📚⚽ Special News: "Let's Kick the Rules: Rebel Soccer" - A Book for Young Sports Lovers! ⚽📚I'm embarrassed to announce the release of my new children's book, "Let's Kick the Rules: Rebel Soccer"!A mix of my own experience as a dad of a 9 years old player and innovation a-la Kingsleague.Available on Amazon in English and Italian links in the comment section.As someone who's spent years in professional sports, I wanted to create a story that captures the true spirit of the game for young players.🌟 What's it about? Written for kids 7 and up, "Let's Kick the Rules" follows a group of young soccer players who reinvent the game with wild and wacky rules. But it's more than just crazy soccer - it's a tale of inclusivity, creativity, and the joy of play.Key Features: 📖 Fun, imaginative story for young readers 🤝 Promotes inclusivity and teamwork 💡 Encourages creative thinking 😊 Reminds us all about the true spirit of sportsWhile written for children, this book is also a great read for: ✅ Parents looking for positive sports stories ✅ Youth coaches seeking fresh perspectives ✅ Educators interested in sports-themed literature ✅ Anyone who believes in the power of play!Let's inspire the next generation of soccer lovers. Get a copy for the young athletes in your life and join the Rebel Soccer revolution!hashtag#RebelSoccer hashtag#ChildrensBooks hashtag#YouthSports hashtag#Inclusivity hashtag#SportsStories

In this episode of "A Guy with a Scarf," I had the pleasure of speaking with Dave Lipp, who leads Business Development and Strategy for Direct-to-Consumer initiatives at Manchester United. Our conversation explored the club's evolving approach to fan engagement in the digital age, the challenges of global brand management, and the impact of emerging technologies on sports marketing. Dave's journey to Manchester United is a testament to the diverse expertise needed in modern sports management. Starting his career in ticket sales for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in Toronto, he gained valuable experience in fan communication. His path then led him through roles in mobile content development, an MBA in Rotterdam, and positions with major entertainment companies like Sony Pictures and NBCUniversal before joining Manchester United. Key Takeaways: Direct-to-Consumer Strategy: Manchester United is focused on creating a more personalized relationship with fans globally. Dave emphasized, "Creating a better relationship with the fans, where you do offer almost surprising delight moments across all different types of fan groups and fan segments, just so you can really give that outlet of fandom to people that want to experience it in their own ways." This approach recognizes that while 99% of fans may never visit Old Trafford, the club needs to provide meaningful ways for them to express their fandom. E-commerce as a Foundation: A significant initiative has been bringing e-commerce operations in-house. Dave explained, "We've recently announced the launch of Scayle as our e-com partner... It's a multitude of things, but I can really sum it up in controlling the fan journey from really start to finish as much as possible." Data-Driven Decision Making: The club is investing heavily in data infrastructure to better understand and serve its fan base. Dave noted, "We've invested heavily in different elements of a data warehouse, having it nice and structured, having the appropriate martech stack to utilize the different audience segments, create personalized journeys, et cetera." Balancing Digital Engagement and On-Field Performance: While digital engagement is crucial, Dave emphasized that on-field success remains paramount: "I do argue about this quite a bit. I still think a winning football team is the best thing to drive new fan audiences and to keep those fan audiences." Global Market Approach: The US market is a key focus for Manchester United, with strategies tailored to the unique aspects of American sports fandom. Dave mentioned collaborations with cultural icons and music artists to resonate with US audiences, such as partnerships with the Stone Roses and appearances at Glastonbury. AI Integration: Artificial Intelligence is already impacting operations at Manchester United. Dave highlighted its use in content production, research, and even graphic design: "There are AI tools that we're using. I'll point to WSC here as a long-term partner of the league and the club that we're utilizing from a content standpoint." He added, "I was blown away by how our graphic designers were at the forefront of utilizing AI to enhance some of our sales collateral." Fan Retention Challenges: While the club excels at measuring transactional retention, Dave acknowledged the need for better understanding long-term fan engagement: "We don't have that churn answer yet, which is quite a fundamental part of the lifetime value of a fan. So we're working towards that. And I think a lot of clubs are at different stages of that metric." Innovation with Core Values: Dave stressed the importance of balancing innovation with the club's core mission: "I think it's a disservice to this industry that we're not innovating in participation. We have a responsibility to make sure that first and foremost, we field a competitive football club football team, and we make sure that whatever we do, we do it with the best outcomes in mind."