Xavi Simons Hits the Books at Harvard During Injury Recovery

Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons is making the most of his time away from football by enrolling in a course at Harvard University as he recovers from a serious knee injury. The 23-year-old Dutch star has been out of action since suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament last April, an injury that also kept him from participating in the World Cup. Now, Simons is diving into Harvard's Crossover into Business program, which is specifically designed for professional athletes aiming to enhance their business acumen. This online course connects athletes with Harvard MBA students, guiding them through real-world case studies and lessons in business management. In a LinkedIn post, Simons expressed his excitement: "I'm going back to school. During my recovery, I've been trying to use my time in the best way possible. Football is still my main focus, but I also want to keep learning and improving away from the pitch." "I've always been interested in more than just football. I want to understand the business side of the game better, learn from people in different industries, and keep developing as a person," he added. Recently, he made a trip to the U.S. to boost his physical recovery and visit the Harvard campus in Boston. "Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority," Simons stated. "At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football. Looking forward to getting started." Simons joins a notable list of previous participants in the Crossover into Business program, which has included athletes from the NBA, NFL, and tennis, notably former world number one Victoria Azarenka. Earlier this year, Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga also took a short course at Harvard focusing on the business of entertainment and sports after missing out on the French World Cup squad. Even former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson found his way to Harvard, taking up a long-term teaching position after retiring from football in 2014.