Paul Michael Brannagan

Dr Paul Michael Brannagan is a Reader in Sport Management and Policy at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), part of the Faculty of Business and Law and the Department of People & Performance. His research focuses on how national governments leverage global sport and mega-events to achieve socio-economic and political objectives, with a particular emphasis on Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup and other Middle Eastern nations. He has authored/co-authored multiple books, including Qatar and the 2022 FIFA World Cup and co-edited the Routledge Handbook of Sport in the Middle East.

Brannagan holds a PhD from Loughborough University and has taught courses on Sport Business, Management, and Policy. He designed and led MMU’s MSc in Sport Business, Management & Policy (2018–2022) and currently serves as International Lead for the Department of People & Performance, expanding international student recruitment. He is a Board Member of the Political Studies Association’s Sport Politics Working Group.

• Research interests: Sport mega-events, soft power strategies, Qatar’s socio-political development, and international relations through sport.
• Media engagements: Regular contributor to BBC, The Guardian, Financial Times, and Sky News.
• Awards: Chatham House Podcast of the Year (2018), Future Economies Research Centre Best Paper (2018).

His teaching spans global sport management, policy, and events, with leadership roles including Programme Lead for MSc International Business Management (2020–2021). He has supervised numerous PhD students on topics like sport mega-events’ soft power impact and football player transitions.