The Business of Football Podcast

About The Business of Football Podcast

The Business of Football is your gateway to the dynamic world of football business. Hosted by David Chimbaza, Founder & CEO, this podcast provides in-depth insights into creating, monetizing, and scaling ventures within the football industry. Join David as he engages with top industry leaders, CEOs, and directors, sharing their experiences, strategies, and expert advice on navigating the unique challenges and opportunities in football business. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a seasoned professional, this podcast offers valuable guidance on building success in the football industry.

Publisher

David Chimbaza

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Jul 2024

Latest episode

28 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

119 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Oct 2026

   From MLS to Nike to Football Agent: Devin Barclay on Life Beyond the Pitch

   In this episode of The Business of Football Network, David Chimbaza speaks with Devin Barclay, a former MLS player and Ohio State football kicker who transitioned into the business side of sport through Nike and now works as a football agent in North America. Devin shares his unique journey across two sports, two locker rooms and multiple chapters of his career, offering a rare perspective on what it takes to move from athlete to corporate professional to representative. Devin explains how his experience as a professional athlete helped shape the skills that made him successful at Nike, including adaptability, resilience, teamwork and the ability to handle success and failure quickly. He discusses his transition from playing in MLS to working in sales, sports marketing and demand planning, before eventually moving into the agent space to support players across every aspect of their lives. The conversation also explores the differences between working in the US and European football markets. Devin reflects on the pace, efficiency and directness of working with a UK based agency, the global nature of football, and why no two conversations with players, families or clubs are ever the same. He also discusses the changing sponsorship landscape, the growing competition among brands and the importance of helping athletes build meaningful connections beyond the pitch. Finally, Devin reflects on the rewards of agent work, from helping players achieve major moves and career goals to supporting their life planning and transition beyond football. This episode is a powerful look at athlete identity, career change and the human side of the football business, showing how the lessons learned on the pitch can shape success long after playing ends.

2. 

   26 Oct 2026

   Building Women’s Football Properly: Inside Aurora Sport’s Vision

   In this special mini-pod episode of The Business of Football Network, David Chimbaza reflects on his conversation with Gus Hurdle and John Brennan, the founders of Aurora Sport, recorded at the World Football Summit in Madrid. Aurora Sport is a new venture focused on building a dedicated platform for women’s football, combining club investment, performance support, commercial development and content to help the women’s game grow on its own terms. The episode explores why Aurora believes women’s football needs infrastructure designed specifically for female athletes, rather than simply adapting systems originally built around men’s football. Gus and John discuss the importance of performance data, injury prevention, facilities, recovery and access to high-quality playing environments, particularly for clubs lower down the women’s pyramid where resources are often limited. David also reflects on the wider history of women’s football, including the remarkable support and attendances the game attracted before it was banned in the UK. He challenges the idea that women’s football is only now discovering its audience, arguing instead that the support has always existed but the investment, facilities and structures have not always matched it. This episode is a thoughtful look at how women’s football can be professionalised in a way that puts players first, creates commercial sustainability and gives young girls the best possible opportunity to play, develop and succeed in the game.

3. 

   21 Oct 2026

   A Founder's Perspective: Emotional Intelligence in Football: What I’ve Learned Interviewing Industry Leaders

   In this solo founder’s update, David Chimbaza returns to The Business of Football podcast to reflect on the network’s growth, the lessons learned from interviewing leaders across football, and the importance of emotional intelligence in building a career in the industry. Recorded after a busy period of content, events and international coverage, David shares an honest look at the realities of growing an independent platform without corporate backing or established club connections. David discusses why starting something, whether a podcast, blog, social platform or business, can be the first step towards creating opportunities in football. He reflects on how the network has evolved from a podcast into a broader media platform, attending events, interviewing people in person and abroad, and building genuine relationships with leaders, organisations and professionals across the industry. The conversation also explores emotional intelligence as a practical career skill. David explains how understanding his own nerves, self doubt and pressure has helped him become a better interviewer, communicator and networker, while also learning how to read the energy, emotions and needs of the people he speaks with. He connects these lessons to football itself, from working with different fan cultures to managing relationships inside clubs, businesses and organisations. This episode is a personal reflection on patience, consistency, rejection, growth and belief. David shares what he has learned from the moments that did not go to plan, why small wins matter, and why he remains committed to building The Business of Football Network into a platform that can support and inspire people in football for years to come.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

4.8 / 5

71 ratings

Contact The Business of Football Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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