FOOTBALL ACADEMY DIRECTOR / FRANCHISE OWNER - GREATER MANCHESTER

INTRODUCTION

Are you ready to turn your passion for football into your own business and build a football club of your own?

We Make Footballers is seeking an ambitious coach, manager or business-minded individual to become the Academy Director and franchise owner in GREATER MANCHESTER. 

This is an opportunity to establish your own football academy, build teams that compete in local leagues and create a complete player pathway for children in your community.

You will operate within a defined territory, growing weekly coaching academies, recruiting your own coaching team and developing competitive football teams under the We Make Footballers brand.

We Make Footballers currently has more than 100 academies across the UK and internationally. Our proven model provides the training, technology, marketing, football curriculum and ongoing support required to build a successful coaching business and football club.

This is a self-employed franchise investment and business ownership opportunity. It is not a salaried position.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As the Academy Director and franchise owner, you will be responsible for building and leading We Make Footballers across your territory.

This will include:

• Establishing and growing weekly football academies

• Building your own We Make Footballers football club

• Creating age-group teams to compete in local leagues

• Developing a clear pathway from weekly coaching into team football

• Recruiting players and holding team trials

• Recruiting, training and managing your coaching team

• Appointing coaches and managers to support each age group

• Delivering and overseeing football coaching for children aged 4–12

• Identifying and securing suitable training and match venues

• Entering teams into appropriate local leagues and competitions

• Organising fixtures, tournaments and football events

• Building relationships with schools, grassroots clubs and community organisations

• Attracting new players and retaining existing families

• Managing customer relationships and communications

• Implementing local marketing activity with support from the national team

• Maintaining high standards of coaching, safeguarding and customer service

• Managing the commercial and operational performance of the business

• Developing additional programmes such as holiday camps, birthday parties and one-to-one coaching

• Creating a recognised football pathway and lasting legacy within your community

You will have flexibility over your working pattern. Many franchise owners begin part-time before developing their academy and teams into a full-time business.

REQUIREMENTS

We are ideally looking for someone with experience in football coaching, team management, business management, sales, education or working with children.

However, we are also open to individuals who are new to the football industry but have the leadership, ambition and commitment required to build a successful academy and football club.

The successful candidate will:

• Be passionate about football and player development

• Have the ambition to build a football club and business of their own

• Be excited by the opportunity to create and manage competitive teams

• Want to develop a complete football pathway for local children

• Be a confident and personable communicator

• Have strong organisational and leadership skills

• Be comfortable recruiting, managing and developing people

• Be motivated to grow player numbers, partnerships and revenue

• Be willing to follow an established franchise system

• Share our commitment to safeguarding and high coaching standards

• Be able to commit sufficient time to developing the territory

• Have access to the required investment or an appropriate funding route

Football coaching qualifications are advantageous but not essential, as training and development support will be provided.

Anyone coaching or working directly with children will be required to complete the relevant safeguarding checks, including an Enhanced DBS check.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR THE CANDIDATE

This is an opportunity to create something of your own while benefiting from the strength, systems and support of an established football organisation.

As a We Make Footballers franchise owner, you will receive:

• The opportunity to build and lead your own football club

• An exclusive franchise territory covering your selected postcodes (3-5 zones)

• An established brand under which to launch your academy and teams

• A proven football coaching and business model

• A structured pathway from weekly academy coaching into competitive teams

• Support with launching teams and entering local leagues

• A professional coaching curriculum

• Comprehensive initial business and operational training

• Ongoing mentoring and support from the central team

• Centralised and local marketing support

• Lead-generation campaigns

• Booking, payment and customer-management technology

• Support with recruiting and developing coaches

• Access to the wider We Make Footballers franchise network

• National partnerships and professional scouting pathways

• Flexible working arrangements

• Multiple potential income streams

• Opportunities to launch camps, parties, leagues, events and individual coaching

• The potential to expand into additional territories

• The chance to create a lasting football legacy within your community

Investment and earning potential

Initial investment: From £11,500+VAT (government backed funding available)
Illustrative annual revenue: £50,000-150,000
Illustrative owner income: £20,000-50,000

Income will depend on the franchise owner’s performance, local demand, player and team numbers, operating costs and the time invested in developing the territory. Financial returns are not guaranteed.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

If you are ready to turn your passion for football into your own business and build a football club in your community, please submit an application through Jobs in Football.

Please include:

• Your CV or LinkedIn profile

• A short explanation of why this opportunity interests you

• Details of any relevant coaching, team management or business experience

• Your preferred territory

• Your anticipated timeframe for launching

Suitable applicants will be invited to an introductory discovery call. We will then provide further information about the franchise model, available territory, investment and financial opportunity.

Please confirm in your application that you understand this is a franchise investment and self-employed business ownership opportunity—not a salaried role.