A successful trip to Munich for the Mentee Development Programme

The 2022/23 Mentee Development Programme completed a study trip to Munich in April, visiting the FC Bayern Munich Academy, to continue their bespoke learning experience. 

The study trip, which forms part of a season-long agile learning and development programme, aimed to give our mentees a comprehensive insight into the day-to-day workings of a professional club at the top level of the game.

The opportunity to visit FC Bayern Munich came about as they look to explore the diversity and inclusion space. Throughout the four-days, the mentees had the opportunity to observe a range of training sessions and matches, including the Bayern Munich Boys’ U15s training, a Men’s U19s game, Men’s First Team training and their Bundesliga game vs Hoffenheim, and a Bayern Basketball Europa League game. 

In addition to spending time at the Bayern Munich academy, the mentees took part in a workshop around diversity and inclusion, attended by several members of Bayern Munich staff, as well as skills labs and a tactical analysis workshop hosted by Si Houston (Professional Game Team Performance Analyst). 

The trip was a huge success for all involved, with the added bonus of coaches meeting the FC Bayern Munich First Team Head Coach Thomas Tuchel (pictured below). 

The Mentee Development Programme, which is run in partnership with The Chelsea Foundation, seeks to address the underrepresentation of coaches from historically underrepresented backgrounds. The group of 10 aspirational coaches on the initiative are given a season-long placement to support and accelerate their professional development, focused around player development and coupled with face-to-face opportunities to observe this in action with club visits.

Butch Fazal, Mentee Development Programme lead, spoke on the importance of study trips like this, and how they are essential for the development of coaches on the programme: "The trip to Munich was an invaluable experience for our mentees. It gave them a unique insight into the inner workings of a top professional club and allowed them to observe training sessions and matches across multiple levels and age ranges. These experiences are crucial for our coaches as we seek to help them break into the professional game."

Yasar Latif, one of the coaches on this year’s Mentee Development Programme, hailed the trip as a success, saying: “The study trip provided us with a fascinating opportunity to gain an insight into the day-to-day workings of one of the world's elite clubs in FC Bayern Munich. In addition, we were provided with a platform to engage and share best practices with the MD Team around the benefits of developing a diverse workforce. The trip was an inspirational experience to remember for all those involved."

The Mentee Development Programme is an unpaid programme, but all incidental expenses are covered over the season. The selected mentees receive an individualised development action plan based on their needs and wants, as well as the opportunity to complete a National Talent ID and Scouting qualification. 

Find out more about the Mentee Development Programme.