Andres Iniesta to Begin UEFA Pro Licence Course While Managing Gulf United
Andres Iniesta has confirmed he will begin the UEFA Pro Licence course in October as he continues his first job in management with Dubai-based Gulf United FC.
The former Barcelona and Spain midfielder, 42, took over the UAE First Division League club in June 2026 after ending his playing career. He arrived holding a UEFA A Licence and says completing the Pro Licence will finish his coaching pathway.
Iniesta has also made clear that management has given him the drive to continue. He said the role had been calling him even before he entered the dugout, adding that the experience at Gulf United has strengthened his desire to develop as a coach.
More pressure in the dugout
The 2010 World Cup final scorer says coaching is more stressful than playing because a manager must consider a wider range of details and possible situations.
Iniesta believes his time at the top of the game is helping him work with the Gulf United squad. His focus is on sharing lessons from his own career with players and staff, using experiences that cannot simply be learned through formal coaching education.
- Iniesta is in his first senior managerial post with Gulf United.
- His coaching staff and players are central to his approach.
- Gulf United are competing in the UAE’s second tier, the UAE First Division League.
- The club hope his attacking ideas can drive a push for automatic promotion to the UAE Pro League.
Barcelona remains a future possibility
Iniesta did not rule out managing Barcelona one day, but insisted there is no fixed plan for a Camp Nou return. He said his childhood ambition was always to become a Barca first-team player, while coaching has emerged as a separate journey after retirement.
For now, his task is to take Gulf United towards the leading positions this season and handle the physical and tactical demands of the division. The next landmark comes in October, when Iniesta starts the final stage of his UEFA qualification process.
