- Published
The scene resembles an Oxbridge graduation ceremony, but those gathered in caps and gowns are in fact Premier League footballers or former players who have won major honours in Europe and around the world.
asserted
who → publish → world
The 2026 cohort of graduates from the PFA Business School includes Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Coventry City striker Taiwo Awoniyi and a host of well-known figures.
asserted
cohort → include → figures
In the event at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, Cesar Azpilicueta tells the group how studying on the morning of the 2021 Champions League final helped take his mind off the occasion before he captained Chelsea to a 1-0 win over Manchester City in Porto.
asserted
he → tell → Porto
Dewsbury-Hall, 28, travelled by train from Merseyside to London to attend the ceremony and, despite being in the best form of his career, explains why he had completed a postgraduate diploma in global football sport directorship.
asserted
he → travel → directorship
The former Leicester City and Chelsea player tells BBC Sport: "I hope I've got a long time left in football.
asserted
I → tell → football
But as a person, I'm always trying to learn and develop away from the pitch.
asserted
I → try → pitch
I don't want to stop playing and then just sit around doing nothing.
"
asserted
I → want → nothing
This was something that genuinely interested me.
asserted
that → interest → me
Whether I use it in the future, we'll see, but it's always good to do it now rather than wait until you've finished playing.
asserted
you → use → it
"If the time ever comes when an opportunity presents itself, luckily I've got something that can help me."
asserted
that → come → me
The assembled players are potential leaders in football's future.
asserted
players → assemble → future
Awoniyi, 29, joined Coventry from Nottingham Forest during the summer, and he remains part of Nigeria's squad as they attempt to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
asserted
they → join → Nations
The striker has also continued his studies throughout his playing career.
asserted
striker → continue → career
"I've got a degree in business management and another diploma, so this is my third qualification," he says.
asserted
he → get → management
Awoniyi's father, Solomon, has previously spoken about his strict approach to education.
asserted
father → speak → education
At times it almost prevented his son from pursuing a career in football, but Awoniyi progressed from the Imperial Soccer Academy to Liverpool before making his name in German football with Union Berlin.
asserted
Awoniyi → prevent → Berlin
"I say to people I am a quiet dreamer," says Awoniyi, who was born in Ilorin, Nigeria.
asserted
who → say → Ilorin
"I always felt education was important.
asserted
education → feel → ?
It was a promise I made to my dad that if I played football, I would keep studying.
asserted
I → make → football
"That's what I have done and I am proud of it."
asserted
I → do → it
The stereotype-busting footballers
Awoniyi points to the "ups and downs" he has experienced as a footballer, referencing the serious injury he suffered in May 2025 when he was placed in a medically induced coma after rupturing an intestine in a collision with a goalpost when playing for Nottingham Forest against Leicester City.
uncertain
he → bust → City
To him, it is important to keep improving and to recognise there is more to life than football, which is where the Professional Footballers' Association course comes in.
asserted
course → keep → football
Awoniyi says: "It's not like a 9-5 job in football.
asserted
It → say → football
We go in and sometimes finish quite early and, although it's challenging, I think every footballer has time in the evening for something like this business school.
asserted
footballer → go → school
Of course, it demands a lot from you and it's all about how willing you are to do it.
asserted
you → demand → it
I say to people there are a lot of things that are bigger than football.
asserted
that → say → football
"Yes, football is our passion, but we are normal human beings as well and maybe that's something the world doesn't always see.
asserted
world → see → ?
The graduates certainly appear no different from anyone else celebrating an academic achievement, exhibiting their pride.
asserted
graduates → appear → pride
Awoniyi has brought members of his extended family to the ceremony, while Dewsbury-Hall seeks out former Everton midfielder Tim Cahill, now working in Qatari football, to discuss the art of scoring goals.
asserted
Hall → bring → goals
"Obviously there are stereotypes around footballers," Dewsbury-Hall says.
asserted
Hall → be → footballers
"But in every industry there are smart people and there are people who aren't so smart.
asserted
who → be → industry
You'd be surprised how many intelligent people there are in football.
asserted
You → be → football
"Maybe some players just don't want to do things like this, but they easily could.
uncertain
they → want → this
"I'm not saying this is my passion, but it's something I've done to show that footballers can complete these kinds of courses while they're still playing.
asserted
they → say → courses
Who knows where it will lead?"
asserted
it → know → ?
The course is designed to run alongside a football career.
asserted
course → design → career
Seminars are scheduled to minimise clashes with matches and training sessions.
asserted
Seminars → schedule → matches
Players can study in their own time, although Dewsbury-Hall says he has had some "weird looks" while studying on an iPad during journeys home from away games.
asserted
he → study → games
Every graduate has a different story.
asserted
graduate → have → story
For Wycombe Wanderers defender Steve Cook, who captained Bournemouth in the Premier League earlier in his career, the course marked a return to formal education for the first time since his school days.
asserted
course → captain → days
…and 15 more, not listed.
The Aporia
