episode#
61

From Managing Football's Biggest Names to Raising a Lioness: Misha Sher on Women's Football Industry

September 1, 2026

Misha Sher spent years managing some football legends including Pelé, Mesut Özil, Vinícius Júnior and Alessia Russo - but in this episode, he's talking about a different kind of talent: his own daughter, Maia, a rising star in Arsenal's academy.

Listen on:
From Managing Football's Biggest Names to Raising a Lioness: Misha Sher on Women's Football Industry

About this episode

Misha Sher spent years managing some football legends including Pelé, Mesut Özil, Vinícius Júnior and Alessia Russo - but in this episode, he's talking about a different kind of talent: his own daughter, Maia, a rising star in Arsenal's academy.

In this episode

  • What it's really like managing Pelé - his discipline, his love of the game, and why he thought modern football had become "too tactical".
  • The economics of women's football - why WSL wages have doubled in two years, and where salaries could be in 5-10 years.
  • Maia's journey from age 5 to Arsenal's academy, training alongside boys at Hale End.
  • Why "just let her have fun" might be the wrong approach for young girls in football, and how to build genuine love and obsession for the game.
  • Why girls aged 6-9 are missing crucial technical development time compared to boys - and what to do about it

Athlete branding, how sports organisations can leverage digital media, the future of sponsorship deals, and strategies for commercial growth within football clubs and global sports franchises.

Questions we answer

  • What can your daughter actually earn if she makes it professionally - and how fast are wages growing in the women's game?
  • Should you prioritise "fun" over skill development, or can both coexist?

How much is down to luck, genetics or being born into a football family.

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