The Footballco Business Podcast

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.