The Business of Football

In this deep-dive analysis episode of The Business and Football Network, David Chimbaza explores how football leadership has evolved over the last 10–15 years, moving from the traditional “manager-centric” model to a more sophisticated, multi-layered executive structure. The episode examines how the role of the manager has changed, why sporting directors and CEOs now hold greater authority, and what this shift means for the future of club operations, recruitment and long-term strategy.

David draws on Gareth Southgate’s recent comments about the erosion of managerial authority, using Manchester United as a central case study to show how the post-Ferguson era has seen nearly £100 million spent on managerial and executive compensation since 2013. He contrasts this with clubs like Brighton and Brentford, whose success is built on strong infrastructure, recruitment systems and organisational culture rather than reliance on a single high-profile manager.

The conversation also looks at the rise of the sporting director as a central decision-maker, the tension between short-term fan expectations and long-term squad building, and how ownership models (from FSG to Clearlake to INEOS) have become more visible and influential in day-to-day football decisions. David reflects on what the Manchester City transition from Guardiola to Maresca might reveal about succession planning, and whether modern clubs have learned from United’s instability to build structures that protect both the organisation and the head coach.

HOST BIO Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launching his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetise & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience. Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry.

In this deep-dive analysis episode of The Business of Football, David Chimbaza breaks down the governance crisis unfolding at FIFA in the wake of the 2026 World Cup. The episode focuses on the fallout from Gianni Infantino’s controversial proposal to create FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), a new commercial subsidiary that would have sold a minority stake in World Cup rights to private investors in a deal reportedly worth up to $4.2 billion. David explains how the plan triggered immediate backlash from UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, who accused FIFA of poor governance, lack of transparency and attempting to push through major commercial changes without proper consultation. The controversy escalated into threats of boycotts across FIFA tournaments, including the Women’s World Cup and youth competitions, and led to calls for Infantino’s resignation as trust in FIFA’s leadership collapsed. The episode also explores the wider implications for football: what the dispute reveals about power dynamics between FIFA and the confederations, how governance failures at the top affect clubs, sponsors, broadcasters and fans, and whether the sport could face a structural split if alternative competitions are pursued. David examines Infantino’s position ahead of the 2027 presidential election, the role of political backing (including public support from Donald Trump), and why restoring transparency and accountability may be more important than any single investment proposal. **This is a must-listen for anyone working in or studying football business, governance, law, commercial strategy or event operations, offering a clear breakdown of one of the most significant off-pitch stories shaping the future of the global game. Our sources: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7505310/2026/08/11/gianni-infantino-fifa-trump-post/ https://offthepitch.com/a/wednesday-briefing-infantino-backs-64-team-world-cup-plan-trump-offers-public-support https://offthepitch.com/a/friday-briefing-uefa-hold-fifa-boycott-infantino-apology-falls-short https://offthepitch.com/a/monday-briefing-infantino-sought-bypass-fifa-council-five-person-approval-investment-plan https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7503475/2026/08/10/gianni-infantino-fifa-resign-uefa-concacaf/

In this special guest episode of The Business and Football Network, David Chimbaza sits down with Daniel Mayhew, Career Progression Manager at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), to explore education, career development and life after professional football. With previous experience at the Global Institute of Sport and UCFB, Daniel shares his insight into supporting footballers, students and practitioners as they plan their next steps within the sports industry. paste.txt

Daniel explains how the PFA Business School supports players at every stage of their journey, from academy scholars and current professionals to recently retired players and those who have been away from the game for several years. He discusses the realities of transition, the uncertainty that can follow the end of a playing contract or career, and how education can help players develop confidence, identify new opportunities and prepare for life beyond the pitch. paste.txt

The conversation also explores the transferable skills that footballers often fail to recognise in themselves, including leadership, communication, negotiation, influencing, creativity, discipline and teamwork. Daniel explains how these abilities can be connected to roles such as sporting director, coach, scout or other careers in football, while highlighting the importance of building and activating professional networks in an industry where many opportunities are never publicly advertised. paste.txt

David and Daniel also compare the experiences of professional players and sports students, discuss how career coaching and teaching methods have evolved, and examine the value of learning directly from people who are currently working in the industry. This episode offers practical advice and an honest look at how education, self-awareness and networking can help footballers and aspiring professionals build successful careers both within and beyond the game.

In this episode of The Business of Football Network, David Chimbaza reflects on attending the ElevateHER Football conference at UA92, a two-day event focused on women’s football and leadership. Rather than being a passive sit-and-listen conference, Elevate pushed delegates to discuss, collaborate and challenge one another, creating an environment that encouraged real engagement, personal growth and new ideas.

 

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David shares how the conference challenged him to step outside his comfort zone, from taking part in exercises on personal branding and origin stories to reflecting on the value of authentic introductions and stronger networking. He highlights the impact of Chris Mumford’s session, which encouraged attendees to think differently about how they present themselves, and how a simple but effective CV workshop helped make conversations more meaningful and practical.

Alongside his reflections on the event itself, David also talks about the broader mission of the network: showing up not just online, but in real-world spaces, conferences and events where football business conversations actually happen. This episode captures both the learning experience and the ambition behind the platform, as well as the importance of collaboration, confidence and continuous development in the football industry.

HOST BIO Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launching his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetise & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience. Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry.

In this deep-dive episode of The Business of Football, David Chimbaza explores whether the financial gap in football is still widening and what that means for the future of the sport. Recorded during the summer 2026 transfer window, the episode examines how record-breaking fees, PSR rules and commercial revenue are reshaping the balance of power between elite clubs and the rest of the pyramid.

David draws on the Deloitte Football Money League to show how the top 20 clubs generated €11.2 billion in revenue in 2023–24, with commercial income now the largest revenue stream at 44%. He highlights how big clubs leverage broadcast deals, global branding and multi-use stadiums to grow faster, while smaller clubs face rising costs, travel burdens and pressure to sell players to stay compliant. customchangingrooms+1

The conversation also looks at competitive balance in the Premier League compared to La Liga and the Bundesliga, the role of governing bodies in shaping (or failing to shape) financial fairness, and whether the gap is now a permanent feature of modern football. David closes by asking listeners where they think the trend is heading and whether there is any realistic path back to a more level playing field.