The Business of Football

In this episode, David welcomes back Anadi Taylor for a second conversation, diving into the exciting developments surrounding the Soccer Skills Challenge, a program designed to benchmark and improve the skills of young football players. Anadi shares insights on how the initiative was born from the need to evaluate younger players, particularly those outside of professional academies, and how it h...

In this episode we look back at some of the best convrsations of The Business of Football Podcast so far, with snippets from interviews host David Chimbaza had with International Football Presenter Adriano Del Monte & Founder of Footy Addicts Konstantinos Gkortsilas.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Community Focus: Footy Addicts was founded to address the need for social football games, particularly for indivi...

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David delves into the intricate economics of the global football industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities present in various markets. Focusing primarily on Europe and the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, David also covers the saturation of the European market, where a high number of sports management graduates compete for l...

In this episode of the podcast, David delves into the intriguing topic of football fan consumption, drawing on insights from their university studies and recent reports from the European Clubs Association. The discussion categorises modern football fans into six distinct groups based on their engagement levels, from casual followers to die-hard loyalists.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Diverse Fan Categories: Th...

In this episode of David delves into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the football industry. With insights drawn from previous discussions and current trends, the episode explores how AI is revolutionising various aspects of football, including player recruitment, financial management, and fan engagement. David shares personal experiences with AI tools, highlighting the...

In this episode, David reflects on the intersection of passion and career in the football industry, emphasizing the unique emotional engagement that sets football apart from other businesses. Drawing on examples of C-level executives who transitioned from non-sports industries into football, such as Ivan Gazidis and Christian Perslow, the discussion highlights how their fresh perspectives and unde...

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David sits down with Konstantinos Gkortsilas, the founder and managing director of Footy Addicts, a platform designed to help individuals find and participate in social football games. Konstantinos shares insights on the positive impact of football on mental health, the challenges posed by COVID-19, and the evolving landscape of organised footba...

In this episode of the Business as a Football podcast, David delves into the hidden job market within the football industry, highlighting the critical role of networking in securing job opportunities. With a striking statistic that 70% of roles are filled through referrals rather than traditional applications, David then shares personal experiences and insights, including the challenges faced when...

In this episode of the Business as a Football podcast, David sits down with Dave Lipp, a former sports media and tech executive with an impressive background, including roles at Sky, NBC Universal, and as the business development and strategy officer at Manchester United. Dave shares insights on his transition back into sports, the significance of networking, and the challenges of working in a fas...

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David discusses four essential non-negotiables for achieving success in the football industry: knowledge, network, mentorship, and experience. David emphasises the importance of understanding the specific role one is pursuing, whether in scouting, coaching, or other areas, and highlights how building a strong network can lead to job opportunitie...

In this episode, David delves into the complexities of the transfer market, particularly focusing on its evolution over the past decade. Highlighting the record-breaking transfer of Neymar in 2017, the discussion explores the subsequent inflation of transfer fees and the impact of financial regulations on club spending. David also raises thought-provoking questions about the future of the transfer...

In this episode, David shares valuable insights gained from experiences in the football business industry, particularly focusing on the importance of adaptability, networking, and learning from mistakes. Drawing from conversations with various industry professionals, David emphasizes the need to be flexible in career paths and to embrace diverse roles to build a well-rounded skill set. Networking...

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David sits down with Khalid Abdulrahman, the founder and chairman of Sportnaa Football Agency. Khalid shares his journey from aspiring professional footballer in Bahrain to establishing a successful agency that bridges the gap between football in the Middle East and Europe. Khalid also discusses the importance of youth development, the challenge...

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David invites Matovu Jovin, the Chief Commercial Officer of the Ugandan Premier League, Motovu shares insights into his role and vision for transforming the league into a prominent division in African football. Since joining in March 2024,  Matovu has discussed the importance of building a strong community connection, the significance of brandin...

In this episode, David shares insights from his experiences in the FA Leadership Academy and various youth development events. David discusses the importance of fostering the right mentality among young people to cultivate future leaders and highlights the significance of youth councils in county FA structures. David outlines six key pillars for developing youth leaders, including creating core gr...

In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David reflects on his journey in the football industry, sharing valuable lessons learned over the past few months. David emphasizes the importance of patience when building connections, networking through unique approaches, and the inevitability of making mistakes in a fast-paced environment. David also recounts personal experiences, including v...

In this episode of the Business Football Podcast, David continues his insightful conversation with David Lynam the founder and managing director of Kaizen Ticketing. Building on their previous discussion, they delve into the evolving landscape of ticketing in football, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong connection with fans while adopting a more businesslike approach. David shares...

In this episode of the Business as a Football podcast, David has an insightful conversation with David Lynam the founder and managing director of Kaizen Ticketing, who shares insights from his extensive career in the ticketing industry. With experience at prestigious venues like Wembley Stadium and involvement in major events such as the London Olympics and Euro 2012, David discusses the evolution...

In this episode of the Business and Football podcast, David shares experiences from two memorable days in the football industry. David recounts his visit to Liverpool's AXA Training Centre, where he witnessed a unique filming day involving the club's under-eights team and first-team players, including Endo, Tsimikas and Luis Diaz. David reflects on the behind-the-scenes workings of a marketing sho...

In this episode of the Business Football Podcast, David sits down with Deborah Dilworth, the head of women's football at the Football Supporters Association. With a wealth of experience as a coach and mentor, Deborah shares her football journey, highlighting the influence of her family and friends in her early years. Deborah discusses her coaching experiences in the United States and Australia, em...

In this episode of The Business of Football podcast, David delves into the critical topic of fan representation in football clubs and the role of platforms like iTrust, founded by Nick Inge, in enhancing fan engagement. David explores the financial priorities of clubs over sporting success, the rising ticket prices, and the challenges fans face in voicing their concerns. David also emphasizes the...

In this episode of The Business of Football podcast, David sits down with Paul Nelson, the former Technical Director at Bentley Green Soccer Club in Australia and current General Secretary of the UEFA AAA Board. Paul shares his unique journey from the finance world to the football industry, highlighting his passion for youth sport and community engagement. Paul discusses the importance of creating...

In today's episode, David sits down with Fiona Green, the CEO and founder of ProDataStack, to explore the evolving role of data in professional sports. With over 30 years of experience in the football industry, Fiona discusses how ProDataStack leverages AI-supported software to empower athletes by providing insights into their performance data and off-field branding opportunities. They consider th...

In this episode, David delves into the intricacies of maximising networking opportunities within the football industry. David outlines a structured approach divided into three key stages: pre-event, during the event, and post-event. Emphasising the importance of goal setting, David shares personal experiences and practical tips on how to prepare effectively, engage meaningfully during the event, a...

In this episode of The Business of Football, David chats with Alejandro De Monte, an experienced presenter and journalist, about his incredible journey from Australia to the UK and now Italy, where he covers some of football’s biggest events such as hosting events with FIFA for the World Cup, and UEFA Europa & Conference League Draws, as well as presenting for one of Europe's most elite clubs...