Business of Sport

Multi-club ownership groups have had a tough year in the eyes of many, with high profile cases around Crystal Palace & Lyon as well as Forest & Olympiacos showing the competitive risk of one owner or group having too much control over multiple entities. But, and it is a big but, this model can be a hugely valuable business and performance structure to apply to football.Tim Bezbatchenko is the President of Black Knight Football, the group who owns or has minority ownership in multiple clubs including Bournemouth, Hibernian, and Lorient in France to name a few. It’s an amazing time to be having this chat with Tim due the success Bournemouth are achieving this season, miraculously after another summer of selling some of their best players. This is an insight into how they have built a player trading model to offset the financial challenges of having an 11,000 seater stadium, the plans to develop infrastructure, the value of shared intelligence and analytics across multiple clubs, and most importantly how you protect the badge of each team so they do not just become feeders to the premium asset in the group.This is a proper look at the MCO model from someone who firmly believes that collective value can breed the best business in football. We’re delighted to welcome Tim to the Business of Sport.Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:26 What Black Knight is really about12:07 The business edge of owning multiple clubs17:02 Inside Bournemouth's rise under Andoni Iraola25:45 Bill Foley's mantra: "Always Advance, Never Retreat"31:24 How Bournemouth sells stars yet keeps getting better44:52 Building a sustainable club: revenue, academy & player trading01:01:14 Why Bill Foley chose Bournemouth over an MLS teamOn today’s show we discuss: The Rise of Black Knight Football Group:What it takes to build a multi-club ownership group across five countries and why Bill Foley’s “Always Advance, Never Retreat” mantra is shaping everything from the Premier League to Portugal.How AFC Bournemouth became the flagship club for a growing global network that includes Hibernian, Lorient, and Moreirense.Why multi-club ownership is football’s next frontier and how to build it sustainablyInside the Business Model:The economics behind owning multiple clubs from shared scouting, player development, and data systems to group-wide sponsorship deals.Why player trading drives profitability, and how clubs like Lorient and Moreirense fuel Bournemouth’s long-term success.The art of finding value: buying clubs with strong DNA and fan culture, not just financial upsideHow Black Knight is using its network to develop talent like Junior Kroupi and accelerate their pathway to the Premier League.Why football’s next phase will be defined by structure, not just spending.Building a Sustainable Premier League Club:Inside Bournemouth’s transformation from League Two survival story to Premier League mainstay.How a £45m training ground and planned stadium expansion are reshaping the club’s future.The economics of player trading, matchday revenue, and sponsorships and what it really costs to compete with England’s eliteA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: David:Go and check out the amazing products revolutionising the protein bar at https://davidprotein.comStryde:Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit ⁠http://www.gostryde.com⁠ to become part of the movement!

The celebrity investor coming into football as part of an ownership group is nothing new these days, but there were more than a few eyebrows raised when it was announced that Snoop Dogg, alongside footballing legend Luka Modric, had become a minority investor in Swansea. There must be something in the Welsh water. Swansea is storied club with a hugely passionate fanbase and a recent history of Premier League football and both elite player and manager development. Getting to the bottom of what facilitated this high profile involvement is one thing, but CEO Tom Gorringe is facing all the usual challenges of creating an elite playing environment delivering results on the pitch while trying to ensure the business is exceeding expectations to allow the club to spend money and challenge for promotion. There are some statistics in here that shocked us, some conditions that have to be taken into account that are unique to this club, but when reflecting on this conversation, this is a team absolutely moving in the right direction. It’s maximisation of financial opportunity without losing your values alongside how we’re still gunning for a Snoop Dogg, Just Eat, Rossi’s collaboration to take place pre game (one for Swansea fans/if you’re not go and google the iconic fish and chip establishment). Let’s get on with it. We’re delighted to welcome Tom to Business of Sport.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:24 On Staying Open and Connected with Fans06:53 What Tom’s Job Actually Involves09:14 How Modric and Snoop Joined the Club14:54 Death Row Records Deal18:11 The Power of Celebrity in Football20:38 The Revenue Drivers23:01 Content Strategy25:13 How Communication Works with Multiple Owners29:56 Lessons from Bristol to Swansea31:05 Budgeting35:07 How Loan Deals Are Structured37:17 How Swansea Supports Players Beyond the Pitch38:22 Inside the Decision to Appoint Manager42:09 Ranking Why People Join Swansea44:41 The Role of Football Regulation Today47:10 Tom’s Opinion on Parachute Payments48:24 Is Owning a Club Serious Business or Just Fun?53:07 Quick-Fire RoundOn today’s show we discuss: Snoop Dogg, Luka Modric & a New Era for Swansea:How one of the most unexpected ownership stories in football came together.Why Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric invested in Swansea and how it’s changing the club’s global profile overnight.How the club is using celebrity partnerships to drive sponsorship, retail, and brand awareness including a Death Row Records x Swansea collaboration that broke sales recordsAuthenticity, Community & the Fans:Why Swansea’s local identity remains at the heart of everything and why openness with fans is one of Tom’s core principles.The balance between commercial growth and staying true to the club’s roots as a working-class, one-club city.How fan engagement and local pride are helping rebuild trust and unity across the clubFinancial Discipline & Sustainability:The economics of a Championship club in 2025. £21.5m turnover, £15m losses, and the battle for sustainability.How Tom cut £3.9m in annual costs without harming performance including the famous “dirty windows” moment.What running a Championship club actually costs, from stadium leases and catering royalties to travel and academy budgets.How the incoming football regulator could transform sustainability and fairness across the EFL.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit ⁠http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

What does women’s football need to do to match men’s? Could it be even bigger? What is currently holding it back? Every so often, we have a chat on this show which pushes beyond the surface of sport. The potential, growth and popularity of women’s football has become a feature of macro conversation for years, but finding someone with the credibility and willingness to say it how it is is not easy.Meet Bex Smith, former New Zealand Captain, treble winner with Wolfsburg, FIFA Women’s World Cup executive, and now club owner. Having founded Crux Football, a MCO Group looking to build collective value across core assets in the women’s game, she is on a mission to be a key part of unlocking the business and performance success she believes is inevitable in the sport if the right structures are in place to support it. With the recent purchase of their first club Montpellier, the vision is about to become reality; it is not just an ability to affect an individual club but the change that needs to happen across the league and broader ecosystem that will determine true success.If anyone is going to do it, you’re about to meet her. No statements for the sake of it, no positioning without considered justification. It’s the women’s football show we’ve been waiting for. Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:38 Why Montpellier Was the Perfect Start14:04 Building the Right Financial Structure18:04 The Valuation Problem in Women’s Football23:35 Why Women’s Football Need To Stop Copying the Men’s Game34:37 The Challenge of Managing Multiple Clubs36:47 The Path from Pitch to Boardroom41:12 Balancing Independence with System Constraints44:17 What Makes the Women’s Game So Investable48:20 Would Bex Buy a Club in England Today?49:14 How Players Drive Engagement and Value55:41 Why Equal Pay Isn’t the Whole Story58:22 Managing the Female Athlete’s Body01:03:53 Quick-Fire Round On today’s show we discuss: Rebuilding the Foundations of Women’s Football:Why the European women’s game “doesn’t work” under its current structure Why independence from men’s clubs is essential for real sustainability.How governance, league rules, and commercial structures need to evolve to match the women’s game’s unique audience and values.Why Bex believes women’s football can and should be bigger than the men’s game.Building Crux Football & Buying Montpellier:Inside the acquisition process of Montpellier and what made it the perfect first club.Why the French league is becoming one of Europe’s most investable women’s football markets.The operational blueprint behind Crux Football’s multi-club model.The Power of Storytelling & Icons:Why visibility and narrative are key to driving fandom and revenue.How the rise of icons like Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, and Megan Rapinoe has reshaped global perceptions of women’s football.How Crux Football plans to use storytelling, content, and player-led media to grow audience and commercial valueAthlete Welfare, Data & Performance:How to build medical, technical, and performance systems designed for women, not men.Why data, analytics, and research are crucial to reducing ACL injuries and improving long-term player development.How Crux Football’s performance infrastructure and recruitment strategy will help close the gap in player care and analyticsA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: David Go and check out the amazing products revolutionising the protein bar at https://davidprotein.comStrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

What is the world of LIV Golf really like? Cutting through all the noise and the image portrayed of a league propped up by PIF money incapable of supporting itself, is there another side? That’s what we take a look at with this week’s guest James Dunkley, Team Principal of Majesticks Golf Club, one of the 13 teams that compete on the tour. There is no denying the controversy that LIV caused when it was established, disrupting the world of golf and the established tours, taking some of the biggest stars of the game on big money and changing the format. But going beyond that, and most importantly the short term financial commitments it has required, what is the long term ambition, and how does this model fit into the broader game to co-exist with the sport’s other key organisations and tournaments while also tackling some of golf’s biggest challenges: ageing fanbases, stale formats, financial distribution outside of the top players.James takes us through the running of a team consisting of huge personalities and profiles like Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson, the importance of creating a winning organisation, and why much of this tour is completely misunderstood by many. I won’t lie this opened my eyes to a side of LIV I hadn’t previously considered or appreciated, and I think it’ll surprise you too. Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:24 How do the teams work07:40 Reviving a stale sport11:00 Building a community & youth programs13:20 Inside Majesticks GC operations16:15 Why team golf is so exciting21:00 Relegation & Recruitment25:00 Building audience & identity30:00 Path to profitability42:44 $1.1 Billion in losses & long-term vision49:20 LIV's unique fan experience52:00 How LIV changed the way players competeOn today’s show we discuss: Inside the LIV Golf Model:How LIV’s $1.1 billion investment is building a long-term global sports property.Breaking down the commercial structure: team equity, prize money, sponsorship, and central funding from the PIF.How initiatives like Little Sticks are teaching life skills and values to tens of thousands of kids through golfMedia, Broadcast & Growth:How LIV Golf secured massive broadcast reach with Fox Sports, ITV, and global partners and why timing is everything.The challenge of changing golf’s viewing experience: more shots per hour, better storytelling, and making broadcasts easier to follow.Why accessibility, not exclusivity, will define the next era of golf mediaThe Future of Golf:How LIV, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour can coexist and why collaboration is key for the health of the sport.What the next five years of LIV’s expansion will look like: more team-based events, geographic franchises, and a clearer media presence.Why Dunkley believes golf’s “civil war” will give way to a stronger, more connected global gameA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

Today, we’re delighted to welcome Pablo Longoria to the show. Pablo is President of french football giant Marseille, marking a welcome venture for us into European football! Make no mistake, this is a huge club steeped in history, the most passionate fans, and a global brand. Managing all of this from a business perspective is a serious job. Then of course add into it the need to create a winning team on the pitch to drive it all, and that is the challenge that faces Pablo.From scout and technical director to club President, his route to the top is unique in itself. The approach is absolutely ‘results first’. They have compiled a squad with a strong balance of youth and experience, including former Premier League players such as Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Pierre-Emile Hojbjurg, and of course Mason Greenwood, whose controversial transfer is covered in this chat as we look at how Marseille are approaching the transfer market. The broader challenges for the club extend into the chaotic media landscape of french football and the challenge with competing against the biggest and established leagues with less financial clout. Deep insight into top top level football is not abundant. This is a fascinating reveal of what is takes to run one European football’s most iconic organisations. Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:01 Pablo Longoria’s Path to Football Executive08:18 Joining Olympique de Marseille10:12 The State of Marseille When Pablo Arrived11:37 Revenues: Ticketing, Security, Food & Beverage20:19 How On-Pitch Success Drives Business Growth21:56 Pablo’s Role in Player Recruitment24:52 What People Get Wrong About Football Managers28:41 Football Director vs Manager: What’s the Difference?29:42 Managing Transfer Market Inflation39:33 How Fans Influence Transfer Strategy43:29 Learning from Transfer Mistakes45:45 Where Marseille Fits in the Football Pyramid49:22 Inside France’s Evolving Media Rights Landscape53:53 The Competitive Imbalance in French Football55:09 How CVC’s Investment Impacts French Clubs56:37 Winning vs Profitability Under U.S. Ownership01:01:26 The Concentration of Value in Top Leagues01:07:18 Underinvestment in Technology Across Sport01:10:49 Where Marseille Aims to Be in Five YearsOn today’s show we discuss: The Business of Modern Football:How Pablo is leading one of Europe’s biggest clubs through the most challenging media landscape in decades.Why Champions League qualification changes the balance sheet by up to 40%, and how to plan when your core revenue can fluctuate by €80 million.How Marseille balances community accessibility, with tickets as low as €12, against the commercial pressures of competing at Europe’s top tableBuilding for the Long Term:Why sporting performance is the engine behind every revenue stream.The psychology of team-building and Pablo’s “building-floor” theory explaining why some players succeed and others fail.How De Zerbi’s arrival marked a turning point for Marseille and what true alignment between coach, sporting director and CEO looks likeThe Media Rights Revolution:What the collapse of French TV rights means for clubs across Ligue 1.What leagues can learn from the Premier League’s ability to globalise its productTransfers & the Future of Football:Why Marseille’s recruitment strategy focuses on age profiles others overlook and how to find value.Why he believes football must evolve from a “sports industry” to an “entertainment industry” to survive the next decadeA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: David Go and check out the amazing products revolutionising the protein bar at https://davidprotein.comStrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

Today, we’re delighted to welcome Richard Coleman to the show. Alongside one of our favourite previous guests Mr Guenther Steiner, Richard is the new co-owner and Team Principal of MotoGP team Tech3. This sport has had some big headlines since Liberty’s $4.9bn acquisition went through earlier this year. As the infamous owners of F1 who have played a major role in re-inventing the sport and making it one of the most popular and marketable entertainment products on the planet, it’s not hard to understand why the buzz has now spread to asking what it is that Liberty can do with MotoGP; a hugely popular and successful motorsport, but one that doesn’t have the global reach or brand power F1 has enjoyed. In a world of massively inflating sports assets prices and the clamour for good deals and unique opportunities, do these racing teams present some of the most exciting sports business opportunities on the market? The parallels to F1 are obvious, but this is also very much a property with its own values, diehard fans, and a plan to capture the audience in a way that differentiates itself from four wheel racing. This a look at the big business of MotoGP and the big potential of Tech3. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro03:50 Liberty Media’s $4.9B MotoGP Takeover10:04 Why MotoGP Is Undervalued16:23 Can MotoGP Fix Its Competitive Imbalance?20:02 How to Run a MotoGP Team Sustainably22:38 How MotoGP Teams Make Money26:52 The New Wave of Sponsors in MotoGP29:12 How MotoGP Can Create Global Superstars35:10 Can MotoGP Grow Without Losing Its Core Fans?42:47 The Core Risks Behind Investing in MotoGP46:09 Inside The Media Rights Structure47:45 The Attention Economy & Youth in Motorsport51:56 What Makes The Best Riders?52:42 Why Riding a Bike Is Harder Than Driving an F1 Car54:00 Health & Safety in MotoGP01:00:29 Quick-Fire RoundOn today’s show we discuss: 1. The Business of MotoGP:How the $4.9bn Liberty Media acquisition has transformed the outlook for MotoGP and why the new owners are betting they can replicate the Formula One boom.What this means for valuations across the grid, and how teams like Tech3 are transitioning from racing outfits into full-scale businesses and global entertainment brands.Why Richard believes MotoGP is one of the most undervalued sports assets in the world today.2. Inside the Tech3 Acquisition:The story behind Richard and Guenther Steiner’s joint purchase of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team.The financial realities of running a race team: from start-money payments to manufacturer support and sponsorship structures.Why the goal isn’t just to compete on track, but to build a sustainable commercial operation behind it3. Building Global Reach:Why the sport must expand beyond Southern Europe to truly go global and the opportunities and risks that come with it.How MotoGP can attract younger and more diverse audiences, develop riders from new regions, and create stars with global recognition.The importance of telling the human stories. The “gladiators of the modern age” risking everything on two wheels4. Safety, Technology & the Human Element:How MotoGP is balancing spectacle with safety through better circuits, tech innovations, and airbag suits.Why confidence, courage, and connection matter as much as engineering and how the sport can make its heroes household nameThe unseen dangers of racing at 230+ mph and the deep bond between riders and their crews.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we’re delighted to welcome Graeme Le Saux to the show. A Chelsea, Blackburn and England icon, Graeme played over 500 club games, 327 of them in the Premier League, as well as 36 caps for England. There was more than enough in here to just enjoy some unparalleled sporting nostalgia, from Blackburn’s insane Premier League title to playing in the infamous David Beckham red card match at the 1998 World Cup. But you know that’s not our style; what Graeme brings to this conversation is both a reflection on his experiences handling the turbulent world of a footballer alongside the more macro issues facing the game. He did have a different background, different interests, and unique way of approaching the celebrity that comes with football. Having been a record transfer for a defender when he moved to Chelsea for £5.5m in 1997, he also gets what it is to play with expectation and pressure that can humanise players we fans often treat as emotionless machines.It touches on many of the key points we always look to build on, from asset inflation and club overspending to the responsibility of player education. A special player with a special outlook on both football and life as a top level athlete…and as you’ll no doubt lock onto he brought a big dose of humour to accompany it. Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:28 How the PL Has Changed Since Graeme Played09:25 The Reality of Changing Teams13:08 Is It the Club’s Fault When Talent Leaves for Free?14:36 Are Players Now More Valuable Than Clubs?16:33 How Signing-On Fees Change Transfers24:22 Are Football Clubs Passion Projects or Investments?26:47 How Big Was Abramovich’s Arrival in the Dressing Room?29:56 Thinking About Finances While Playing43:26 Why Many Players Struggle Financially After Football51:01 If I Could Change One Game54:43 The Added Pressure of Social Media on Players59:23 What It’s Like Covering the Premier League in America01:00:39 The Future of MLS01:05:15 Quick-Fire RoundIn Today's Episode We Discuss:1. Life at the Start of the Premier League:What it was like to play before and after the birth of the Premier League.How TV money and sponsorship transformed football into the global powerhouse it is today.The pressure of record transfer fees and why Graeme struggled at first to justify being Britain’s most expensive defender2. Transfers, Contracts & the Media:How moving clubs is about more than football, from dressing-room dynamics to family upheaval.The realities of modern contracts, signing-on fees, and bonuses.Why players today hold more power than ever, and what that means for clubs facing Bosman deals and free transfersHow social media has changed the scrutiny players face, both positively and negatively.3. Blackburn’s Title & Chelsea’s Rebirth:Inside the story of Blackburn’s Premier League win and why money alone wasn’t the reason for their success.What really happened in the final days before Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and how one game against Liverpool effectively saved the club from administration.Why investment can change a club’s fortunes but only if combined with identity, culture, and the right management.4. Education, Identity & Life After Football:Why Graeme refused to conform in the dressing room and why he’s proud he stuck to his values even when it made life harder.The importance of education and broader interests for young players, and why football needs to do more to support life beyond the pitch.The shock of retirement, coping with irrelevance, and why building purpose and relationships off the field is essential.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit ⁠https://www.gostryde.com/ to become part of the movement!

When we recorded this show the day before James flew out to Baku, we did not expect Williams to be up on the podium delivering in real life what James was theoretically describing to us on the show. Podiums are of course part of the development plan, but not yet. When James came to see us at Business of Sport HQ last week, we talked through both what he has done to position the team for future success, and what he still needs to do. In a sport that requires so many minds pulling together, utilising a vast array of talents, the prospect of building what is popularly termed as ‘winning culture’ could seem daunting; where do you even start? For James, it was recognising that even in a sport of technology and science, people and culture are what makes you win. This weekend’s result would place Williams ahead of where James has set expectations. But don’t get me wrong, this result in Baku will have been celebrated in the halls of Grove, because no matter how long term the strategy for success is, these wins you pick up on the way are integral to showing the team that what they’re doing is on the right path, and from James’ perspective (though he’d never look at it like this) that he’s the man to deliver for them. This is James Vowles on the business of Williams and F1…and a taste of what’s to come.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:54 Rebuilding Williams Through Culture07:18 Balancing Past Success with a New Identity10:54 Williams’ Long-Term Plan for Success17:31 What Vowles Brings to Sainz & Albon22:35 Can Money Alone Deliver F1 Success?25:22 Does Losing Money Matter in F1 Ownership?28:23 Turning Heavy Investment Into Performance30:45 Williams’ New Revenue Streams34:25 How Teams Compete for the Same Sponsors37:37 Will Formula 1 Control Its Own Platform41:30 Overcoming Challenges as a New Team Principal46:10 The Mediafication of F1 Leadership47:30 Quick-Fire RoundIn Today's Episode We Discuss:1. Rebuilding Williams from the Ground Up:Why James left the comfort of Mercedes to take on the challenge of reviving one of Formula One’s most historic but struggling teams.How he discovered Williams was “a bankrupt organisation” on arrival and why he likens it to running a 50-year-old startup.The long-term plan to make Williams both competitive and profitable again by 2028, balancing heavy investment with financial disciplineHow James is instilling accountability, long-term thinking, and a “break everything” mindset to push the team beyond survival.2. The Culture of Performance:The importance of ego-free leadership from drivers like Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz in shaping a winning environmentThe real split between car and driver performance and why drivers remain the best “sensors” for development.What James learned from working with Schumacher, Rosberg, and Hamilton, and how those lessons are applied to Albon and Sainz today.Why humility, confidence, and resilience separate the very best drivers from the rest3. The Business of F1:The realities of cost caps, sponsorship, and commercial growth in modern F1.Why Williams’ sponsorship strategy is about authentic partnerships, not stickers on a car and how deals like Atlassian reflect the team’s values.James’ candid view on asset values, media rights, and how F1 must evolve its broadcasting model to engage younger fans4. The Future of the Sport:Why two-day race weekends could be the future, and how unpredictability makes F1 compelling.His view on an 11th team, the balance of tradition versus innovation, and how Netflix and Drive to Survive changed the sport’s global appeal.What excites him most about the years ahead: leaving a lasting legacy at Williams and returning the team to the front of the grid.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we’re delighted to welcome Patrick Mouratoglou to the show. Patrick is one of tennis' most successful coaches, working with Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, Simona Halep to name a few. Perhaps most famous for his collaboration with Serena Williams where they won 10 Grand Slams together, it’s regarded as one of the most successful coach-player relationships in tennis history.Alongside this, Patrick is the founder of the world-renowned Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. The academy has nurtured hundreds of elite players including Coco Gauff, Holger Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas through a personalized, high-performance training model. It combines cutting-edge facilities with academic programs, helping student-athletes from over 45 countries balance education and sport. The academy has become a global brand with satellite centers in China, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Dubai and the U.S.Patrick’s new book ‘Champion Mindset’ takes the position of transferring everything he has learned in tennis to apply to everyday life. Believe it or not, what makes Serena so successful won’t be too far away from what can work for you, in business, performance, or just general life. I have put the link in the bio (not an advert!) because it’s one of the best books I’ve read. This is an inspiring conversation that I know you will love, whether a big tennis fan or just interested in the philosophies of nurturing top talent.On today’s show we discuss: Coaching the Greats:Inside the 10-year partnership with Serena Williams that delivered 10 Grand Slams and is regarded as one of the greatest player–coach relationships in history.Why courage, honesty, and “never being afraid to get fired” are central to coaching elite athletes.Lessons from working with Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov and others and the unique challenges of guiding champions at different stages of their careers.The Philosophy of Confidence:Why success is built on stacking “little victories” and creating positive experiences every day.How champions like Murray, Djokovic, and Serena win even when they’re not playing well and how to transfer that mindset to business and everyday life.The art of knowing what to say, when to say it, and when to say nothing at all.The Mouratoglou Academy & Champion Mindset:How his academy became Europe’s biggest and now spans 14 global centers, producing players like Coco Gauff, Holger Rune, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.The importance of combining world-class training with education to make tennis accessible beyond the elite.Patrick’s new book Champion Mindset and why the same principles that drove Serena to greatness can apply to anyone in sport, business, or life.Champion Mindset by Patrick Mouratoglou (Yellow Kite: £20)A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we’re delighted to welcome Mark Hammond to the show. Mark is the CEO of Bromley, one of the EFL’s emerging success stories. Having only played one full season in the football league and finishing a hugely respectable 11th last year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the the early stages of this club’s acclimatisation to top level football would focus on consolidation and survival. You’d be wrong, as Mark clearly told me when about to assume the same thing; this is a club whose ambition is once again promotion.But it is not just the work the first team are doing on the pitch that makes Bromley such a standout case. An academy system that focuses not just on supplying players for the first team but also providing an education and opportunities beyond the pitch for hundreds of children is going a long way to fixing some of the big problems football has when players give up everything to chase the (almost) impossible dream. Mark’s career as a player, coach and now CEO is not the path you often see to top football executive, but that’s what endears. Different ideas and approaches to building exciting, sustainable entertainment products doing the best for their fans and communities requires a different approach. ‘We’re not teaching our kids to be professional footballers; we’re teaching them to be professionals in football’. On today’s show we discuss: The Rise of Bromley FC:How Bromley went from non-league football to mid-table in their first-ever EFL season.Balancing ambition with discipline: why promotion is the goal, but not at the expense of financial sustainability.Why the relationship between owner, chief executive and manager is at the core of Bromley’s success.Community and Education at the Heart:Why Bromley is built on being a true community club, with over 350 students and 58 grassroots teams pulling on the Bromley shirt every weekend.How the club’s education system provides career pathways beyond playing. Creating “professionals in football,” whether as coaches, analysts, physios, or teachers.The importance of honesty with young players about their chances of “making it,” while still giving them an elite environment to grow.Building a Sustainable Club Model:The challenge of competing with bigger budgets while staying disciplined and creative.The academy and B-team strategy that develops players at different stages and how Bromley is already producing players for the Premier League and England youth teams.Why the best coaches in the club must be with the U14s and U18s, preparing players for the toughest transitions in football.The Future of Bromley FC:Developing Hayes Lane into a 6,000+ seater stadium and building the infrastructure for long-term growth.The balance between selling talent and ensuring homegrown players get their chance in the first team.Why the club embraces being part of fans’ “second team,” and how schools and grassroots football are key to building the next generation of supporters.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!