The Man Who Worked with Sir Alex Ferguson, Mourinho & Football’s Elite!

In this special episode of The Joy of Football Podcast, Martin Tyler and Neil Barnett are joined by one of the most influential figures in modern football - Charlie Stillitano.

If you’ve ever wondered how football became truly global, how pre-season tours turned into worldwide events, and how the biggest clubs in the world now travel the globe, this is the man behind it all.

Charlie Stillitano is the architect of modern football’s global expansion. From working alongside icons like Sir Alex Ferguson and José Mourinho, to collaborating with the biggest clubs in the world including Manchester United, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC - Charlie has been at the centre of football’s biggest conversations for decades.

He is widely credited as the man who transformed pre-season football, helping to create the global tours, international tournaments, and commercial opportunities that now define the modern game. From the International Champions Cup to major fixtures played across the United States and beyond, Charlie reveals how it all came together — and the relationships that made it possible.

This episode is packed with incredible behind-the-scenes stories, from negotiating with the biggest names in football to building trust with legendary managers, players, and organisations. It’s a rare insight into the business, politics, and personalities that operate at the very top of the sport.

From dressing rooms to boardrooms, this is football at its most global - and the story of a man who helped shape the game as we know it today.

#CharlieStillitano #SirAlexFerguson #JoseMourinho #ManchesterUnited #RealMadrid #Barcelona #ChelseaFC #FootballBusiness #PreSeasonTour #InternationalChampionsCup #FootballPodcast #JoyOfFootball

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