Solo Session: A World Cup 11 of Academic Footballers

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 the MetLife Stadium celebrating this unique moment that 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 turid NAK, 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 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 three plus year university degree. I decided to go on a 433 formation and this is my 11 aside for the final. In goal is Edwin van Desaah, 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 Johann Kroeff Institute. For my 4 defenders, the right back is former Slovakian international Martin Dobrochka, 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 center backs are former Belgium 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 Yuto Nagatomo who appeared at the Shia's World Cup and had a successful career at Enter Angela Tasseri. He obtained ABA in political economy at Meiji University for my free midfielders. It's packed with two powerhouses and the First Division Portuguese league notable Rodri. You didn't expect this one. The former Balandor winner and Champions League winner for Manchester City completed his BA in business Administration and Management at How may the 1st university in 2021 next? Is 2 time UEFA your winner, World Cup winner, 4 time Champions League winner and many other Spanish domestic trophies. Andres Iniesta, who earned ABA in physical activity and sports science at the Blancherna Universitat Ramon Lul. He also has ABA in Biology from the University of Castilla La Mancha and then Tarantini, a former Portuguese footballer who played for Rewav 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 to read NAK PhD in Special Needs Education and Felix Olabi 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 Vinfica player Jean Tomasz, 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 some illustrious players who also obtained degrees better check notable Chelsea, Arsenal and check your goalkeeper. Earned his MBA from Longford International College, former England international Glenn Johnson, who studied ABA in mathematics at the Open University. Steve Palmer, a Premier League centre back who played for Ipswich Town, Watford, QPR and MK Dons. Obtained ABA in software engineering from the University of Cambridge, AC Milan's and England's centre back Ficayo Tumori. Obtained ABA in business management at the Open University. Clarence Zeidorf, Champions League winner for Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan. Studied an MBA at Bokoni University, gaining his nickname of in Professore. For his amazing skills on the pitch combined with these academic commitments, the late Brazilian midfielder Doctor Socrates, who studied medicine with a speciality in orthopedic while playing professionally for Brazil and clubs like Fiorentina, Corinthians and Flamingo. Juan Mata, a World Cup, Euro, Champions League and Europa League winner and former Valencia, Chelsea and Manchester United winger and attacking midfielder, obtained 2°, where the first was in journalism and the second in sports science at the University of Camilo. Jose Sela, Nemanja Matic, former Serbian international, Benfica, Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder, obtained ABA in business studies from the University of Belgrade. Andre Archavin, former Arsenal winger and Russian international who obtained a degree in fashion design at the University of Technology and Design of Saint Petersburg. Romello Lukaku, who also played at this World Cup for Belgium, has earned ABA in tourism and international relations at the University of Louvre. And finally, Polish striker Robert Levandowski, who besides winning the Champions League for Bayern Munich, completed ABA in PE with a focus on coaching and management at Warsaw's School of Education and Sports. And for my coach is former Arsenal manager and current FIFA's Chief of Global Football Development Ahsen Wenger, who completed ABA in Economics at the University of Strasbourg, earning the nickname Le Professor. Just like Zeidorf, this is my academic roster with former and current footballers who excelled on the pitch and outside of it and are ready for the World Cup final. Just like many of us, they managed 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.