Elite athletes who have achieved everything in their sport while building a career alongside; it’s the ambition many sports stars have today. But how do you do it effectively? Petr Cech is a footballing legend, and I don’t use that term lightly. Four Premier League titles, a Champions League, record for the most Premier League clean sheets, and hugely respected as one of the most dedicated and attentive professionals the game has seen. He also has an MBA, is studying for a PhD, runs multiple businesses, and I need two hands to count the number of languages he speaks.

The philosophy that has driven this? Win, that’s what it’s all about. If not then what’s the point. As you’ve just heard this is a theme that runs throughout. It also poses the question we wrestle most with on the show which is how to do that consistently and run a great business. I’ll get the apology in early, yes this was very exciting for me (and Harry too). Sitting across the table from someone who has given you some of your greatest memories as a fan is pretty cool, not many other ways I can say it. Just breeze through it.

But what I can say is we’ve met few people are impressive or generous with their time who leave you genuinely in awe of but their successes and the processes they’ve adopted to achieve it. I promise you don’t just need to be a Chelea fan to enjoy this. We’re delighted to welcome Petr to the Business of Sport.

On today’s show we discuss:

Elite Mentality, Preparation & Winning:

• Why preparation beats talent under pressure and how Petr approached the biggest moments of his career.

• What truly separates elite performers when everything is on the line.

• Why winning is a mindset before it’s a tactic.

Leadership, Standards & Team Culture:

• How winning environments are built and sustained over time.

• The role of managers, players and dressing-room standards in elite teams.

• Why culture collapses when accountability disappears.

Setbacks, Injury & Perspective:

• How a life-threatening head injury changed the way Petr approached football and life.

• Why fear never disappeared, but how he learned to perform alongside it.

• The difference between confidence and control at the highest level.

From Pitch to Boardroom:

• Transitioning from player to executive and seeing football from the inside.

• Why football performance must always come before commercial priorities.

• How decision-making, incentives and governance shape success off the pitch.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

EMW

A pleasure to work with leading sports & entertainment agency EMW on this show

https://emw-global.com/

Another huge week to dissect today with a quick look back at how one of the stories in particular has developed from last week. Today it’s the turn of the chaotic world of media rights after DAZN pulled out of another league deal in Belgium, the rise of darts (at your request) and how the sport has transformed to get to where it is today, and rugby; in the wake of the challenger league R360 delaying its launch, is there even demand for a non-international rugby competition? It’s been amazing seeing the response to the show last week so a huge thank you to that. Keep commenting, keep suggesting topics, and we’ll keep tailoring it to match what you want to hear. Let’s get on with the show.

We think we know what the financial world of a footballer looks like. But the reality is very different. There is much more to understand than the salaries that media outlets publish like football scores. And if we’re honest, it’s never done to encourage a positive response. So what is the financial reality that faces some of sports most influential stars?

Matt Smith played over 500 games in the Football League, for some big clubs: Leeds, Fulham, QPR, Millwall. But Matt had always had a different path to many players. He went to university, he’s done an MBA, and now has co-founded a venture capital business specifically geared towards opening up investment opportunities to athletes, but most importantly, with their best interests at heart. The fact I even need to say that is an indicator of where some of the big problems lie.

This conversation was special for a number of reasons. Firstly and personally, because a conversation we had with Matt years ago was one of the first moments that triggered this show becoming a thing. Secondly, because this is a space that us, the fan and casual commentator, need to know more about. Not to mention the value this brings to any of you who are athletes facing these same situations. It’s financial reality with some quite extraordinary club stories to enjoy.

On today’s show we discuss:

Footballers, Money & Responsibility:

• Why modern players outsource too much decision-making and how that leaves them financially exposed.

• The illusion of wealth in football, short careers, and the pressure of lifestyle inflation.

• Why earning more money actually increases the need for better judgment.

  
  

Agents, Advice & a Broken System:

• How misaligned incentives in representation quietly cost players millions.

• Why removing regulation turned football advice into a “wild west.”

• What players should demand from agents, advisors, and intermediaries.

Business, Investing & Thinking Long-Term:

• When it makes sense for athletes to invest and when it really doesn’t.

• Why venture capital is a game of patience, not quick wins.

• Lessons from early investing successes and distorted perceptions of risk.

  
  

Leadership, Transition & Life After Football:

• How ownership, leadership, and culture shape careers on the pitch.

• Why preparing for retirement matters as much as preparing for matchday.

• The role of curiosity, structure, and purpose in building a second career.

  
  

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/