Academy Lead Coach – Select / National League ProgrammeEmpire Football Club

Employer: Empire Sports Academy
Location: Dubai, UAE
Salary: AED 12,000–16,000 per month, depending on experience
Minimum Qualification: UEFA B Licence or AFC B Licence
Benefits: Company car, laptop, phone and 30 days' annual leave

The Role

Empire Sports Academy is looking for an experienced and ambitious Academy Lead Coach to take a leading role within its Select / National League Programme in Dubai.

This is an opportunity for a coach who enjoys working in a competitive player-development environment and wants to take genuine responsibility for the progression of players and teams. The successful candidate will lead high-quality training sessions, manage teams within the programme and help create an environment where talented young players are challenged to develop technically, tactically, physically and personally.

The position goes beyond simply delivering sessions. Empire is looking for someone who can set standards, build strong relationships with players and parents, support other coaches and contribute to the continued development of the academy's football programme.

Key Responsibilities

The Academy Lead Coach will be responsible for planning and delivering a structured coaching programme for players within the Select / National League pathway.

You will:

• Plan and deliver high-quality, age-appropriate training sessions.
• Lead and manage teams competing within the academy's competitive programme.
• Prepare teams for fixtures, tournaments and National League competition.
• Monitor individual player development and provide clear, constructive feedback.
• Create individual and team development objectives in line with the academy's playing philosophy.
• Support player identification, selection and progression across the programme.
• Maintain high standards of behaviour, professionalism and player welfare.
• Build positive relationships with players, parents, coaches and academy management.
• Work collaboratively with the wider coaching team to ensure consistency across the programme.
• Support and mentor coaches where required.
• Contribute ideas to improve the academy's coaching methodology and overall player-development environment.
• Represent Empire Sports Academy professionally at training, fixtures, tournaments and external events.

About You

Empire Sports Academy is looking for a coach who is comfortable taking ownership of a programme rather than simply delivering pre-planned sessions.

You should have a strong understanding of youth player development and be able to demonstrate how you have helped individual players and teams progress within previous roles. You will need to be organised, confident communicating with different stakeholders and capable of maintaining high standards in a busy academy environment.

The successful candidate will have:

• A minimum UEFA B or AFC B Licence.
• Strong experience coaching within youth academy or competitive football environments.
• A clear understanding of long-term player development.
• Experience planning and delivering structured coaching programmes.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• The ability to manage players and teams in a competitive environment.
• A professional approach to player welfare, safeguarding and development.
• The ability to work effectively as part of a wider academy coaching team.

Previous experience within an academy, elite youth programme or similar competitive player-development environment would be highly advantageous. Experience coaching in the UAE or Middle East would also be beneficial but is not essential.

Package

Empire Sports Academy is offering a competitive package reflecting the level of responsibility attached to the position:

Salary: AED 12,000–16,000 per month, depending on experience
Company car
Laptop and mobile phone
30 days' annual leave

Why Join Empire Sports Academy?

Based in Dubai, Empire Sports Academy provides an opportunity to work within one of the fastest-growing football environments in the region.

This role would suit an ambitious coach who wants more than a sessional coaching position. You will have the opportunity to take responsibility for a competitive programme, influence the development of young players and play an important role in the continued growth of the academy.

For the right coach, this is an opportunity to build a career in Dubai while working in a professional, ambitious and player-focused football environment.