The Footballco Business Podcast (Footballco)

On this episode, we’re speaking with Iñigo Diaz de Cerio, International Area Manager of Real Sociedad. Iñigo joins us to talk about growing fandom at home and abroad and the impact the club’s run in the UEFA Champions League had on its brand. Located in the Basque Country, Real Sociedad’s identity is rooted in the region. While the team now comprises of players from other regions and countries, the club still looks to bring local players through and foster a Basque identity in the team. With that in mind, we ask Inigo about the importance of the Basque identity with local fans and contrast that with the club’s growth in Japan after the signing of Takefusa Kubo in 2022. Also, with the club making it to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, after topping their group, we find out how that’s helped the club’s growth and affected their future ambitions in European competition. You can find out more about Real Sociedad in the Outside The Box series with FedEx which profiles players, managers and clubs who do things differently... watch the full episode here: https://bit.ly/44RdeFd.

We're talking to Michael Yormark, the president of Roc Nation Sports International, about being part of Jay-Z's Roc Nation empire, how the agency differentiates itself and the importance of the Ballon d'Or for Vini Jr. 's career. Michael also talks to us about what got the agency into the football business, their goals for World Cup 2026 and his dream client.

Our guest on this show is Jessie Giordano, Executive Vice President for Global Sports at GMR FC, which is part of global experience agency GMR Marketing. Jessie joined us to discuss the opportunities and challenges for brands looking to activate around the 2026 FIFA World Cup. We covered what brands should know when it comes to activating around that tournament, what GMR FC experts have learned from previous World Cups, and how their experience activating at Super Bowl with the NFL can be applied to the biggest sporting tournament in the world. We also looked to the future to predict what will need to be done to ensure World Cup 2026 has a legacy that goes beyond Messi.

On this week's Footballco Business Podcast Alex Manby welcomes TikTok content creator Ben Black. Ben was an early adopter of TikTok (back when it was called Musically) and has gone on to build a huge audience on his platform that, in turn, has attracted some major brands looking to tap into that audience. Alex talks to Ben about the potential he saw in the platform in those early days, how he stays ahead of the game, how brands can work with TikTok creators and his plans for the World Cup.

On this episode of the Footballco Business Podcast, we’re talking about club-run podcasts. Alex is joined by Jim Salveson, director of sport at Sport Social, Europe’s largest dedicated sports podcast network, working with the likes of Manchester City, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Jim is joined by Matt Tasker, executive producer for Sport Social and also the man behind getting Manchester United into podcasts back in 2019.

We're joined by the CEO and MD of Serie A USA, Andy Mitchell, to discuss how he's helping Americans fall in love with Italian football. From the power of Pulisic to US owners and the importance of having a pizzeria on every street corner, Andy discusses how Serie A cultivates this fandom. Andy also discusses the prevalence of US ownership, the importance of watching games live and why he'd love to see games played in the US. If you enjoy this show, be sure to check out other episodes featuring Juventus and both Inter and AC Milan.

Alex Manby sits down with J League's global business officer, Kei Koyama to talk about the future of the competition and how a domestic football league, such as Japan’s J League, grows its brand and status. They also discuss the impact that European superstars such as Andrés Iniesta had on the league's reputation outside Japan, the league's ground-breaking rights deals and the vision for growth and expansion in the future. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

This week on the Footballco Business Podcast is a 2022 World Cup Special with former US international and Fox Sports broadcaster Alexi Lalas. Alexi discusses USA '94 and how both fans and the media treated soccer in the US in the 1990s, as well as looking ahead to the USMNT's chances in Qatar. He also discusses in detail what might be the most important transfer in MLS history, David Beckham to Madrid, and his role in bringing 'Brand Beckham' to the US.

Fashion and sport culture journalist Daniel-Yaw Miller joins us to discuss the biggest collabs and stories of 2024, his predictions for this year and builds his dream team of fashion ambassadors. Also on the show... Why Arsenal are dominating football fashion CP Company and the rise of terrace culture-inspired clothing Why the Arnault family bought Paris FC and did they buy the wrong Parisian club? AC Milan and Off-White Cole Palmer You can get more insight from Daniel here: SportsVerse Newsletter - Dan's bi-weekly newsletter on the intersection of sports, culture, fashion and money: https://sportsverse.substack.com/ Instagram: @danielyaw_ LinkedIn: Daniel-Yaw Miller

In the 1970s, Admiral invented the replica shirt industry, creating the first-ever replica kits for the likes of the England National Team and Leeds United. Today, they're known for their pioneering collab-kits with the likes of Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones and award-winning designs for Walthamstow FC. We speak to Admiral Sports' Theo Hamburger about the birth of an industry now worth billions and how new generations are falling in love with their designs. This episode of the Footballco Business Podcast was recorded live at Hotel MUNDIAL during the first week of Euro 2024.

On this show, our guest is Jane Fernandez, Chief Operating Officer for Australia for the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023. We also have a guest host with Morgan Brennan, Head of Indivisa (Footballco's women's football brand) taking over from our regular host, Alex Manby, Morgan speaks to Jane about preparations for this summer's tournament, from the bid process to how it is they're reaching fans in the UK and US. Morgan and Jane also discuss the legacy of the 2022 Women's Euro and how Australia's own identity is coming through in its marketing. Want to know more about women’s football? We, along with our women’s football brand Indivisa we have released our Women's Football Fandom 2023 report. Covering ten territories and surveying more than 2,000 fans, the report provides insight into who is really watching women's football, why they watch, and how brands and rights holders can reach them during this Summer's tournament. Download it now https://www.footballco.com/wwc-report The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game – from partnerships and branding to esports and new platforms. Make sure you are following this show so you never miss an episode and find more from Footballco via Footballco on Twitter and LinkedIn.

On this episode, Alex talks with Jenny Mitton, Managing Partner and women’s Sport Lead at M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment. Jenny has extensive experience in women's sport, including football, rugby, and cricket, having worked with some of the biggest brands and rights holders in the space. We discuss the changing face of women's football, learnings from other sports, the challenges of activating in a year without a major women's football tournament and brands doing it best.

Our guest is the man behind 'Brand Beckham', Simon Oliveira. Simon has worked also closely with Lewis Hamilton, Neymar Jnr and Andy Murray and joins us to talk about building the Beckham brand and how you create a modern footballer brand today. Up for discussion are: Turning Beckham into 'soft British power' Beckham and the Olympics Taking David the LA Galaxy The tabloids of the 00s versus the social media of today The role of Victoria on building David's brand The best league for growing a footballer brand Do players need a cause? Players becoming YouTubers and curators The role of documentaries Which player Simon would liked to have worked with

Joining us on this show are Mike Armstrong, chief marketing and communications officer at Juventus, and the club’s head of digital media, Marco Castellaneta. Mike and Marco join us to discuss Juventus’ Creator Lab, which creates more than 1,500 pieces of content for the club’s channels every month and has played a major role in generating 2bn more video views this year than last for the club! The pair talk us through the role of Creator Lab and the stories behind Federico Chiesa - Back on Track, We The Next Gen and Giampaolo Sgura Black and White - three important but very different pieces of content from the Creator Lab.

This week on the Footballco Business Podcast we're talking about the Women's Champions League with DAZN's VP of rights partner relations, Katie Smith. Alex and Kate also discuss DAZN's plans for women's football and what's worked so far, from record-breaking crowds to iconic moments. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

This show was recorded in December at Soccerex Americas, in Miami. Featuring, Russel Jones (GM, Marketing & Commercial Growth at Wolves), Rich Orosco (Chief Brand Officer at Los Angeles Football Club) and Owen Blackhurst (Editor at MUNDIAL). Focusing on the story behind and the creation of 1967: When L.A. Wolves conquered the USA, which tells the story of how the English team Wolverhampton Wanders won the first professional soccer title in the U.S, the panel also covers the importance of long-form storytelling for clubs as they aim to grow fanbases at home and abroad. Watch the film's trailer: https://youtu.be/_qt9Arr0uz0?si=dEOqvIUY103L6-eW Watch the full film: https://youtu.be/sNcREGPDI6A?si=cL2_ryUQ_IGVC_Fs Find out more: https://la.wolves.co.uk/ Buy LA Wolves merch: https://shop.wolves.co.uk/clothing/collections/la-wolves/

We're looking back at how video games have changed how fans engage with football and the titles that influenced the industry and our relationship with the sport. Our guest is Richard Moss, the author of the recently released 'A Tale of Two Halves—the History of Football Video Games 1982-2010'. Richard goes back to discuss the creation of these iconic games, what made them so groundbreaking and their influence on football itself. Getting discussed on the show are... FIFA Pro Evolution Soccer Sensible Soccer Football Manager and Championship Manager NASL Soccer - Intellivision Soccer 1980 The Manchester United video game series 'A Tale of Two Halves' is available to buy now direct from Bitmap Books: Standard Hardback: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/by-genre/products/a-tale-of-two-halves Collector’s Edition: https://www.bitmapbooks.com/collections/by-genre/products/a-tale-of-two-halves-captains-edition

We're talking to Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi about his new film Next Goal Wins. The film tells the story of the American Samoa football team and their quest to score just one goal following their historic 31-0 humbling by Australia in 2001. Taika discusses the film as well as the difficulties of directing a football match, whether football takes itself too seriously and other sports stories he'd like to bring to the big screen.

On this show, we're joined by SportsPro's Ed Dixon and Sam Carp to examine SportsPro's latest 50 Most Marketable Athletes list, which ranks athletes from across the world and across sports. With a focus on football, we find out who the most marketable players in the world are and what makes them so valuable. We also look at competition from outside of football, how the rise of women's sports has affected the list, and how the list might change next year. This year’s ranking from SportsPro has been compiled in partnership with consulting firm NorthStar Solutions Group, which has developed an enhanced methodology and multi-faceted evaluation model to deliver the most comprehensive assessment of athlete marketability ever undertaken. To view the list in full, visit https://50mm.sportspro.com/

We're off to Miami for this episode of The Footballco Business Podcast as we step on stage at Soccerex Americas with Wolves, LAFC, Sabrina Carroza and BOL all discussing how soccer clubs need to look outside of their sport to attract and engage fans. The panel discuss how areas like gaming, music and lifestyle have become integral to a modern soccer club's DNA and how that can be leveraged both in terms of fan engagement and commercially. The panel in full: Russell Jones (General Manager at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC) Rich Orosco (Chief Brand Officer at LAFC) Sabrina Carroza (PR consultant and founder at Sabrina Comms) Tiago Pinto (Founder & CEO at Bol) The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

We're looking at the world of digital innovation in women's football and how brands can better understand and activate in this space. To do this. we're speaking to Nora Henriksson head of sport and managing director at Media.Monks. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

This week, we're talking to Mark Lowyns, creative director at Orlando City, SC, and Orlando Pride and co-founder of Fly Nowhere, as well as being an American football culture connoisseur. Mark talks about the emergence of soccer culture in the US during the 80s and his own introduction to it before he made it his career. Mark covers the relationship soccer has with music and fashion, including looking to the future to predict where soccer as a creative outlet is going next.

On this show, we're speaking with Senior Reporter for Sky Sports, Melissa Reddy. We discuss the difficulties of reporting on the January Transfer Window, separating fact from fiction and how reporting transfers has matured to be more than just about who is going where. Also, with Mel having written the book on Jurgen Klopp (Believe Us) we discuss his approach to the media and what it's been like reporting on the Liverpool manager.

On this show, we're talking to James Ruth, chief marketing officer at MLS club, Austin FC. James talks about how the Austin FC brand was created, what it’s like having Matthew McConaughey as a Minister of Culture and how all this translates into the stands to create the Austin FC match day atmosphere. This atmosphere is driven by Austin FC’s unique supporters' culture, sitting at the centre of the club. To help give the supporter perspective, Alex and James joined by Rico Hernandez, VP of Los Verdes, and Christine Hanley VP of Austin Anthem.

This show was recorded live at Soccerex Europe and features Mike Armstrong, Juventus's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, and Marco Castellaneta, the club’s Head of Digital Media. Mike and Marco were on stage with Footballco's PR Manager, Paul Rayment, to discuss the Juventus Creator Lab - the club’s new approach to creation, where creatives with different talents - designers, video makers, writers, influencers, streamers, social media creators - join forces in a single production centre in the heart of the Juventus headquarters. Both guests appeared on the podcast in 2023 when the project had just started and join us now to discuss what's happened since, the role lab in the club's broader business and media strategies and how Juventus see the future working with creators of various disciplines.

Darren Eales, president of MLS team Atlanta United joins us to talk about creating a soccer team from scratch in a city dominated by major sports and growing to pack out the Mercedes Benz Arena. Darren discusses how they established their passionate fanbase, what was on his "to do" list when he became the club's first hire back in 2014 and what other football clubs around the world can learn from Atlanta's "fan first" approach.   He and Alex also discuss Atlanta's connection with the local Hip-Hop music scene AND Darren's infamous performance with rapper (and Atlanta fan) Waka Flocka Flame to celebrate Atlanta United making the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs. You can watch that video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6us_hdAegks   The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

This week we're speaking to Greg Lalas, Chief Marketing Officer of the fastest-growing soccer league in the world, the United Soccer League. Greg talks us through the US' relationship with football and why for football to grow in a country the size of the US there needs to be more on offer than just MLS. Listen now to find out how clubs across its divisions engage fans on a local and US-wide level and how some of the USL's plans to look more European than American, including ideas around bringing relegation and promotion into US sport.

On this show, we're celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Allsvenskan by speaking with Robert Johansson, chief communications officer for Svensk Elitfotboll (Swedish Professional Football Leagues) about how their strategy to put fans first made the Allsvenskan the most popular competition in Swedish football, after decades of being behind the Premier League and Champions League. Driving this change was the NBL17 - a plan to make the Allsvenskan the best league in the Nordic region. To get there, it involved rejecting VAR, making clubs majority owned by fans working with club democracy, banning the multiclub model and putting the power in the hands of the fans and acknowledging the fans as a vital part of the game. The results were record in-stadium attendances, a tripling of league revenues and 40% of Swedes now naming the Allsvenskan as their favourite league. Find out more about NBL17 - https://www.svenskelitfotboll.se/en/nbl-the-best-nordic-league/

On this show, we're talking to Mike Armstrong, chief marketing officer for Italian football giants, Juventus. We're focusing on the club's success on TikTok and Twitch, the content that worked best, the growth potential within these channels and the strategy behind using them to announce the arrival of flagship signings such as Dusan Vlahovic. You can see Juve's excellent TikTok and Twitch content via the below links: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@juventus Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/juventus The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

On this show, we're speaking withPeer Naubert, chief marketing officer for Bundesliga International. Alex and Peer discuss how the Bundesliga grows its fanbase abroad and how in an age of player-focused fans, competitions can strike a balance between bringing fans in through star players but not being left high and dry when those stars move on. Also, ahead of Der Klassiker, we find out how the DFL uses this marque match to bring in fans without being overly reliant one a game that only happens twice a season.

We're talking to Oakland Roots Co-founder and CMO, Edreece Arghandiwal. We hear about the importance of purpose to the club and how that and its channelling of all that's great about Oakland has created one of the coolest brands in soccer. We also delve into the backstory of the iconic Oakland Roots logo and why Edreece feels they could be challenging the likes of Real Madrid in the future.

On this show, we're talking to Carlos Valenzuela, vice president of operations and marketing at Club Tigres. Carlos joins us to explain how Club Tigres Femenil is growing its brand in North America and the strategy behind the launch of its English-language social accounts. Carlos also explains their partnership with the record-breaking Warner Bros. film Barbie and how Club Tigres Femenil became the only football club in the world to partner with the most talked-about film of the year.

In this episode, we bring you the More Women in Football panel from the Social Football Summit, which took place in Rome in November last year. The panel features Budreya Faisal, President of Banaat FC, Morgan Brennan, Head of Footballco's women's football brand, INDIVISA, and Zoe Johnson, Managing Director of Women and Girls at Brighton and Hove Albion. The panel includes: How Brighton have become a leading club in the WSL both on and off the pitch - from plans for a purpose-built stadium to looking after player's social media The fascinating story behind why Budreya Faisal set up a women's football club in Dubai and the challenges she's had to overcome Tips on growing fandom through original content from INDIVISA's Morgan Brennan To find out more about the Social Football Summit, visit socialfootballsummit.com

On this show, we're re-publishing GOAL's 2019 interview with director, Asif Kapadia and editor, Chris King about their film, Diego Maradona. We discuss the challenges of working with Diego and the unique process behind the definitive film on Maradona's time at Napoli. The interview was recorded live at the London Gala Screen of the film and is being published today, July 5th, 39 years to the day since he signed with Napoli. Diego Maradona, the film, is the definitive account of Diego's time in Naples and serves as a microcosm of his life.

On this episode, we were invited to record at Manchester City’s Studio 1 to discover how the club’s creative content and production hub, City Studios, which includes a purpose-built facility in the heart of the club’s training grounds has supercharged the club’s branded content and fan-first video output. Our guests on this show are Gavin Johnson, Media Director at City Football Group, and Graham Belshaw, Head of Live Content for Manchester City. We discuss the creation of the club’s Match Day Live show and its role in fostering fandom worldwide, as well as ‘Together’, Manchester City’s behind-the-scenes documentary content. With ‘Together: Treble Winners’ having premiered on Netflix on April 2nd, we find out what it takes to produce the show, why it needs to cover more than what happens on the pitch and the club’s wider distribution strategy for video content.

This week we're speaking to Union Berlin's Christian Arbeit, a man who as well as being the club's communications officer is also their stadium announcer and possibly their biggest fan. We talk to Christian about the rise of Union and how this newfound success has (or hasn't) changed the club's identity. We also discuss the role of the stadium and the fans and how the club mirrors the city it was created in and represents.

We're talking with Michael Long, editorial director at SportsPro about SportsPro’s annual list of the world’s 50 Most Marketable Athletes (50MM). We discuss why Messi had to be number one, the benefits for 'brand Messi' in the US and if anyone can dethrone him next year. We also talk about the increase in the marketability of women's football and the players driving it, as well what Harry Kane offers to brands that Neymar doesn't and why there are more footballers in the list than athletes from any other sport. To find out more and view both the 50MM shortlist and the extended list of 125 athletes, head to https://50mm.sportspromedia.com/downloads/2023/download-the-top-125-list/ The top ten is below: Lionel Messi Lebron James Alex Morgan Giannis Antetokounmpo Megan Rapinoe Mikaela Shiffrin Lewis Hamilton Simone Biles Kylian Mbappe Max Verstappen

Our guest is Kenny Annan-Jonathan, founder of the Mailroom Creative Agency and, as of last year, creative director at Crystal Palace. This appointment made Palace the first Premier League club to hire a creative lead to oversee apparel collections and fashion partnerships. We're talking to Kenny about the potential for club-led fashion, his role at Crystal Palace and how he believes the media need to understand players better as people to get the most from them.

Acid FC have been responsible for some of the most creative kit and apparel designs in football over recent years, having worked with clubs including Leeds United, St Pauli, Oakland Roots and Red Star FC. On this show, we're talking to Acid FC's founder, Ed Cowburn, about trends in kit design, the role of creatives in football, why smaller clubs are setting the creative benchmark, and what it's like designing the kit for your hometown club. For more on Acid FC, head to https://www.acidfc.com/ or follow them on Instagram @weareacidfc

Detroit City FC were founded from a community beer league and have been driving social change in the city ever since. We speak to the club's co-founder and CEO, Sean Mann about how the club became the first professional sports team in the US to wear a shirt supporting LGBTQ rights, how it balances being a force for change in Detroit with success on the pitch and how all this affects their work with brand partners. We also find out what it's like to experience a match at the Keyworth Stadium and how the Messi effect is or isn't trickling down to the USL. We also look ahead to World Cup 2026.

This week on the Footballco Business Podcast we're talking to Mateo Kossmann and Andrew Dolan, both Senior Product Managers for adidas Football, on what goes into designing World Cup football shirts. The pair cover both the performance and aesthetic side of kit design, with a focus on the kits worn by Argentina and Japan at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Here the stories behind the kits, what special considerations went into creating them for the conditions in Qatar and the shirts Mateo and Andrew love the most from the adidas archive

Sitting on the US and Mexico border, Juarez is regarded by some as the most dangerous place in the world. On this episode, we're speaking with the president of FC Juarez, Luis Rodriguez, about the reality of managing and marketing a club in a city as unique as Juarez. Luis talks to us about attracting players, how and why they're looking to grow in the US and what makes FC Juarez one of the most interesting clubs in soccer.

This week on the Footballco Business Podcast we're speaking to Alan Granger, Head of Brand and Marketing and Sports Interactive, the developer being the hugely successful Football Manager games. Speaking to Alan ahead of the launch of Football Manager 2023 we discussed how they keep players coming back and how they bring in new fans. We also discuss player power in the form of famous fans like Griezmann and Gundogan and working with YouTubers and the importance of authenticity and their new partnership with UEFA.

On this show, we’re discussing Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2034 FIFA World Cup with Hammad Albalawi, Head of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation FIFA World Cup 2034 bid unit. With the Kingdom expected to soon be named as the host country for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, we talk to Hammad about his love of football, the role it plays in Saudi Arabia and the importance of the World Cup in how Saudi Arabia markets itself to the world. We also discuss the upcoming Netflix documentary, “Saudi Pro League: Kickoff” and the Kingdom’s wider football strategy.

On this show we're talking to Matthew Barrett, founder of Goal Click about their unique approach to football photography and storytelling. We hear about working with the USWNT and Concacaf, telling football stories in war zones and refugee camps and how using disposable cameras offers something not found in mobile photography. To see the photography Matthew is referring to in this show, either visit the Goal Click website or follow them on Instagram. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goalclick/ Web - https://www.goal-click.com/

On this show, we’re going to Cannes and bringing you a panel from Sport Beach, which was hosted by Stagwell Inc. during last month’s Cannes Lions. This panel focused on building brand partnerships in women’s football and featured former U.S. Women’s National Team & Gotham FC goalkeeper and current Global Creative advisor for Gotham FC, Ashlyn Harris; actor and Angel City Football Club investor, Sophia Bush and SVP of North America Whiskey Portfolio and Global Baileys at Diageo, Sophie Kelly in conversation with ESPN veteran reporter Holly Rowe. Stagwell is a global marketing network built to challenge the status quo and during Sport Beach they welcome leading names from sports, brands and media together for conversations based on the cultural zeitgeist of sport and its massive global market.

On this show, we're talking with the team behind the CBBC football documentary series 'The Academy', a show for preteen children that focuses on the young players at Southampton FC's academy. With guests from the club, CBBC and Baby Wolf Productions, the show covers creating content with and for young fans and the role the show plays in the club's fan engagement and commercial strategies. Our guests on this show are: Andy Goldie: Academy Director at Southampton Football Club Charlie Boss: Chief Commercial Officer of Southampton FC Kez Margrie: Commissioning Editor at BBC Children’s Andy Scott: Director, Baby Wolf Productions The Academy is available to watch on CBBC and the BBC iPlayer (UK Only)

On this show, our guest is Mark Kirkham, SVP and chief marketing ffficer of PepsiCo’s International Beverages business. Mark talks about the role that music, grassroots and gaming play in the company's football strategy and PepsiCo's recently renewed UEFA Champions League partnership. Mark also discusses PepsiCo's extensive history with music, what it takes to plan the Champions League final pre-game ‘Kick Off Show’ and with a 2024 Final at Wembley Stadium on the way, their expectations for the show.    

With the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 kicking off this month it felt like the perfect time to sit down with Kayleigh Grieve, Women's Football Marketing Manager at UEFA to discuss the forthcoming showcase event. Kayleigh discuss the challenge of attracting young girls into women's football, UEFA's goals for the tournament and also the challenges faced in making sure as many fans as possible can watch the matches in packed stadiums.

On this show, our guest is David Jackson, Vice President of Brand for EA SPORTS FC. David could be considered presiding over the biggest piece of brand work seen in football for decades: the creation of EA SPORTS FC, the brand that will replace FIFA as the title of the EA SPORTS football video game series. We talked to David about the creation of the FC visual identity, how the new brand goes beyond a logo, and what we can expect from it in the future.

This week we're talking to Lee Price, former Head of Mischief at Paddy Power. During his time with the bookmaker, Lee was responsible for Rainbow Russians, Paddy Power's campaign for the 2018 World Cup which saw Paddy Power donating £10,000 to LGBTQ charities in Russia for every goal the Russian team scored during the tournament. As well as talking about the creation of Rainbow Russians, Lee discusses other famous Paddy Power football campaigns, from 'painting' a George Cross on a polar bear to Nicklas Bendtner's pants and un-sponsoring Huddersfield Town's shirt.

On this show, we’re talking to streamer, content creator, and esports caster Brandon Smith. Brandon's career has been focused on the FIFA video game series, now EA Sports FC 24 and has seen him amass more than 2m followers across TikTok, Facebook Gaming, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Brandon discusses his own career, EA Sports FC as an esport and what works and what doesn’t when it comes to creating content on virtual football

Charlton Athletic FC are this season's EFL's Community Club of the Year and, through a number of initiatives, have placed EDI at the centre of the club's growth strategy. In this episode of the Footballco Business Podcast, hear how the club is seeing the benefits on and off the pitch and using EDI to create a unique proposition for brand partners looking to reach young football fans. This episode of the Footballco Business was recorded at SportsPro Live and hosted by Footballco's VP of global football partnerships, Andy Jackson. Read more about Charlton's unique proposition: https://www.footballco.com/blog/footballcocharlton

They have a YouTube following greater than most teams in the Premier League and fans visiting from Australia, but what are the realities of running the most modern non-league football club? We speak to Hashtag United's chief commercial officer, Seb Carmichael-Brown on what it's really like to run Hashtag United, from deals with adidas and Socios to chasing promotion and balancing the books in the Isthmian League's Premier Division (step three of the non-league pyramid). Follow Hashtag United on social media Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/HashtagUtd/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@HashtagUnited Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/hashtagutd Follow Seb on social media YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/sebongolf Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sebcbrown4/ Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/sebcbrown4

This show was recorded at the World Football Summit Asia in December 2023 and focuses on the strategy behind the arrival of players like Ronaldo, Neymar and Benzema into the Saudi Pro League, as well as the impact it's had both on and off the pitch. The panel discuss the Saudi Pro League's marketing and media deals since the influx of new talent and the role it plays in bringing through young domestic talent. Moderated by Andy Jackson, VP of Global Football Partnerships at Footballco, the panel includes: Mohammed Awlia, General Manager of Strategic Planning, KSA Ministry of Sport Carlo Nohra, COO, SPL Romeo Jozak, Technical Director Future Falcons SAFF Omar Al Hakim, Head of Business Development & Brand Partnerships, Lega Serie A For more on the World Football Summit and future events, visit: www.worldfootballsummit.com

This week on the Footballco Business Podcast, we're talking to Marlon Fleischman, agent and MD of player management services agency Unique Sports Group. Marlon discusses both the World Cup and January transfer window as well as tackling the role of agents and the debate around players on social media.

We're talking to Sebastian Ochs, head of global football partnership for Allianz. With its name on seven football stadiums and more rumoured to be on the way, Sebastian tells us what Allianz look for when choosing stadiums to add to its portfolio and why it sponsors more stadiums than any other brand. Also, with upwards of 90% of stadiums across major US sports having naming rights deals, upwards of 80% of Bundesliga stadiums but only 30% of Premier League stadiums Alex finds out what's behind this huge geographical disparity.

On This show we’re speaking with Pien Meulensteen, a sports presenter, reporter, and commentator working across Sky Sports, BBC Sport, Radio 5Live, CBS, and a number of other broadcasters. Recently, Pien became the first female to call a live Premier League game on Sky Sports, and took home the 'One to Watch - On Air' award at this year's Sports Journalism Association Awards. We talk to Pien about her own experiences at Manchester United and her career as a broadcaster and the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry.

Las Vegas is always reinventing itself, and right now, it's focused on becoming the home of sports. Having recently hosted the Super Bowl, Vegas is now home to the Las Vegas Knights (NHL), the Raiders (NFL) and will soon welcome the Oakland Athletics (MLB). And that's without mentioning F1, boxing or college sports out of UNLV. Before any of these major franchises, the Las Vegas Lights was one of only a few sports teams in the city, but it was known more for its outlandish stunts than for being a credible team. We spoke to the new owner of the Las Vegas Lights and MLB six-time All Star, Jose Bautista about his plans for the Lights and what it's like running a club in Las Vegas as more major teams move in.

This Pride Edition of the Footballco Business Podcast looks at how the media handles conversations about sexuality and gender identity in football. Our guest host for this show is Jon Holmes, a journalist, media consultant and the founder of Sports Media LGBT+. Jon is joined by Erin Williams, Sport Programmes Manager at Stonewall and Jack King. Jack covers film and TV for publications including GQ and Vulture, often focusing on LGBTQ+ characters and storylines. Jon, Erin and Jack will discuss everything from the tabloids to Ted Lasso as they evaluate how the media has and does cover sexuality and gender in the beautiful game and how that treatment impacts LGBTQ+ fans.

For many football fans who look back on the 90s with fond memories, MUNDIAL magazine is somewhat of a bible. For those who work in the print industry, it is a blueprint. A beautiful magazine with well-told stories and an example of an incredibly high watermark of modern journalism. On this episode of The Footballco Business Podcast Alex speaks to one of the man behind the magazine, Owen Blackhurst. Owen talks about the challenges of not only turning to print when the rest of the world was going digital but also about keeping the magazine going during the Covid crisis, his favorite cover stars and the future of MUNDIAL as a publication. You can follow Mundial on Twitter and Instagram @MundialMag and order back issues of the magazine via the website http://mundialmag.com The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

This episode is a Euro 2024 special. We're joined by Tom Bassam, host of the SportsPro Podcast, to discuss the biggest marketing and media moments from this year's tournament. Tom and Alex try their best to decide which players were the most marketable, which were the standout media trends whether hosting the tournament was a win for Germany. This episode was recorded on July 11th, before the final between Spain and England.

From the New York Yankees to Pleasures and Off-White - we speak to AC Milan's CMO, Tania Moreno, about the club's football and fashion strategy and what made Business of Fashion call AC Milan 'The football team that finally got fashion right'. Including: How the club chooses its fashion partners The role of fashion in growing the club in the US Who is really buying AC Milan clothing

Our guest on this show is Emily Heath, global brand director for Rexona at Unilever. Emily joined us to discuss Rexona's work in women’s football, from their Breaking Limits program and barriers faced by girls trying to progress in sports to the brand’s UEFA and FIFA partnerships and their focus on young female players.

IOur guest is James Salmon, senior marketing director for EA Sports FC. We discuss why Erlin Haaland was the best choice to be the first EAFC cover star, the role of the cover in marketing FC24 and how FC Futures and female players in Ultimate Team signal the future for the series.

As Director of Global Sports, Media, and Entertainment Marketing for Google, Kate Johnson is one of the most influential people in sports marketing. On this show, she discusses Google's women's football strategy, partnerships with Arsenal, Liverpool, the NWSL, and the Frauen-Bundesliga, and her own experience as an Olympic medalist and a woman in sport.

This week on the Footballco Business Podcast it is all about the most famous of all football competitions, the Emirates FA Cup, as it celebrates the 150th anniversary of the first-ever FA Cup Final. On the show is Ryan Armstrong, senior brand manager at the Football Association and the man in charge of marketing the oldest national football competition in the world. Ryan talks about the competition's proud history, how it attempts to market itself to young fans and striking the balance of celebrating the past whilst also embracing the future! Alex and Ryan also talk about how the media consumption of the competition has changed through the years and how the FA aligns its content with that of the traditional TV broadcasters. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

Welcome to the Footballco Business Podcast: A show featuring the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. This podcast will give unrivalled access to some of the most creative minds in sport, getting their views on the business of the beautiful game - from partnerships and branding to esports and new platforms. Plus, we'll look at what the future holds for fan engagement and how rights holders, brands and players are rewriting the football rulebook There is a brand new conversation every week so make sure you are following this show wherever you are listening to podcasts and find out more at footballco.com. The Footballco Business podcast… coming soon!

This episode of the Footballco Business Podcast is all about football shirts; the technology, the design and the big-money deals that lie underneath the thin layer of polyester that sparks so much passion amongst fans. Alex Manby sits down with former Puma and Umbro designer Rob Warner to chat about his experiences working with teams like England and Manchester City, his role in one of the most controversial kits of all time and what it is like pitching ideas to football legends like Hristo Stoichkov. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

We're talking with Guus Pennings, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at Philips about the partnership between Philips and PSV - the longest-running sponsorship in football. Guus discusses how both parties have kept that relationship fresh in an ever-changing footballing landscape. He also talks about how Philips assist PSV from a footballing perspective by exploring new technologies and why the brand made the decision to give up its long-standing shirt sponsorship deal. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

Dan Wood, co-funder and head of partnerships at the World Freestyle Football Association takes us into the world and culture of freestyle football. Hear Dan talking about the growth of freestyle as its own sporting entity, the value of social media in reaching and engaging with new and existing audiences and how the WFFA works with brands around the world to deliver campaigns. You can find more on the WFFA here: https://thewffa.org The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

20% of sports fans believe that anti-LGBTQ+ language is harmless if it's just meant as "banter". That is the mentality that Stonewall seeks to challenge every year with their Rainbow Laces campaign - their annual day of messaging that sport is everyone's game! Ahead of the 2021 campaign Alex Manby spoke to Erin Williams, sport engagement manager for Stonewall, about this year's 'Lace Up and Speak Up' campaign, the impact that Rainbow laces are having on the acceptance of LGBTQ+ communities in sport and how Premier League stars like Jordan Henderson and Conor Coady has helped grow awareness around the globe. You can find out more about the work Stonewall do and Rainbow Laces Day via: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/rainbow-laces The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

Peter Crouch talks about his work with Dulwich Hamlet and how he's coped with life after football, the pressures of social media on the modern professional and why he would have loved to have been a pro in the 1970s. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.

We're speaking with Luca Danovaro, chief marketing officer at Inter Milan, about how the club went about their re-brand, navigating that relationship with the fans and what the future holds for one of the most iconic clubs in European football. The Footballco Business Podcast is a show focused on the most innovative people working in the world of football media, brands and marketing. Each episode features some of the most creative minds in the sport, getting their views on the business behind the beautiful game.