As Head of Women’s Football at Portuguese side Sporting Clube de Portugal, Margarida Batlle Y Font is responsible for overseeing the club’s long-term strategy, player development and overall growth in the women’s game. It’s a role that demands clarity, adaptability and vision, qualities she credits in part to her experience on the first edition of the ECA Club Talent & Mentoring Programme (CTMP).
“CTMP helped me step confidently into leadership. It gave me the strategic mindset and confidence I needed to grow into my role at Sporting.”
Having recently transitioned from a career in Sports Law to a management position within Sporting’s professional football department, Batlle Y Font saw CTMP as a timely opportunity to build the skills and knowledge required for success in a new environment. “I had the legal background, but I needed to develop as a leader in football. The programme gave me the right tools at the right time.”
One of the most valuable aspects, she says, was learning how to shift her thinking from the operational to the strategic. “That change in mindset was essential. I began to focus more deliberately on long-term planning and internal alignment across departments, things that are critical in a role like mine.”
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Her mentoring experience was particularly formative. Faced with a common challenge in the game, the need to balance first-team demands with long-term player development. Batlle Y Font’s mentor guided her to see the issue from a broader perspective. “We talked about aligning the club’s vision across all areas and communicating it effectively. That conversation has stayed with me.”
Today, Batlle Y Font leads Sporting’s continued investment in women’s football, applying insights and methods shaped by the CTMP experience. “The exposure to different club models across Europe gave me ideas I’ve adapted to Sporting’s context. And the network I built through the programme continues to be a source of support and inspiration.”
Since completing CTMP, Batlle Y Font has gone on to take part in the inaugural UEFA & ECA Sporting Director Programme (SDP), a progression she says was made possible thanks to the foundation CTMP provided.
“If you’re stepping into a leadership role in football, I would recommend CTMP without hesitation. It’s helped shape the way I think, lead and plan. I continue to benefit from it in my day-to-day work at Sporting Clube de Portugal.”
Interested in growing your skills or supporting your team’s development? ECA offers a wide range of learning opportunities designed specifically for professionals at ECA Member Clubs. To explore the Club Talent & Mentoring Programme or any of our other development courses, get in touch with us at campus@ecaeurope.com.