Sports Management Center (SMC)

Leading with Excellence, Amplifying Sport’s Positive Impact

The Sports Management Center aims to enhance outstanding leadership and excellence in decision-making across the sports industry. The Center brings together industry leaders and other stakeholders to amplify with this mission the business and societal impact of sports. We envision influencing the future of sports by driving meaningful change that benefits both businesses and society as a whole.

Objectives

The Sports Management Center pursues three core objectives, each designed to foster the holistic development of IESE students and participants and contribute to the broader community:

  • Bring together industry leaders to exchange ideas and viewpoints on emerging trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the sports sector.
  • Lead pioneering research initiatives that offer sports stakeholders not just insights, but a competitive edge. By providing research that is both practical and forward-thinking, we empower decision-makers with tailored, actionable strategies that address current challenges and anticipate future opportunities.
  • Supporting programs or activities that equip current and future leaders to drive positive change and industry transformation. Through impactful education we ensure that our programs not only foster intellectual growth but also prepare leaders to make meaningful contributions to their fields.

Research areas:

  • Economic Impact
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Financial Management
  • Governance & Ethics
  • Innovation
  • Investment
  • Leadership
  • Social Impact
  • Strategy
  • Sustainability
  • Talent Management

Academic Directors

Albert Fernández

Albert Fernández

Professor

Accounting and Control and Entrepreneurship
Jan Simon

Jan Simon

Professor of the Practice of Management

Entrepreneurship

Center Director

Carmen Sánchez

Carmen Sánchez

Director

Academic Contributors

Santiago Álvarez de Mon

Santiago Álvarez de Mon

Professor Emeritus

Managing People in Organizations
Roberto García-Castro

Roberto García-Castro

Professor

Managerial Decision Sciences
Carlos García Pont

Carlos García Pont

Professor

Marketing and Analysis of Business Problems
Miquel Lladó

Miquel Lladó

Senior Lecturer

Strategic Management
Kandarp Mehta

Kandarp Mehta

Senior Lecturer

Entrepreneurship and Negotiation Teaching Unit
Manuel Mueller-Frank

Manuel Mueller-Frank

Professor

Economics
Frederic Sabrià

Frederic Sabrià

Professor

Operations, Information and Technology
Rafael de Santiago

Rafael de Santiago

Professor

Managerial Decision Sciences
Javier Zamora

Javier Zamora

Professor of the Practice of Management

Operations, Information and Technology

Founding Members

Alan Pace

Alan Pace

Chairman, RCD Espanyol de Barcelona
Chairman, Burnley Football Club

Antoni Martin

Antoni Martin

Blockchain Founder & Technology Entrepreneur, Polygon, Privado.id and Tether

Research

  • Ricart, J.E., Oliver, J. (2025)· Governance of the 37th America’s Cup in Barcelona – A Public-Private Partnership Model. IESE
  • Mueller-Frank, M. (2024)· Betting (and winning) on the wisdom of crowds. IESE Insight.  INSIGHT-15144-E
  • Larrañaga, P., Bielza, C. (2020). Lessons from sports to compete with AI. IESE Insight. INSIGHT-3060-E
  • Gallo, I. (2019). Super Bowl Sunday: kickoff time for advertising. IESE Insight. INSIGHT-3168-E
  • Fonti, F., Maoret, M. (2016). Ball don’t lie: Making a case for core stability. IESE Insight.INSIGHT-3569-E
  • Álvarez de Mon, S., Flores, J.E. (2016). Pau Gasol: courting a successful career. IESE Insight. INSIGHT-3581-E
  • Foster, G., Norm, O., Reilly, Dávila, A. (2016).The playbook for sports managers. IESE Insight. INSIGHT-3590-E
  • Vaccaro, A., Fioravante, R. (2025)· Ned and the uncertain future. IESE. NEG-51-E
  • Valentí, A. (2025)· Deporvillage in the United Kingdom: The shopping experience dilemma. IESE. M-1422-E
  • Lladó, M., Roure, J., Sánchez, A., Sastre, I. (2025)· Alexia: presente y futuro de un icono del fútbol femenino: Ganadora del Balón de Oro y de la Champions League, capitana del FC Barcelona y campeona del mundo. IESE. SM-1774-E
  • Pastoriza, D., Ariño, A., Calleja, R. (2024). Shifting alliances in the golf industry: The PGA Tour, the European Tour, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund. SM-1757-E
  • Zamora, J., Sastre Boquet, I. (2021) FC Barcelona: More Than a Club, More Than Data. SI-206-E
  • Estrada, J. (2021). Stealth Sports. IESE. F-976-E
  • García Pont, C., Rosenberg, M. (2021) Real Club Deportivo Espanyol de Barcelona: Football Under the Shadow of the Pandemic. ASN-85-E
  • Duro, M.,Soler, E., Rivera de Asis, J. (2019). Futbol Club Barcelona: “Tiki-Taka” Gone Bust?. IESE. C-796-E
  • García-Castro, R., (2019) DAZN – The Netflix of Sports. AD-371-E
  • Dávila, A., Lladó, M., Sastre Boquet, I. (2019) FC Barcelona and La Masia: Developing World-Class Talent. IESE. SM-1673-E
  • De Ros, M., Dávila, A. (2018) Spanish Impulse: Entrepreneurial Initiative in Sailing. E-195-E
  • Romero-Salas, D., Shonik, M., García Pont, C. (2017) RCD Espanyol. IESE M-1363-E
  • Dávila, A., Lladó, M., Sastre Boquet, I. (2017) Dorna Sports SL: Managing the MotoGP World Championship. SM-1645-E
  • Dávila, A., Oyon, D. (2016). La Liga’s RCD Espanyol: Analyzing the economics of soccer games. C-783-E
  • Segarra, J.A., Fernández, A., Aguirreamalloa, J. (2015). Sociedad Deportiva Eibar S. A. D.: A Modest Club in the Elite of a Unique Sector. SM-1626-E
  • Álvarez de Mon, S., Flores, J.E. (2015). Pau Gasol (A): An International Career. IESE. DPO-375-E
  • Álvarez de Mon, S., Flores, J.E. (2009). Rafael Nadal: the Champion and the Person (A). DPO-163-E
  • Álvarez de Mon, S. (2025)· ‘Merci’, Rafa. Expansión
  • Álvarez de Mon, S. (2025)· La experiencia del error. Expansión
  • Álvarez de Mon, S. (2024)· De la adversidad a la excelencia. Expansión
  • Álvarez de Mon, S. (2024)· La vida sigue. Expansión