Who Are You Without the Shirt? Identity and Leadership with David Cosgrave

In this episode, Gary, Jake and Amelia sit down with David Cosgrave, a leader who has spent over two decades at the heart of elite football with clubs such as Tottenham, Liverpool, Fulham, FC Copenhagen, and Orlando City. From building performance and medical structures at the top level to guiding players through the pressures of UEFA and the Premier League, David brings a rare depth of insight into resilience, identity, and high performance.The conversation ranges from his early life in Dublin and the values instilled by his family, to a career-defining back injury that redirected him into performance science, and his later work shaping cultures inside some of the world’s biggest clubs. David opens up about meditation, the “arrival fallacy” that plagues many high achievers, and how tools like the “10 shirts exercise” help players explore their identities beyond the badge.Listeners will also hear his take on navigating different football cultures across countries, the role of food in shaping team dynamics, and why the next frontier in sport may rest with AI and performance technology. Above all, David reflects on what resilience really means today, not just “dusting yourself off” but embracing adaptability, empathy, and even surrender.It’s a powerful journey into the realities of elite sport, identity, and authentic leadership.We hope you enjoy listening!