Cueva and Toure among latest graduates of FA's Pro Licence course
Back row, left to right: Michael Skubala, Marink Reedijk, Carl Plunkett, Kalam Mooniaruck, Bernardo Cueva, John McDermott, Lucy Pearson, Sean Dyche, Will Antwi, Pete Wild, Leighton Baines, Mark Jackson. Middle row: Alan Sheehan, Louise Newstead, Kelsey Byrne, Debbie Hewitt, Jody Cauldwell. Front row: Ben Wilkinson, Matt Bloomfield, Vicky Jepson, Micah Hyde, Mehmet Ali, Hassan Sulaiman, Matt Beard, Ian Bateman, Mike Scott.
Written by Training Ground Guru — June 10, 2024
New Chelsea Set Piece Coach Bernardo Cueva and Manchester City legend Yaya Toure were among the latest graduates of the Football Association's Pro Licence course last week.
The Pro Licence is the highest level of professional coaching qualification. It takes 24 months to complete the course and the focus is on forging winning teams and developing management strategies.
Throughout the programme the graduates engaged in a series of theoretical and practical workshops, while also having the opportunity to learn from experts from high-performing teams in football, wider sport and beyond.
Everton manager Sean Dyche, FA Chair Debbie Hewitt MBE, FA Technical Director John McDermott and Director of Education Lucy Pearson spoke at the graduation ceremony at the Football Museum in Manchester.
The graduates included Cueva, who joined Chelsea from Brentford at the end of the season; Touré, the current Saudi Arabia Assistant (who wasn't able to attend the ceremony); Everton legend Leighton Baines; Tottenham Women's Assistant Vicky Jepson; and Liverpool Women’s Manager Matt Beard.
Guy Whittingham, the FA’s Pro Licence and Alumni Lead said: “It was a privilege to be at the National Football Museum to celebrate the graduation of the 2023/24 Pro Licence coaches.
“It’s a night of recognition and celebration for all the people who have put in 18 months of hard work and dedication. The UEFA Pro Licence is the highest qualification you can get in the football world, so it’s a huge commitment from the coaches and managers who take part.
“The experience will enable them to coach at the highest levels of the game.”
Jepson added: “My experience on this 18-month course has been incredible. The journey has taken us through a variety of challenges. Elements of the learning experience have taken us out of our comfort zone, but we’ve learned that it’s okay to be uncomfortable and vulnerable, as it prepares us to continue working in a fast-paced, demanding industry with a lot of scrutiny.”
Graduates: Michael Skubala (Head Coach, Lincoln City), Marink Reedijk (Head Coach, Anderlecht Futures), Carl Plunkett (former Head of Coaching, Crystal Palace), Bernardo Cueva (Set Piece Coach, Chelsea), Will Antwi (England U19s Head Coach), Pete Wild (former Barrow manager), Leighton Baines (U18s Lead, Everton), Mark Jackson (Head Coach, Central Coast Mariners). Alan Sheehan (Assistant, Swansea City), Louise Newstead (Head of Coach Development, PFA), Kalam Mooniaruck (Head of Coach Development, West Ham), Jody Cauldwell (Head of Coaching and Player Development, Nottingham Forest), Ben Wilkinson (U18s Head Coach, Manchester City), Matt Bloomfield (Manager, Wycombe Wanderers), Vicky Jepson (Assistant, Tottenham Women), Micah Hyde (Senior Professional Development Phase Coach, QPR), Mehmet Ali (U21s Head Coach, Arsenal), Hassan Sulaiman (U18s Head Coach, Chelsea), Matt Beard (Manager, Liverpool Women), Mike Scott (Head of Coaching, Wolves).
