In this special guest episode of The Business of Football Network, David Chimbaza speaks with Luis Morales, Manager of Competitions at FIBA, about his remarkable journey across baseball, football and basketball. Born and raised in Venezuela, Luis began his career in professional baseball before moving to the United States, working with Major League Baseball organisations, the US Soccer Federation, New York City FC and eventually international basketball competitions.
Luis explains how his early experiences with the Cleveland Guardians and St. Louis Cardinals shaped his understanding of player development, academy operations, budgeting, travel, scouting and international recruitment. He discusses his work with young players in the Dominican Republic and the United States, including the importance of helping athletes adapt to new cultures, languages and environments while receiving the support they need to develop both professionally and personally.
The conversation explores the similarities and differences between baseball, football and basketball, particularly around talent identification, technology, player welfare and development. Luis compares the unique demands of national-team environments, where staff may only have players for a few days at a time, with club structures that allow for year-round development. He also explains how player development requires significant investment in coaching, accommodation, travel, nutrition, training facilities and support staff, even when there is no immediate financial return.
Luis reflects on his experience with the US Soccer Federation’s youth national teams, travelling internationally to compete against top opposition, preparing for major tournaments and helping young players understand the demands of elite sport. He also discusses his transition into first-team football operations at New York City FC and how that experience broadened his perspective before moving into competition management at FIBA.
Finally, Luis shares lessons from travelling through different sporting cultures, including Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Morocco, Chile and the United States. He highlights the passion found in each country, the long-term planning behind Morocco’s youth development success, and the difference between developing players for immediate results and preparing them to succeed at the highest level. This episode offers a fascinating cross-sport perspective on leadership, player development, competition management and the global business of sport.
