Raúl Sanllehí

Football Executive

Greater Barcelona Metropolitan Area

About

I offer a rare blend of business and football experience and knowledge. Starting with a solid business education, I have been privileged, through my career, to be exposed to both world class business and football management. At multinationals like Henkel or Nike I learned about business strategy, implementation of complex project on a global scale and world class management tools. My experience at FC Barcelona and Arsenal FC gave me unvaluable insights into top-level professional football, the technical aspects of the game and dressing room management, and profound understanding of the football industry and its stakeholders and organisations. -Industry expertise: 25 years of intense involvement and proven success, with 33 major titles won (including 4 Champions League, 3 Club WC, 9 La Liga, 1 FA Cup, etc) -Integral/360 approach of all dimensions of the football business -International Edge/ Cultural adaptability: Lived years in Europe, USA and South America, fluent in 5 languages -Leadership and Mentorship skills: Track record of creating a high-performance culture as a motivator, team builder and people developer. -Senior Networking & People Skills: Extensive list of football relationships (Clubs, Agents, Institutions, Players & Coaches). Connected and respected across the industry. Institutional representation and lobbying knowledge (football politics) -Negotiation experience: 1-Players & Coaches (signings/renewals/sales): Ronaldinho, Eto’o, Deco, Messi, Pique, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Alves, Ibrahimovic, Villa, Cesc, Alexis, Thiago, Puyol, Valdes, Ter-Stegen, Neymar, Luis Suarez, Aubameyang, Leno, David Luiz, Tierney, Pepe, Lacazette, Pep Guardiola, Luis Enrique, Wenger, Emery, etc. 2-Institutional: Dissolution of G-14 and creation of ECA, negotiation of several MoU’s with UEFA, Club Sponsorship (from both sides: Club and Sponsor), co-leading the transformation of Arsenal FC by defining and implementing a new club model, Broadcasting distribution models (La Liga and PL), etc. -High credibility built on the years’ experience, the relationships and delivering success -Expert in “Special Projects”, constantly creating and adapting -Personality: Loyalty/Commitment/Motivation/Reliability/Passion/Integrity/Values… but will always share my opinion even if uncomfortable (not just a “yes man”)

Experience

  • President of Fútbol Operations at Inter Miami CF
    Jul 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 1 mo

  • Chief Executive Officer at Real Zaragoza
    Mar 2022 - Jul 2024 · 2 yrs 5 mos

  • Head of Football at Arsenal F.C
    Feb 2018 - Sep 2020 · 2 yrs 8 mos

  • FC Barcelona (10 yrs 10 mos)
    • Director of Football
      May 2008 - Nov 2017 · 9 yrs 7 mos

    • Director of Relations with Sports Bodies
      Feb 2007 - May 2008 · 1 yr 4 mos

  • Nike (10 yrs 5 mos)
    • General Manager FCBMerchandising SL
      Apr 2002 - Jan 2007 · 4 yrs 10 mos

    • Different positions in Marketing and Sales
      Sep 1996 - Mar 2002 · 5 yrs 7 mos