Tottenham's Xavi Simons takes Harvard business course during knee rehab
Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons has signed up for Harvard's Crossover into Business programme while recovering from a serious knee injury. The Netherlands international has been out since tearing his ACL in April, which also ruled him out of the World Cup. The online course connects professional athletes with MBA students to build business and management skills.
Simons, a 23-year-old Netherlands midfielder, has been unavailable since an ACL tear in April. That setback also kept him out of the World Cup. While rehabilitating, he has signed up for Harvard’s Crossover into Business, an online programme that links professional athletes with MBA students for case studies and management training.
The course has previously involved competitors from the NBA, NFL and tennis, including Victoria Azarenka. Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga took a separate Harvard short course in June, and Sir Alex Ferguson accepted a teaching role there after retiring in 2014.
This may reinforce a growing view that elite athletes can prepare for life beyond sport while injured. Fans, teammates, and young players could see education as a parallel path, not a distraction. Harvard’s brand may add visibility to athlete business programmes, potentially encouraging clubs and players to consider similar development. It may also prompt discussion about access, since such opportunities are not equally available to all athletes.