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Mareike’s Internship Journey into Spanish Professional Football
CATEGORY: Internship abroad - Sports & Marketing
COUNTRY: Spain
READING TIME: 3 minutes
From the classroom to the stadium - Mareike Thomas decided to spend her gap year gaining hands-on experience abroad and found the perfect match with StudentsGoAbroad. In just two weeks, she was placed with a professional football club in Valencia, Spain, where she dove into the world of sports management. From helping to redesign the online fan shop to contributing marketing ideas. In her blog, Mareike shares how her one-month internship gave her valuable insights, boosted her language skills, and confirmed that a career in sports is exactly where she wants.
I wanted to use the year after finishing school to gain as many new experiences as possible. That’s when I came across the StudentsGoAbroad program, which fit perfectly with my plans. I contacted the team with the wish to do a one-month internship in Spain, ideally in the field of sports management. Just two weeks later, everything was already arranged. I was told I’d be heading to Valencia and working with a major football club—which made me even more excited, being a football enthusiast. On top of that, StudentsGoAbroad and their local partner organization arranged accommodation for me as well as a language course.
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My marketing internship at a Spanish La Liga Club
My excitement grew every day, and finally the time had come—I boarded the plane to Valencia. Once I arrived, I settled in quickly. That was not only thanks to the Spanish sunshine and the beautiful city—which I consider one of the most beautiful in Spain—but also to my flatmates, who gave me a warm welcome and showed me around. I also adapted quickly to my work routine. My contacts at the club were very friendly and gave me exciting and varied tasks. I got to help with the redesign of the online fan shop and develop ideas to improve the marketing strategy around the stadium shop. What was especially valuable to me was that I was regularly allowed to present my results. I received honest feedback—both praise and constructive suggestions for improvement. This allowed me to take a lot away from the experience and gain valuable insights for my future career. Working in another language also helped me grow. I was able to build more confidence in my English and solidify my basic Spanish skills.
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My conclusion after an exciting month in Valencia
Even though my stay lasted “only” a month, I gained an incredible amount—professionally, linguistically, and personally. I can only recommend anyone who has the opportunity to take advantage of an internship abroad.
I was especially impressed by the wide range of opportunities, the great support, and the quick placement provided by StudentsGoAbroad. And for anyone planning to do their internship in Spain: I can highly recommend Valencia! The city is not only stunning but also a vibrant student hub with plenty of bars, events, and leisure activities.
Written by Mareike - Intern in Valencia with StudentsGoAbroad
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