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UEFA SLO Education Programme

The SLO Education Programme provides the tools, knowledge and skills needed to tackle the complex challenges of the job.

Programme overview

The SLO Education Programme is developed in cooperation with Football Supporters Europe (FSE) to offer SLOs the knowledge, skills and tools they need to thrive in this very challenging position. As a modular programme, it can be organised in one workshop of four days or two workshops of two days. This flexibility enables national associations to cater to the needs of their local context. Part of the course can be over the weekend to offer part-time SLOs the opportunity to balance it with their professional obligations.

The first day, dedicated to the SLO environment, is mandatory. The host national association can then choose between one and three theme days: communication with stakeholders; working with fans; and SLO soft skills.

Participants are selected by the national association. We recommend a maximum of 12-24 people to ensure the sessions remain interactive and practical. The programme is mostly delivered in the national language to ensure every SLO in the country can benefit from it. Exceptionally, and if requested by multiple national associations, an adapted regional programme can be organised.

Quick view

Type of learning
E-learning Face-to-Face
Skills Trained
Soft skills Hard skills
Estimated hours of learning
30
Contact us

Faq

  • Who Supporter Liaison Officers in clubs and national associations
  • When Several intakes per year
  • How long 2 to 4 days
  • Where Throughout Europe
  • Price Covered by UEFA, FSE and the host national association
  • Number of participants 12–24 (recommended)
  • Certification Certificate of completion
  • Language Adapted to the local context
  • Applications Through National Associations

Takeaways

  • Deeper understanding of the SLO’s role and responsibilities
  • Tools and techniques to work with all stakeholders
  • Strong network of fellow SLOs in the country

IS THIS PROGRAMME
SUITED FOR YOU?

Simon Vangsgaard Jensen Description

Simon Vangsgaard Jensen Description

28, DanisH
Supporter Liaisons Officer for AaB

Since he was a child, Simon has been a fan of AaB and started attending matches with his father. When he grew older, Simon has become more and more interested in the fan scene and the experience around a football match in general. He has both been an active fan traveling to numerous away matches and a fan on the main stand. He feels like he represents many of the AaB segments. For Simon, AaB is the center of his football universe. As he started studying and build his professional career, he focused on marketing and the experience industry. When the possibility came for him to join the team at AaB, he immediately took it.

Simon tries to bring as much fan knowledge and fan point of view in both his work and with his colleagues. He has experience in areas such as ticketing, communication, merchandise and the stadium experience. In every of those categories he can see the benefits of having a fan point of view trying to make the best possible fit to the end user: the fan. He also likes to travel a lot and experience other stadiums. From that raise a lot of questions and he sees things that he can bring home with him and try to answer the questions and implement good ideas in the home set-up.

Skills

  • Fan experience
  • Marketing and communication
  • Ticketing

Looking for

  • Tools to make it easier to engage and communicate with fans
  • Tips to handle situations through conflict management
  • A programme that shows “the whole” spectrum of what it means to be a SLO
  • Inspiration and methods of how to grow in the role of a SLO within the organisation
Ivan Kuznetsov

Ivan Kuznetsov

36, Russian, FC Lokomotiv Moscow SLO and Russian National Team SLO

Ivan is а SLO Education Programme participant. He first got in the stands as a fan almost 20 years ago. Later he had gone through different positions in the football industry: active member of a fan group, editor-in-chief of Russia’s most popular fan magazine, SLO for the Russian National team and FC Lokomotiv Moscow SLO.

Throughout his professional life Ivan has earned his precious experience in such major tournaments as FIFA World Cup,  UEFA European Football Championship, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League, more than 100 matches with his club and more than 30 matches with the National team.

Skills

  • Knowledge of the football industry
  • Great experience in working with fans
  • Communication skills

Looking for

  • Expanding his knowledge
  • Connections with SLOs from Europe
  • Get new experience
Anders Hagen

Anders Hagen

30, Danish, SLO for the Denmark National Teams

Anders has followed and traveled with the danish national team for years as a fan. Later on, Anders covered the danish team – and danish fan culture as a journalist for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Nowadays, Anders is living his dream, working for the danish fans inside the Danish Football Federation. Anders is trying to make the fan-experience for the danish fans better and attempting to break down the walls between the Danish Football Federation and the fans.

Skills

  • Media and journalistic know how
  • Experience with sports industry
  • Public speaking

Looking for

  • Network and relations in Danish and European fan forums
  • Know how in politics of European football
  • Tools to know how to work with police and authorities

What our students and experts say

Mark Brindle
"The UEFA SLO Education programme was an incredible experience both from an educational and networking perspective. It reinforces the role of the SLO and I would recommend that every SLO should take part at their earliest opportunity." Mark Brindle SLO at Arsenal FC
Ronan Evain
"As SLOs occupy an increasingly central role in European football, the UEFA SLO Education programme offers critical support in helping to improve the understanding around the impact of the role, as well as learning good practices from across Europe. An integrated approach to safety, security, and service at games is critical in delivering good matchday experiences, and SLOs are the ones that work directly with fans and place a strong emphasis on service. This programme speaks to that element and is tailored to each country’s specific requirements, taking into consideration the specificities of the local fan culture, the general football environment, and national expertise available as needed." Ronan Evain Executive Director at Football Supporters Europe
Michael van Praag
"Nowadays, the SLO takes a vital role in the communication between clubs / federations, and their supporters. Thanks to them, there is always a door to knock on. And that is very important, because most supporters consider their club as they lives." Michael van Praag Former Chairman of Ajax Amsterdam and the Dutch 1st Division League
Quentin Gilbert
"From its birth a couple years ago, the SLO function is continuously expanding. Step by step its importance is being recognized by the multiple stakeholders active in the football sphere. In order to definitely place SLOs in the football environment, creating and insufflating a common understanding of the function is key. By proposing a specific training on the subject based on workshops, lectures and best practices exchanges, the UEFA Academy program has been a tremendous added value along the SLO development way. The first part of the program was just great and I am personally excited to discover the second section" Quentin Gilbert SLO, Standard de Liège

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