Gregor Rioch

I provide practical one-to-one mentoring for university students, graduates and professionals who are looking to develop their career within professional sport and football.

I have spent 35 years working in professional football, including more than 15 years as an Academy Manager and most recently as Sporting Director at a League One club. I hold a UEFA Pro Licence and postgraduate qualifications in Sports Directorship and Football Academy Management.

My approach is to understand the individual, their experience, their ambitions and where they would like their career to go, before helping them identify the practical steps required to achieve their goals.

Sessions are structured around the individual's objectives and focus on areas such as career planning, CV and LinkedIn development, identifying suitable clubs and organisations, building professional networks, preparing applications and interviews, developing a professional portfolio, and understanding how different departments within a professional sports organisation operate.

I also support aspiring coaches and football professionals who want to develop their leadership skills and progress towards more senior roles within the game.

I will help you create a clear development plan with specific objectives and actions to work towards. Follow-up sessions will be used to review progress, discuss challenges, prepare for opportunities and maintain momentum.

I also welcome students studying Sports Management, Sports Directorship, Football Business, Sports Science, Coaching and related subjects who want to understand how their academic learning can be applied within a real professional sporting environment.

My aim is not simply to provide information, but to share practical experience, challenge your thinking, provide honest feedback and help you develop the confidence and direction to take the next step in your career.