Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) signed a collaboration agreement on 23 October 2026 to establish the Career and Entrepreneurship Development Programme for Football Players, an initiative aimed at creating new opportunities for training, career development and entrepreneurship for football players, both during and after their sporting careers. The partnership also brings together Associação Empresarial Serra da Lousã (AESL), Associação de Futebol de Coimbra (AFC), Sindicato dos Jogadores Profissionais de Futebol (SJPF) and Instituto Superior Miguel Torga (ISMT).
The agreement was signed during the celebrations marking the 104th anniversary of Associação de Futebol de Coimbra.
The programme aims to recognise the skills developed throughout a sporting career, such as discipline, leadership, resilience, teamwork and the ability to overcome challenges, highlighting their value in other professional contexts.
Through this initiative, the partners seek to create opportunities for football players to develop new skills, explore alternative career paths and identify opportunities to establish businesses.
As part of the partnership, IPN will contribute its expertise in innovation, mentoring and business incubation. AESL will be responsible for establishing links with the business community, mobilising companies, entrepreneurs and opportunities in the region. AFC will ensure connections with clubs and players, while SJPF will contribute its experience in supporting players throughout their careers. ISMT will provide academic knowledge and training.
The initiative will begin as a pilot project, with training activities, engagement with companies and the identification of professional and business opportunities.
