Solo Session: A World Cup 11 of Academic Footballers

Students and Graduates!

A World Cup XI where everyone did their homework: PhDs, MBAs, and BAs across the pitch. In this World Cup 2026 final where Spain and Argentina are playing for the prestigious trophy that will add another star to their kits.

For this late-night solo session, I launch an 11-a-side squad, with some illustrious players on the bench and a manager to manage the 90 minutes with a 4-3-3 formation. This roster features players who earned academic degrees during and after their careers.

Thank you all for tuning in, it has been a pleasure!

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 3:16

Hello students and graduates, welcome to PhD Launch, the podcast of late-night talks in which PhDs have a drink and talk about their research topics. The World Cup is coming to an end. We had two breathtaking semi-final matches where each team was tactically cautious to get the win. On the 19th of July, will it be Spain or Argentina to lift up the World Cup? Despite all the controversies, congratulations nevertheless for your amazing campaign. You've made the billions around the world, the millions in each of their hosting countries, and the thousands of football fans watching at MetLife Stadium celebrating this unique moment have happens every four years. And because it's the final of the World Cup, I made up an 11 fantasy lineup with footballers who played for their respective national teams, but with university degrees. Following my last solo session about former German international and PhD to Ridnack, I think having a roster of academic footballers would be great for this final match. It took me quite some time to research them and their original positions on the pitch, as well as their playing style and where they'd fit best for my formation in case of adapting them to other roles. I didn't call up footballers who earned honorary degrees despite their talent, but only those who, alongside their professional footballing commitments, managed to successfully complete a 3-plus year university degree. I decided to go on a full-free-free formation, and this is my 11 aside for the final. In goal is Edwin van der Saar, a Champions League winner for Ajax and Manchester United, and one of the best Dutch goalkeepers of his generation, has a master's in sports and brand management at the Johan Kruif Institute. For my four defenders, the right back is former Slovakian international Martin Dobrotka, originally a center back, but he can play as a right back as well. He has a PhD in political science, whose dissertation is about the presidential elections of Slovakia between 2009 and 2014. My centre backs are former Belgian player who was third at the 2018 World Cup, and current Bayern Munich coach Vincent Company, who holds an MBA from the University of Manchester, and former Italian international and my team captain Giorgio Chiellini, whose last World Cup appearance was in 2014 at Brazil, and also has an MBA from the University of Turin. Left back is Giuto Nagatomo, who appeared at the Shiers World Cup and had a successful career at Enter and Galatasurai. He obtained a BA in political economy at Meiji University. For my free midfielders, it's packed with two powerhouses and a first division Portuguese League notable. Rodri,

Welcome And World Cup Build-Up

SPEAKER_00 6:32

you didn't expect this one. The former Ballandor winner and Champions League winner for Manchester City completed his BA in business administration and management at Caume I University in 2021. Next is two-time UEFA Euro winner, World Cup winner, four-time Champions League winner, and many other Spanish domestic trophies, Andres Iniesta, who earned a BA in physical activity and sports science at the Blanquerna Universitat Ramon Lul. He also has a BA in biology from the University of Castilla-La Mancha. And then Tarantini, a former Portuguese footballer who played for Riuavo

The Rules For Academic Selections

SPEAKER_00 7:20

and earned his PhD in sports science at the University of Beira Interior, writing his dissertation about the profile of the athletic careers of Portuguese footballers in the last 50 years. For my wingers, we have Turid Nak, PhD in special needs education, and Felix Owalabi, who won the AFCON in 1980 for Nigeria and has a PhD in PE at the University of Ibadan. And my lone striker is former Portuguese International and Benfica player João Tomás, who earned his PhD at the University of Coimbra by defending his thesis about the constraints associated with the unsuccessful as well as successful transition of Portuguese junior players to the senior teams. Besides my prestigious 11 aside, I also have on the bench

Goalkeeper And Defensive Line Picks

SPEAKER_00 8:19

some illustrious players who also obtained degrees. Petra Czek, notable Chelsea Arsenal and Czechia goalkeeper, earned his MBA from Longford International College. Former England International Glenn Johnson, who studied a BA in mathematics at the Open University. Steve Palmer, a Premier League centre back, who played for Ipswich Town, Watford, QPR and MK Dons, obtained a BA in software engineering from the University of Cambridge. AC Milan's and England's centre back, Ficao Tomori, obtained a BA in business management at the Open University. Clarence Zedov, Champions League winner for Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan, studied an MBA at Bocconi University, gaining his nickname of Il Professore for his amazing skills on the pitch combined with his academic commitments. The late Brazilian midfielder Dr. Socrates, who studied medicine with a speciality in orthopedia while playing professionally for Brazil and clubs like Fiorentina, Corinthians and Flamengo.

Midfielders With Serious Study Credentials

SPEAKER_00 9:41

Juan Mata, a World Cup Euro Champions League and Europa League winner, and former Valencia, Chelsea and Manchester United winger and attacking midfielder, obtained two degrees, where the first was in journalism and the second in sports science at the University of Camilo Jose Sela. Neman Yamatic, former Serbian International, Benfica, Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder, obtained a BA in business studies from the University of Belgrade. Andrei Arshavin, former Arsenal winger and Russian international who obtained a degree in fashion design at the University of Technology and Design of St. Petersburg. Romello Lukaku, who also played at this World Cup for Belgium, has earned a BA in Tourism and International Relations at the University of Leuven. And finally, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who besides winning the Champions League for Bayern Munich, completed

Wingers And A PhD Striker

SPEAKER_00 10:51

a BA in PE with a focus on coaching and management at Warsaw's School of Education and Sport. And for my coach is former Arsenal manager and current FIFA's chief of global football development Arsène Wenger, who completed a BA in economics at the University of Strasbourg, earning the nickname Le Professeur, just like Ziedorf. This is my academic roster with former and current footballers who excelled on the pitch and outside of it, and are ready

Bench Options With Extra Degrees

SPEAKER_00 11:30

for the World Cup final. Just like many of us, they manage to have the discipline and desire to obtain academic degrees while playing competitively. For many elite footballers, playing the beautiful game, having an academic degree becomes even richer when developing academic skills and combining them with their footballing skills, which is something that keeps increasing nowadays. Thank you all for tuning in. It has been a pleasure.