Brunel University of London graduate Jai Agarwal has taken a majority stake in Portuguese side Guarda Football Club and been appointed its Chief Executive Officer, just two years after finishing his degree.
Jai graduated in 2024 with a BSc in Business Management. Since then, his career has taken him from London to Madrid and now to Portugal, building experience in sports marketing, entertainment and commercial strategy along the way. He went on to study for a Master’s in Global Sports Marketing at LaLiga Business School in Madrid and worked with organisations including GOLFTEC Singapore and Exceed Entertainment.
He now leads Guarda FC, who are based in one of Portugal’s highest-altitude cities and play in the Campeonato de Portugal, the country’s fourth tier. Following the club’s return to the national division, it has entered a new era under its new ownership, with Jai helping to shape its sporting, commercial and international direction.
For Jai, the appeal was never about size or status. “I wasn’t looking for the biggest club or the most glamorous opportunity,” he said. “I was looking for a project where I could genuinely make a difference, and I found that in Guarda FC.” A key part of his vision is to create a route for young footballers from India and across Asia to train, develop and compete in Europe. “My ambition is to help it grow sustainably while also creating opportunities for talented young footballers from Asia to experience European football,” he said.
Alongside the sporting side, Jai is focused on strengthening the club’s commercial foundations, digital presence, fan engagement and international partnerships, while keeping Guarda FC’s identity and its connection with the local community. His move has already been covered by NDTV Sports and The Times of India.
We are delighted to see a Brunel graduate achieve so much so soon, and we wish Jai and Guarda FC every success.