Career Guide
One of the biggest myths in football is that you need to have played professionally to become a coach. The truth? Some of the most successful coaches never played at the top level. What matters is your passion for developing players, your commitment to learning, and your willingness to follow the qualification pathway.
Football coaching offers careers at every level—from part-time grassroots roles that fit around other work to full-time professional positions that put you at the heart of elite football. Here’s what’s actually possible and how to get there.
Let’s talk numbers. Coaching salaries vary enormously based on qualification level, role type, and whether you’re working part-time or full-time.
| Role | Typical Rate | Qualification Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Grassroots volunteer | Expenses only | UEFA C Licence |
| Community coach | £12-18/hour | UEFA C Licence |
| Private 1-to-1 sessions | £25-50/hour | UEFA B Licence |
| Holiday camp coach | £80-150/day | UEFA C Licence |
| School sports coach | £15-25/hour | UEFA C Licence |
| Role | Salary Range | Qualification Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Community Trust Coach | £18,000-£25,000 | UEFA C Licence / UEFA B Licence |
| Academy Foundation Coach | £22,000-£32,000 | UEFA B Licence |
| Academy Youth Coach | £28,000-£45,000 | UEFA B Licence / UEFA A Licence |
| Semi-Pro Head Coach | £15,000-£35,000 | UEFA B Licence |
| Professional Club Assistant | £35,000-£80,000+ | UEFA A Licence |
| EFL Head Coach/Manager | £50,000-£250,000+ | UEFA Pro Licence |
| Premier League Manager | £1,000,000-£10,000,000+ | UEFA Pro Licence |
Average UK football coach salary: approximately £28,000 (full-time equivalent)
Working with local clubs, schools, and community programmes. Flexible hours, often part-time, genuine impact on young players’ lives.
Typical roles:
Qualifications needed: UEFA C Licence minimum, UEFA B Licence advantageous
Pros: Flexible, accessible, rewarding, low barrier to entry Cons: Often part-time, lower pay, limited progression without further qualifications
Developing talented young players within professional club environments. Structured progression, better pay, working within the EPPP framework.
Typical roles:
Qualifications needed: UEFA B Licence minimum for all academy roles
Pros: Professional environment, clear structure, competitive salaries, player development focus Cons: Competitive to enter, demanding hours, pressure to develop talent
Coaching at senior professional level—the pinnacle for most coaches.
Typical roles:
Qualifications needed: {UEFA A Licence} for assistant roles, {UEFA Pro Licence} for management
Pros: Highest salaries, elite environment, maximum influence Cons: Extremely competitive, high pressure, job insecurity
The fastest-growing area of the game with increasing professional opportunities.
Typical roles:
Qualifications needed: Same as men’s pathway— UEFA C Licence through UEFA Pro Licence
Pros: Growing investment, increasing opportunities, less saturated than men’s game Cons: Still developing infrastructure, some roles lower paid than men’s equivalents
Focusing on specific aspects of the game rather than general team coaching.
Specialist areas:
Qualifications needed: Specialist UEFA qualifications (Goalkeeper B/A) plus relevant certifications
Pros: Less competition, clear expertise, can work across multiple teams Cons: Narrower job market, dependent on head coach preferences
Contact your local grassroots club. They always need help, and this gives you practical experience while you study. You’ll learn whether coaching is really for you before investing in qualifications.
This online course (£160, often funded FREE) gives you the basics and qualifies you for the UEFA C Licence. No experience required.
Your first proper qualification. With funding, this can cost as little as £95. You’ll need to be actively coaching a team throughout the course.
Coach regularly. Learn from others. Attend CPD events. Reflect on your sessions. The UEFA B Licence requires 12 months of post-C experience for good reason—you need time to apply what you’ve learned.
Do you want to stay in grassroots? Progress to academy level? Specialise in goalkeeping or analysis? Your next qualification should match your career goals.
Short answer: No.
The UEFA qualification pathway is based entirely on coaching competence, not playing history. Many successful coaches at all levels never played professionally.
What matters more than playing experience:
Former professional players may have an accelerated entry to {UEFA B Licence}, but they still need to demonstrate coaching competence. Playing ability doesn’t automatically transfer to coaching ability.
Academy roles are the goal for many coaches. Here’s how to get there:
Essential requirements:
What helps you stand out:
How to find opportunities:
Reality check: Academy roles are competitive. Many coaches apply for every position. Persistence, continued development, and networking matter as much as qualifications.
Rushing through qualifications Each level requires genuine experience to apply. Coaches who rush often struggle at higher levels because they lack foundational skills.
Ignoring grassroots experience Even if you want to coach at elite level, grassroots experience teaches fundamentals you can’t learn elsewhere. Don’t skip this stage.
Undervaluing networking Many coaching jobs come through personal connections. Attend courses, CPD events, and coaching conferences. Build relationships with other coaches.
Waiting for the perfect opportunity Start wherever you can. The best coaches built experience through volunteer roles, school programmes, and community coaching before landing their “ideal” jobs.
Neglecting your own development Qualifications are the start, not the end. The best coaches never stop learning—through CPD, observation, reading, and reflection.
Yes, but it takes time. Most coaches start part-time while building experience and qualifications. Full-time roles typically require {UEFA B Licence} minimum and become more available as you progress. Many coaches combine multiple part-time roles before securing full-time positions.
Grassroots roles are abundant but often volunteer or low-paid. Academy and professional roles are competitive but growing, especially in women’s football. The coaching workforce is expanding, but so is the number of qualified coaches. Qualifications are necessary but not sufficient—experience and networking matter too.
Absolutely not. Coaching benefits from life experience. Many successful coaches started later in life, bringing maturity, communication skills, and perspective that younger coaches lack. The pathway has no age limit.
It depends on your goals. General coaching offers more role flexibility. Specialisation (goalkeeping, analysis, fitness) can reduce competition for specific roles but narrows your options. Many coaches stay general through {UEFA B Licence} before deciding whether to specialise.
Both matter. Qualifications open doors—many roles have minimum requirements you can’t bypass. But experience determines whether you succeed in those roles. The best coaches have strong qualifications AND substantial practical experience.
Football coaching offers something rare—a career built on passion where you can genuinely impact people’s lives. Whether you want to help kids at your local club or manage in the Premier League, the pathway is clear and the support is available.
The only question is whether you’re ready to take the first step.
