Johann Lux

Sport PhD

With a passion for positively impacting football and society, Johann decided to continue his studies at BCU and pursue doctoral research within sport. His research journey has kicked off to a great start, with plenty of opportunities to expand his knowledge, learn from recognized professionals in global football development and collaborate with his expert supervisor .  

Thesis: Evaluating the effectiveness of the FIFA Talent Development Scheme

"My PhD journey so far at BCU has been outstanding. In my first few weeks at BCU, my expectations could have not been fulfilled to any higher extent. I’ve been able to connect with many great researchers, colleagues, and high-profile professionals. I’ve learnt so much in so little time, and felt an immensely welcoming environment at BCU, which I’m truly grateful for. 

The decision to continue my academic journey at BCU has been primarily driven by the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Adam Kelly, my Director of Studies. Dr Adam Kelly is widely acknowledged as an expert researcher in the field of talent identification and development in various sports, with a notable ability to translate scientific knowledge into practical applications. In today’s world, this skill cannot be underestimated, and greatly influenced my decision to study under his supervision. Coupled with the outstanding facilities, networking opportunities, and international recognition of BCU, this PhD position emerged as the ideal and logical progression for me.

My doctoral dissertation aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the FIFA Talent Development in supporting FIFA’s member associations to reach their full potential and increasing global competitiveness. Specifically, I am exploring how initiatives funded by the Talent Development Scheme can contribute to the improvement of the talent development ecosystems around the world, and how the talent development ecosystems in national football associations can have an impact on their performance in international competitions. 

My highlight so far must be my trip to Qatar, which was an insane experience. I was fortunate to have been invited by FIFA to participate in the FIFA Global Football Division, an expert seminar in Doha. Here I was able to listen to and learn from one of the most experienced and recognized professionals in global football development. I cannot thank BCU and FIFA, and especially my supervisor, Dr Adam Kelly, enough for allowing me to engage and learn so much from football officials from all over the world right at the start of my PhD. This experience has certainly kicked my PhD journey off to a great start.

The commitment and dedication it takes to pursue a PhD and the realisation of embarking on this journey initially left me feeling overwhelmed and contemplative. The many potential avenues and projects to work on, coupled with self-imposed expectations and ambitions, led to a clash of thoughts. What I swiftly learned was the importance of taking small, manageable steps, always keeping the broader perspective in mind while prioritising immediate goals for each day and week and acknowledging and celebrating their achievement. My supervisor has been of great support in re-calibrating my focus when I started to worry about things that were too far ahead.

 My goal as a researcher is to create high-quality research, positively impacting football and society, and establishing myself as an expert in the field of talent development. I aim to utilise the many opportunities given by this position to network and connect with different professionals around the world, as well as learning and challenging myself in different working contexts to develop and broaden my skill set. Most importantly, I want to approach this program with optimism, ambition, and respect, while always striving to be my very best each day. 

I think this journey could become one of the most rewarding experiences in my life, and I would want current and future PhD students to realise the immense opportunity to immerse themselves deeply in a subject of their passion, and to make meaningful contributions through their own research to the advancement of this field. 

To me, ‘I AM BCU' signifies embracing humility, and possessing an intrinsic motivation to enact positive change in the world. Throughout my time at BCU, I've witnessed the university's unwavering commitment to offering education and support to its students, with the overarching aim of nurturing future leaders. As an active member of the research community within BCU, I am channelling my efforts into leveraging the power of sports to generate tangible societal benefits and foster positive transformation."