Atlético de Madrid and Grupo UAX Form Long-Term Academic Partnership.

Roger Hampel

Image: Atlético de Madrid

Atlético de Madrid has entered into a strategic agreement with Grupo UAX, naming Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio as the club’s Official University. The partnership formalises a long-term collaboration focused on education, applied research and professional development across both sporting and corporate functions.

The agreement positions education as a structural pillar within Atlético de Madrid’s operating model, extending beyond first-team performance into talent development, governance and international expansion.

Education Integrated Into Club Operations Atlético de Madrid

Under the partnership, Atlético de Madrid and Grupo UAX will co-develop academic programmes covering the full educational spectrum, from vocational training and undergraduate degrees to postgraduate and doctoral-level qualifications. Areas of focus include high-performance sport, sports science, data and technology, and corporate management.

A defining feature of the agreement is the direct involvement of Atlético de Madrid professionals as teaching staff. Executives, technical specialists and practitioners from across the club will contribute through lectures and masterclasses, embedding real-world operational knowledge into academic delivery.

In parallel, students from Grupo UAX institutions will gain access to internship placements across Atlético de Madrid’s organisational structure, not limited to sporting departments. This reflects a growing recognition of football clubs as complex multi-disciplinary organisations rather than purely sporting entities.

Practical Learning and Access to Elite Football Environment

Beyond classroom-based education, the partnership includes exclusive experiential learning opportunities. Students will be able to observe and analyse the internal functioning of an elite football club, gaining exposure to areas such as performance operations, business management, communications and commercial activity.

International Extension Across Atlético Group Clubs

The agreement has an explicit international dimension. Educational programmes developed in Madrid will be extended to Atlético de Madrid’s affiliated clubs in Atlético de San Luis and Atlético Ottawa, allowing the club group to standardise knowledge transfer and professional development across markets.

Upskilling Players and Staff

The partnership also addresses internal development. Through The Valley Business & Tech School, part of Grupo UAX, Atlético de Madrid employees and players across all categories will gain access to business and technology education programmes.

The agreement includes scholarships and ongoing learning opportunities, reinforcing a long-term approach to career development that extends beyond active playing careers.

Executive Comment

Óscar Mayo, Director General of Revenues and Operations at Atlético de Madrid, said:

“Atlético de Madrid is a club that looks to the future with optimism, and education is a fundamental pillar in building that future. Having Grupo UAX as our academic partner provides the expertise to create new growth opportunities for our players and employees, while also allowing us to participate directly in the education of future professionals within the sports industry.”