“From Exchange Student to La Liga Comms: Santiago Vázquez Sports Business & communications executive

Drawing from his own experiences across football, media and education, Santiago Vazquez shares how he went from a teenager obsessed with football statistics to working in the sport‑business world. He explains why the best version of yourself is the most valuable one, and why clarity, confidence and genuine self‑awareness matter far more than trying to fit a polished image that does not feel natural. Hosted By Lui Ferrera Alfonso, he sits down this week to interview the Sports Business & LA LIGA insider on his career so far. In this episode, Santiago unpacks his journey from a 17‑year‑old exchange student in Portugal living with a Portugal U17 national‑team coach and a young professional player, to building a career in football media and communications. He reflects on how that year opened his eyes to the inner workings of the game, tournament preparation, squad selection and the realities of not being a top‑level player—leading him to focus instead on how he could add value off the pitch. He also talks about his path into content creation, podcasting and radio, and how moving to Spain to study a master’s in football allowed him to gain new tools without abandoning his existing projects. Santiago stresses the importance of networking in a hyper‑connected industry, the value of unpaid internships at the start, and how knowing the right people often opens doors long before a CV or LinkedIn profile can. This episode is a reminder that professionalism in football is not just about appearance, but about mindset, communication, and knowing how to show your value in a real and credible way. Santiago also shares his thoughts on how leagues like La Liga and the Premier League approach content, why he believes football should not change its 90‑minute format, and how entertainment‑driven formats like Kings League can coexist with the traditional game. ACCESS OUR FREE FOOTBALL NETWORKING GUIDE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSffMip0TFkgJOoo9ptbH9uZ67fTWvFai57QPBOy07J7D80J8A/viewform OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-chimbaza-/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/ Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/ Youtube: HOST BIO Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launching his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetise & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience. Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry.