How can a national football association and a club work together to ensure that players receive consistent support – even as they move between different football environments?

At the EDU-DC International Conference on Dual Career, taking place on 25 September 2026 at BayArena in Leverkusen, our second workshop will explore how collaboration can help create a more connected approach to player care.

Teamwork in Optimal Player Care

By The Football Association (England) & Arsenal

The workshop brings together two perspectives from English football, exploring how The Football Association and Arsenal approach players’ education, personal development and wellbeing.

The session will be led by Wayne Cahill, Player Education Lead at The Football Association, and Mark Walter, Player Care Manager at Arsenal.

Using the framework of what we do, why we do it and how we do it, the speakers will take participants inside their respective environments and explore how support can be coordinated when players transition between club football and international duty.

The workshop will also look at some of the practical challenges that come with supporting dual careers at the elite level. At its heart is the importance of communication and collaboration – ensuring that different organisations surrounding a player do not work in isolation, but contribute to a more consistent player experience.

What does effective cooperation between a national association and a club look like in practice, and what can other football organisations learn from their approach?

Join us in Leverkusen and hear directly from the professionals working to connect player care across different football environments.