FC Barcelona icon Andrés Iniesta will star in the FedEx Champions of Business list, a campaign designed to highlight businesses shaping the future of football.
Iniesta is joined by Dan Vines, SVP of Sales at FedEx Europe, and Bex Smith, a former footballer, business founder, and CEO. The trio will hear the stories of selected businesses, learning how each has contributed to transforming the sport off the pitch.
Iniesta said: “Football isn’t just about what happens on the pitch; it’s also about the behind-the-scenes efforts of companies innovating the sector and elevating the game we love.”
Since retiring, Iniesta has followed in the footsteps of many former players by shifting his focus to business. He launched his own wine label, Bodega Iniesta and more recently, became a co-owner of Danish third-division club Helsingør.
While Iniesta has his eye on the business world, it’s the companies featured on this list that are set to shape the “future of football,” according to Vines. He explained that the collaboration between FedEx and The Financial Times resulted in a list that is both “impactful and insightful”.
As part of the initiative, Iniesta, Vines and Smith listened to pitches from three of the featured companies, hearing first-hand how they’re aiming to transform the sport.
Smith stated: “It was truly inspiring to hear the three business stories from the FedEx Champions of Business list, alongside Dan and Andrés. Each of these businesses showcases innovation and pushes the boundaries of what is possible within the football industry, which is exactly what we need.”
One of the companies, Eyeball.Club, is developing technology to enhance global player scouting.
In February, Insider Sport spoke with its Co-Founder David Hicks, who discussed how the company is contributing to the technological evolution of scouting, drawing comparisons with North American sports and shared some recent success stories.
