Christian Seifert honoured with EASM European Sport Manager Award Cologne

Christian Seifert honoured with EASM European Sport Manager Award Cologne

Christian Seifert (52), CEO of DFL Deutsche Fussball Liga, which is responsible for the organisation and marketing of the German football Bundesliga, received the first EASM European Sport Manager Award 2021 today as recognition for his significant involvement and outstanding contribution to the European sport management field as a visionary pioneer in times of the pandemic.
More than 200 sport managers and scholars welcomed the new award and the first winner at the online conference “EASM 2021 Festival of Sport Management Research and Practice”.

The EASM Board honoured Christian Seifert for demonstrating the highest leadership qualities in very difficult times. Thanks to the awardee and his team, the German Football Bundesliga was the first one, who restarted playing football again approximately one year ago after two months of disruption. By sharing the concept and experience with colleagues from other sports and leagues from around the world, the DFL created the conditions for continuing professional sports and events. The awardee demonstrated the highest standards in collegiality and solidarity. Christian Seifert reflects EASM’s values of leadership, service and scholarship and inspires young, aspiring future sport managers.

Christian Seifert gratefully accepted the award and commented: “I feel very honoured receiving the first EASM European Sport Manager Award and I take this award on behalf of my entire team because without the support of many people within and outside the DFL the successful restart of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 would not have been possible.”

The EASM Board warmly congratulates Christian Seifert and his team on this prestigious award.

About the award
The EASM European Sport Manager Award was presented for the first time and is dedicated to sport management professionals in the field. Candidates for the EASM European Sport Manager Award are characterised by exceptional leadership qualities, visionary ideas and outstanding contributions to the sports management field. Furthermore, candidates for this award demonstrate inspiring young sports managers and contribution to the sustainable development of the sport management discipline through knowledge exchange, promotion of sports management education and research, and mentoring. In addition, candidates reflect EASM’s values in leadership, service, scholarship, and collegiality.

About EASM
The European Association for Sport Management (EASM) is a non-profit organisation based in Germany. Founded in 1993 in Groningen, The Netherlands, EASM acts as an interest group for sport management in Europe and is part of a worldwide network of continental sport management federations. Being the driving force for developing sport management in Europe describes EASM’s vision in nutshell. EASM aims to provide a leading platform for networking, knowledge creation and dissemination in the field of sport management in Europe. In addition to the education of future sport managers and research in sport management, EASM is also dedicated to the transfer and exchange of knowledge and expertise between academia and the professional field. The EASM European Sport Manager Award aims to contribute to exactly these aims.

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