Ed Malyon is a British sports and media executive. After starting his career as a journalist at the Daily Mirror, based in London and then Madrid, he became sports editor of The Independent newspaper before moving to the business side and founding The Athletic's UK operations where he was managing director. Now based in Chicago, he has adopted the major league teams from the Windy City and regrets it most weekends. Ed is now a partner in a sports investment firm as well as running his own consultancy and serving as an advisor for start-ups in the sports and media space.
Favorite sports memory?
I've been pretty lucky even though all the teams I support are terrible. Happiest moments were being at Lord's as England won the Cricket World Cup, or at Wembley when Palace went 1-0 up in the FA Cup final (only to lose) or when England won the Euro 2020 semi-final.
Your global sports Mount Rushmore:
David Beckham, Darren Gough (the cricketer for those of you who don’t observe), Lionel Messi, and Patrick Mahomes.
Which world leader would you put in goal?
According to the North Korean record books he's never conceded a goal, so I'd have to say Kim Jong-Un
Which athlete would you want to be world leader?
None of them. They have better things to do.
Best rivalry:
England and Australia as a rivalry that spans multiple sports is pretty hard to beat. For passion and intensity, Boca Juniors vs. River Plate.
A sign that the world of sport is shrinking:
The fact I can watch Belgian football on ESPN in the US. Unimaginable even five years ago.
Where would the Great Game Lab find the quintessence of global sport?
All around us. Most likely at the local park where a kid is throwing a ball around. That is where it all begins and ends.
Question you'd most want to ask other fellows?
What can we do to ensure teams are protected more as community institutions?