College graduate Martin Hasek has a multifaceted football background — from player and coach to top-level executive. Today, as Sporting Director of FK Dukla Prague, he is responsible for the sporting direction of the legendary club, shaping its development strategy in the modern European football environment. In this conversation, he speaks about education, people in football, and the fundamentals without which the future of the game cannot be built.
— Which lessons from your career do you consider the most valuable for young professionals who are just starting their journey in football?
— I am convinced that real life is primarily about interpersonal relationships. That is why this aspect is crucial even in the complex football environment, where many different interests intersect and work is carried out under significant pressure.
— In your opinion, what makes football education truly high-quality and relevant for today’s European football?
— Football is becoming increasingly demanding in terms of professional expertise. It is impossible to succeed without appropriate specialized education, but at the same time it is essential to see things in a broader context, to connect knowledge from different fields, and to keep learning throughout one’s life… school is only the beginning.
— Which competencies and skills do you consider most important for future coaches, managers, and football analysts?
— The ability to communicate well, then communication itself, and finally communicativeness 🙂
— What, in your view, makes Prague Football College unique, and what role can it play in preparing a new generation of football professionals?
— First, it offers an excellent opportunity to build relationships and create valuable contacts for the future. Second, the content of the education itself, which focuses on football in all its complexity. And last but not least, the opportunity to meet and listen to the ideas of outstanding personalities among the lecturers.
— What type of student do you consider ideal for your college? Which qualities and motivations are key to success?
— The ideal student has strong inner motivation for personal development, sees education as a natural part of life, and is at the same time patient and persistent in their work.
— How important have areas such as Big Data, analytics, sports management, and media become today within the structure of football clubs?
— They have become absolutely essential components, but it is always necessary to remember moderation and the fact that clubs exist primarily for the game that is played on the pitch on match day.
— What is the main benefit of combining theory with practice in professional clubs?
— It lies in the very principle of this connection… theory without practice is empty straw.
— Which experience from your career do you consider the most valuable for future students?
— Regardless of the field you work in or how successful your career is, the most important thing is always to strive to be the best possible human being.
— How do you assess the potential for cooperation between Prague Football College and professional clubs, for example Dukla Prague?
— I consider support for the school from clubs to be quite natural, although the full potential of such cooperation is still difficult to assess.
— What role does high-quality football education play in shaping the future of Czech and European football?
— We all want to continuously improve the product called football. But without a sufficient number of motivated and fully competent people throughout the entire football structure — in all countries — this is simply impossible.