A Premier League manager must hold a valid UEFA Pro Licence, or a diploma of a similar standard from another national association. If not, the manager must already have started and be actively working towards one. The rule applies after twelve weeks from appointment.
The qualification requirement
Here is the core rule set in one place.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is required | A valid UEFA Pro Licence, or an equivalent national diploma |
| If the licence is not yet held | The manager must have started and be actively working towards it |
| May a club employ an unqualified manager | No |
| When the requirement starts to apply | Twelve weeks after the appointment |
| When that period can be extended | Only for a temporary stand-in for a manager who is medically unfit |
What counts as the right qualification
There are two accepted qualifications in direct terms. One is a valid UEFA Pro Licence. The other is a valid diploma issued by another national association, as long as it is of a similar standard.
A manager who has not yet completed the UEFA Pro Licence must already have begun the required course and must be actively engaged in working towards it.
How the twelve-week period works
The qualification rule does not bite on day one of the appointment. It starts to apply once twelve weeks have passed from that date.
The period can be extended only in one narrow situation: the manager is serving as a temporary stand-in for another manager who is medically unfit to return to their duties.
Contract and remuneration rules
The appointment also comes with contract disclosure requirements. A club must give the league full details of the manager's remuneration, including every benefit in cash or in kind, and all of it must appear in the contract.
A breach occurs if a club pays a manager anything not set out in that contract, or offers an undeclared payment or benefit to induce a signature or an extension.
FAQ
Do Premier League managers need a UEFA Pro Licence?
They need either a valid UEFA Pro Licence or a valid diploma of a similar standard from another national association. Those two routes are treated as meeting the same requirement.
A manager who has not yet obtained the licence can still be appointed within the rule, but only if the course has already started and is being actively pursued.
Can a club hire a manager without coaching badges?
A club may not employ someone as manager without the required qualification route in place. The person must either already hold the accepted qualification or be actively working towards the UEFA Pro Licence.
The restriction starts twelve weeks after the appointment rather than immediately.
How long does a new Premier League manager have to get qualified?
The rules begin to apply twelve weeks after the appointment. Until then, the bar on employing an unqualified manager does not yet take effect.
An extension is possible only where the board is reasonably satisfied that the manager is a temporary stand-in for another manager who is medically unfit to return.