In this episode of the Business of Football podcast, David delves into the intricate economics of the global football industry, highlighting the challenges and opportunities present in various markets. Focusing primarily on Europe and the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, David also covers the saturation of the European market, where a high number of sports management graduates compete for limited roles, and contrasts it with the burgeoning growth in Saudi Arabia, where significant investments are being made to develop the sports sector.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Saturation in the European Market: The European football industry is highly saturated, with around 50,000 sports management graduates each year, but only 5-10% securing relevant roles.

• Opportunities in Emerging Markets: Countries like Saudi Arabia are experiencing significant growth in their sports sectors, with projections indicating a rise from $7.2 billion in 2023 to $22.4 billion by 2030.

• Youth and Women's Football Development: There is a growing emphasis on youth development and women's football in emerging markets. For instance, Saudi Arabia is investing in women's football, which has seen a substantial increase in registered players and teams.

• Challenges in Innovation: In Europe, there is resistance to change and innovation within established football systems, making it difficult for new ideas to gain traction.

• Importance of Research and Strategy: Before entering a new market, it's crucial to conduct thorough research on business potential, existing infrastructures, and successful models in other regions.

BEST MOMENTS

"Europe has about 50,000 sports management football-related graduates each year, but only five to 10% land relevant roles in clubs or agencies. It's brutal."

"The number of coaches at the moment that are across the globe is astronomical compared to any other niche industry; coaching is probably the hardest one because everyone wants to be a coach."

"Saudi Arabia is trying to future-proof itself from the oil market by looking into sports, for example. Some people will call it sports washing; I think it's just smart in general."

"50% of Saudis now exercise weekly from up to 13% in 2015. More people want to get into football, more people want to be interested."

"If you can find successful models in your own niche, whatever it is, whether it's in coaching, data analysis, business, investment, you know, owning football clubs."

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HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & 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.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/