Sports Coaching graduate, Aaron Briggs’ career is going from strength to strength after landing a role as an Assistant Coach at European football club VfL Wolfsburg.
Aaron graduated from the University of Central Lancashire’s BA (Hons) Sports Coaching degree in 2008 and went straight to work at Preston North End F.C. in a full-time role, after working with their first team part-time during his final year of study.
Following his time at North End, Aaron spent four seasons at Tottenham Hotspur F.C. where he was offered the opportunity to work with the U18s and progressed to work as Head of Analysis. He then went to Manchester City F.C. to lead the Academy Performance Analyst Department before being promoted to first team Performance Analyst.
Aaron then went to work for AS Monaco as a Tactical Analyst Coach, before being promoted to Assistant Coach and Head of Football Methodology. Speaking about this role, Aaron said: “Having full visibility of the game plan from creation to delivery and then to the match fascinates me and working alongside expert coaching staff who are open to new ideas was a great learning opportunity for me."
In June 2022, Aaron left the principality and moved to become assistant coach at VfL Wolfsburg, who currently sit seventh in the Bundesliga. His current role sees him plan and carry out training sessions and game plans and analyse in game data and opposition teams.
Alongside his current role in Germany, he acts as a consultant for FIFA. His most recent work for football’s governing body included him looking at set pieces during the World Cup. In addition to this, Aaron was awarded a UCLan Alumni Achievement Award in 2022 for his services to sport.
Aaron said: “It's a great honour and a privilege to receive the Alumni Achievement Award, it completely caught me by surprise, although I feel undeserving of the award when you look at the work other winners are doing.
“While I was studying at UCLan, the teaching staff were academic as well as practical. I was actively encouraged and showed the correct way to pursue a progression in my desired field. It was an enjoyable three years of my life which set up my career.”
Aaron looks back fondly on his time at UCLan and the on the job experience which enabled him to succeed in his chosen career path. When asked what advice he would give to prospective students, he said: “Follow something you're passionate about and study something you're passionate about rather than something you get pushed towards. Work hard and opportunities will come.”