Sales Manager - European Football in Altrincham

SPORTFIVE is a global agency working across sponsorships, advertising, talent, activation and hospitality within sports. Globally, we have over 1,200 employees who strategically and creatively connect brands, rights-holders, media platforms and fans across Football, F1, NFL, NBA, Golf, Esports, Olympics, and more.

We’re looking for an accomplished and commercially driven Sales Manager with a strong track record in generating new business - particularly through proactive outreach and strategic relationship building. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in SPORTFIVE’s UK Sales team, with a dedicated focus on European football rights and advertising sales.

In this role, you’ll take ownership of identifying and securing new brand partnerships across SPORTFIVE’s premium sports inventory - with a particular focus on selling innovative virtual LED advertising across multiple continents worldwide. You’ll work across a premium portfolio of European football rights, alongside wider commercial partnership opportunities with leading rights-holders worldwide.

This premium advertising inventory includes La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1, creating the opportunity to build compelling advertising packages around some of the biggest clubs and matches in world football.

As our Sales Manager – European Football, you will:

• Develop strong relationships with prospective new clients via key customer touchpoints including phone, email, LinkedIn, networking events and meetings.
• Showcase a thorough understanding of SPORTFIVE’s premium European football rights, virtual LED advertising products and wider commercial services.
• Effectively work to a coordinated sales plan to achieve divisional budget targets and strategic objectives.
• Work closely with our Sales Insight & Servicing team to prepare and lead sales pitches with international and domestic clients.
• Build relationships with prospective clients to understand objectives, develop tailored international advertising solutions and secure revenue for the business.
• Continually develop prospect lists by identifying relevant clients, industries and geographies.
• Provide weekly and regular updates at team sales meetings showcasing activity and pipeline development.
• Work with internal corporate functions such as legal and finance to create robust commercial agreements to support sales processes.
• Ensure strong after-sales relationship management to enhance renewal probability and identify cross-sales/upselling potential.

What you’ll bring:

• Experience in successfully managing a B2B sales process from end-to-end.
• Knowledge of and interest in European football and the sports advertising landscape.
• A hungry, adaptable mindset with a strong will to win.
• A self-assured and confident approach to pitching, presenting and negotiating with marketing decision-makers at all levels.
• Confidence in creating sales opportunities through cold outreach before moving it through the sales funnel.
• Strong relationship building skills with brands and colleagues.
• A strategic and consultative sales approach.
• Proactive, self-motivated and resilient attitude.
• A natural curiosity and eagerness to learn and continually grow and develop.
• Outstanding sales communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
• Competence using sales management/CRM systems.

Don’t fit all the criteria? Don’t worry! Our job adverts give you a flavour of what you can expect in the role, but you don’t have to tick every box. We put a lot of focus on the importance of developing our people, so if you think you’d be a great fit for us then hit apply.

What you’ll get from us:

• 25 days annual leave + an additional gifted day over the Christmas period
• Full Vitality health cover including dental, optical and mental health support
• Enhanced family leave entitlements
• Salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Electric car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hybrid, flexible working model
• A day off for moving house or getting married
• Regular social events such as summer and Christmas parties
• Life assurance at x4 annual salary
• Employee Assistance Programme

THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS...

If your CV and cover letter match what we’re looking for, we’ll be in touch to invite you to the next stage. Depending on the role, the first interview may take place via Microsoft Teams or through our video interview platform.

If you are unsuccessful at the application stage, we’ll let you know by email. We want every candidate to have the chance to perform at their best. If you would benefit from any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let your HR contact know, or reach out confidentially at ukhr@sportfive.com so we can support you.

SPORTFIVE are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We believe that different perspectives and experiences are the key to success. Our goal is to create an authentic and attractive work environment where everyone feels valued, with a sense of belonging, and encouraged to shape the future of the sports industry.