Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has joined an exclusive group to have completed their UEFA Pro Licence.
Ainsworth completed an 18-month programme and celebrated during a graduation ceremony last week at England FA’s national football centre St George’s Park.
The Gills boss was among a group of 25 other football footballing professionals who have joined an exclusive alumni of just 600 UEFA Pro Diploma graduates.
Among those also picking up their certificate for completing the course was Stockport County manager Dave Challinor, former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who has recently been at Norwich City in a coaching capacity, and Peterborough assistant manager Kieran Scarff.
Ainsworth, 52, said: “The last 18 months have just given me so many great memories and so many great new friends.
“The game can be a lonely place sometimes, but to have the cohort to lean on, and I’m sure in the future, is really special and that’s what the Pro Diploma gives you.
“The thing that stands out to me on the course is that people and character and values are probably more important than tactics and fitness.
“Being yourself and being authentic has come up many times throughout the course, when we’ve had hard times it’s been about sticking to your values and principles and that’ll see you through.”
As the highest professional game coaching course offered by England Football Learning, the UEFA Pro Diploma is designed to develop highly skilled and aspiring leaders, managers and coaches to create sustained success in football.
It is delivered across seven modules during the 18 months in a mixture of face-to-face learning, independent study, and coach development visits to support learning across the duration.
Modules focus on developing winning leadership and management strategies that learners can take back into their
coaching environments across the Premier League, EFL, Barclays Women’s Super League, Barclays Women’s Championship and the international game.
To aid their learning, the cohort participated in regular theory and practical workshops where they were exposed to the latest technologies in the game to help them learn to cope with the latest developments of the game.
Additionally, they also had chances to hear from inspirational leaders sharing insights and experiences from football and business. England women’s head coach Sarina Wiegman and former England men’s manager, Gareth Southgate were amongst those to meet the group.
