Matthew Upson

Matthew Upson is a former Premier League and England International Footballer and a motivational speaker on self-determination, leadership, and teamwork.

Matthew is a former England footballer who represented his country at the 2010 World Cup and who played for Arsenal, West Ham, Birmingham, Brighton and Stoke.

He started his career with Luton Town before he joined Premier League club Arsenal for a fee of £2 million in May 1997. He struggled to force his way into the first team at Highbury making 57 appearances in 6 seasons and so spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Reading.

Matthew Upson joined Birmingham City in 2003 however following Birmingham’s relegation in 2006 he went on to join West Ham United for £7.5 million in January 2007. He was made captain in 2009 but at the end of the 2010/11 season West Ham were relegated to the Championship so Matt signed a two-year contract with Stoke City in August 2011. He went to on have a spell with Brighton & Hove Albion, Leicester City, and MK Dons before retiring to focus on his coaching and media career.

Matthew Upson now works as a co-commentator and studio analyst for the BBC, Five Live, and the Premier League channel. 

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING 

As a motivational speaker, Matt shares his journey from a normal schoolboy to playing for England and scoring at the World Cup Finals. Matt talks about how through self-determination, surrounding yourself with the right team (both in work and outside work), and being able to change and adapt in challenging times you can succeed when you put your mind to it.