A lifetime in elite sport teaches one truth: teamwork and unity transcend race, religion, and background. Performance psychologist Roberto Forzoni reflects on lessons from Premier League football, Grand Slams, and the voices of Gary Lineker and Gary Neville, who remind us why compassion, connection, and inclusion matter. The Real Power of Sport Lies Beyond the Scoreboard After decades in elite …
When Getting Sacked Pays Better Than Winning a Trophy: The Biggest Managerial Payouts in Football
Football management has often been described as the most challenging job in sports. One week you’re hailed as a tactical genius, the next you’re shown the door. But here’s the kicker: sometimes getting sacked pays better than winning the league. Yes, in the modern game, failure doesn’t just sting – it often comes with a multi-million-pound consolation prize. While fans …
What the Spate of Football Manager Sackings Teaches Us About Building Strong Teams in Business
In recent weeks, the football world has seen a dramatic acceleration in managerial turnover. It’s no longer something we expect to creep up throughout the autumn — the dismissals are happening now. And there are a lot of businesses, leaders, and speaker-bookers who can learn from this chaos. Recent Managerial Departures: Mourinho, Solskjaer, Ten Hag, and More Here are some …
What Pressure Looks Like in the Corporate World
Pressure is not just something that happens in sport. It is everywhere in the corporate world – in fact, many leaders tell me they feel as if they are constantly competing in a high-stakes match. The boardroom may not have a cheering crowd, but the sense of expectation, scrutiny, and consequence can feel just as intense as stepping out onto …
The Laws of Effective Teamwork: Lessons from Elite Sport for Business Success
In elite sport, teamwork is the single most decisive factor in achieving success. The same is true in business. As leaders, we often assume that assembling talented individuals guarantees high performance – but history, both in sport and in organisations, tells a very different story. Talent without teamwork is wasted potential. Effective teamwork creates the foundation for resilience, innovation, and …
The Psychology of Football Management: Hope, Pressure, and the Blame Game
Few positions in world sport combine prestige with such precarity as the role of a football manager. In the modern game, the cycle of hiring and firing has become faster, the stakes higher, and the scrutiny more intense than ever before. Managers stand in the spotlight, but the psychology of those who appoint them — the owners, CEOs, and Directors …
BBC Radio 5 Live – Cheating in Sport
Great to be invited to speak again on BBC Radio 5 Live with Chris Warburton on the topic of cheating in Sport, Why Do People Cheat in Sports? A Light-hearted Deep Dive into the Psychology of Cheating Everyone loves a winner—it’s a universal truth. Whether on the pitch, on the court, or at the quirky World Conker Championships, victory brings …
Energizer or Energy Zapper? – Sir Clive Woodward
Sir Clive Woodward has been one of the most influential figures in my life. He has shared his wisdom at events like the FA Managers and Coaches Conference and even volunteered his time to speak with my MSc students at Brunel University—for free. His commitment to educating and inspiring others shows the kind of leader he truly is. One of …
Lessons from Heavyweight Boxing
What World Heavyweight Boxing Can Teach Us About Teamwork, Resilience, and Preparation: Lessons from Derek Chisora vs. Tyson Fury Have you ever wondered what goes through a boxer’s mind before the biggest fight of their life? I had the privilege of working with Derek Chisora for his heavyweight championship clash against Tyson Fury at White Hart Lane in front of …
The Power of Teamwork: A Journey Through Sport and Psychology
In 1982, Tottenham Hotspur made a bold and game-changing decision: they hired a psychologist, the brilliant John Syer. This groundbreaking move acknowledged that mental strength is just as vital as physical skill in achieving greatness. By 1985, after reading Syer’s book Team Spirit, I was hooked on the psychology of teams. The idea of blending individual strengths to create something …