Sport Manager Award

NOMINATION PROCEDURE 2023

EASM members can nominate a worthy recipient by submitting a nomination package to the Chair of the Award Committee, Aila Ahonen (aila.ahonen@jamk.fi) before the 30th of June 2023, consisting of:

  • A letter of recommendation [no more than two pages] to the Award Committee Chair that specifically describes the person’s accomplishments in relation to the award criteria. The letter should clearly identify the award the person is being nominated for and justify why the person deserves the award.
  • We encourage up to three [no more than three] letters of support for inclusion in the nomination package.
  • A resume, CV or brief biography for the nominee (can be pulled from the organisation webpage or other online source).

Nominators must be EASM members in good standing and should email the nomination to the Chair of the Award Committee. The Award Committee may subsequently request additional information from the nominator. All nominations will be assessed in confidence.

About the award
The EASM European Sport Manager Award was presented for the first time in 2021 and is dedicated to personalities in the field of sport management. Candidates for the EASM European Sport Manager Award are characterised by exceptional leadership qualities, visionary ideas and outstanding contributions to the field of sport management. In addition, candidates for this award should also inspire young and aspiring sport managers and contribute to the sustainable development of the sport management discipline through knowledge exchange, promotion of sport management education and research, and mentoring. The nominee must therefore meet the following criteria:

1. Has been serving in a voluntary or employment sport management position for several years in sport industry.
2. Has shown remarkable commitment to sport management and demonstrated professionalism and expertise throughout his/her career.
3. Has been leading recognisable development that has made a significant change within the sport industry.
4. Reflects EASM’s values in leadership, service and collegiality.

Award Winners
2021

Christian Seifert

 

Christian Seifert, Managing Director of the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), received the EASM Sport Manager Award 2021 in recognition of his significant commitment and outstanding contribution to sport management in Europe as a visionary pioneer in times of pandemic. More than 200 sport managers and academics welcomed the new award and the first winner at the online congress “EASM 2021 Festival of Sport Management Research and Practice”.

 

The EASM Board honoured Christian Seifert for extraordinary leadership in very difficult times. It is thanks to the award winner and his team that the Bundesliga resumed playing after a two-month interruption. By sharing the concept and experience with colleagues from other sports and leagues around the world, among others, the DFL created the conditions for professional sport and sporting events to continue. The award winner demonstrated the highest level of collegiality and solidarity. Christian Seifert reflects EASM’s values of leadership, performance and academic work and inspires young, aspiring future sport managers.

 

Christian Seifert gratefully accepted the award and said: “I am honoured to receive the first EASM Sport Manager Award. I accept this award on behalf of my entire team, because without the support of many people inside and outside the DFL, the successful re-launch of the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga would not have been possible.”