Matthew Macdonald
UCFB Manchester
Course Leader
MSc Sports Directorship & BA (Hons) Football Business
Matthew is recognised as one of the youngest course leaders in UK higher education. He also leads on UCFB’s executive education partnership with The Football Association, delivering leadership and governance provision to practitioners across the country. His expertise lies in leadership, sporting strategy and the political economy of the international sports industry, with a focus on how organisations identify opportunity and manage risk in complex sporting environments. Drawing on industry experience across three continents, he has advised on multi-million-pound player and managerial recruitment strategies, supported league sponsorship agreements, and contributed to a successful Premier League points-deduction appeal. He serves as a Trustee Board Member at Croquet England and is undertaking doctoral research in sport strategy, policy and political economy.
Area of expertise
- International Football Business – global markets, governance, and cross-border strategy in the football industry.
- Political Economy of Sport – politics, economics, and regulation in shaping sporting organisations and competitions.
- Sporting Directorship – leadership, decision-making, and strategic management within elite football environments.
Expertise in industry
- Course Lead for UCFB’s executive education partnership with The Football Association, delivering leadership and governance provision to industry practitioners.
- Trustee Board Member at Croquet England, the national governing body of the sport, contributing to strategy, finance, risk and senior appointments.
- External consultant and advisor to organisations including Everton FC, Fleetwood Town FC, Brera Tchumene FC (Mozambique) and UNAFUT (Costa Rica).
- Experience in first team sporting operations and recruitment with Mazatlán FC (Mexico) and Dundee United FC.
- Commercial Strategy in Sport – sponsorship, recruitment, and financial strategy across clubs and leagues.
- Sport, Culture and International Relations – diplomacy, soft power, and the role of sport in global affairs.
- Governance and Regulation of Sport — the design, accountability and reform of sporting institutions.
- Leadership in Sport – executive decision-making, talent development, and organisational culture in elite environments.
- PhD in People and Performance, Manchester Metropolitan University (from September 2026)
- MSc Sports Business and Management, University of Liverpool (Distinction)
- Professional Master in Football Business, FBA
- BA (Hons) International Football Business, UCFB (First Class Honours)
- PhD, Sport Policy Unit, Manchester Metropolitan University (from September 2026). Research in sport strategy, policy and political economy.
Applied and policy research:
- National Review of Coach Education and Coaching, Croquet England. Leading a national review of coach education and coaching development pathways on behalf of the national governing body.
Conference presentations:
- Macdonald, M. J. R. (2026) Geoeconomics of Sports Infrastructure. Political Studies Association Annual Conference.