September 2021 after leading the organization of UEFA EURO 2020 in Seville on behalf of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.
Subject: Sports Event Management.
Luca Salvadori
Luca Salvadori is an applied economist, Assistant Professor, and Serra Húnter Fellow at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), specializing in public economics, taxation, and fiscal federalism. He is also an Affiliated Professor at the Barcelona School of Economics (BSE) and holds a PhD from the University of Barcelona. His research has received the Epainos Award and is supported by research fellowships at TARC and IEB. He is a multilingual professional, fluent in Italian, English, Spanish, and Catalan.
Subject: Economics and Sports Law.
Gerard Valldepérez
CEO & Founder of TrustSportManagement and a strategic consultant with over 17 years of experience in audit, retail, and sports management. His extensive background includes key roles such as Retail Operations Specialist for Nike at the FC Barcelona Megastore and Project Manager for BLM-FC Barcelona. Currently, he balances executive leadership with academia as a Sport Finance Teacher at ESEI International Business School and an anthropology instructor at CIEE. He holds a Master’s in Sports Law and a degree in Economics, providing a high-level analytical and financial approach to sports business.
Subject: Sports Events (On campus in English)
Susana Vega
Susana Vega is the Executive Director of Tūwā Global Services and a leading expert in sustainable sports tourism, the circular economy, and event governance. A former beach volleyball player and founder of Spain’s first beach volleyball club, she combines her elite sporting background—including professional experience at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games—with more than a decade of experience in management and consultancy.
She currently lectures at institutions such as Blanquerna – Universitat Ramon Llull and INEFC, where she researches and teaches sports event management and nautical tourism while completing her second PhD.
Subject: Digitalization and Sustainability in Sports.
Subject: Digitalization and Sustainability in Sports
Francesc Solanellas
Francesc Solanellas is a sports management consultant and professor at the Universitat de Barcelona – INEFC, with more than 30 years of international experience in the sports industry. He has held executive positions at FC Barcelona and Babolat and has led strategic planning, governance, and organizational development projects for organizations including UEFA, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), and the European Commission.
He also serves as Co-Director of the Executive Master in Sport Governance (MESGO) and specializes in sports governance, strategic planning, and leadership.
Subject: Sports Marketing
Moussa Ezzeddine
Moussa Ezzeddine holds a PhD in Financial Econometrics and specializes in football finance, data analytics, and sports business. He is the founder of Melon Coin, a football advisory firm that provides financial and strategic insights to clubs, federations, and sports organizations. In addition to his advisory work, he lectures in football finance and sports management at leading universities, combining academic expertise with extensive industry experience.
Subject: Financial Management in Sports
Ahmed Aymen
Ahmed Aymed obtained his PhD in Accounting and Finance from the University of Leeds in 2024. He is currently a lecturer in Accounting and Finance in the Department of Business in Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Prior to his current position, he held academic positions at universities in the UK and in Egypt.
In addition to his academic experience, Ahmed is a Certified Management Accountant from the Institute of Management Accountants I the US. He has also delivered training programs and consultancy services to several SMEs in Egypt, the UK and the Netherlands in the fields of accounting, auditing and finance. His main research interest is auditing, and he is currently involved in several research projects in Spain and the UK.