Joel Rookwood

My research examines sport mega-events, football (soccer) industries and international politics and development. I have attended and conducted research at 25 mega-events and 30 sport-for-development and peace projects. I co-chair the Football Collective (a global body of academic researchers), and I am Head of Research of Aalborg Football Club in Denmark. I have previously written two pieces for The Conversation.

Joel completed an undergraduate degree in Science and Football and a masters in Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University, before undertaking a masters in Sport Management at the University of Leicester. He graduated with a PhD from the Football Industries Group of the Management School at the University of Liverpool, before completing a postgraduate teaching qualification in 2008.

Joel has had numerous applied and consultancy roles. After three contracts employed as a coach in the U.S., Joel worked in sports performance as an analyst and coach for several professional football clubs and national teams in the UK. He has led and conducted funded, published research on 30 sport-for-development projects across six continents. Joel has also worked at 15 sports mega-events in various capacities, including at the last five FIFA men’s World Cups. Joel was a global columnist on a Japanese football website for a decade and has written for various media publications. He has produced numerous films amassing a combined 250,000 online views.