John Fashanu was one of the most recognisable football players of the 1980s and 1990s. With a career in football beginning at Norwich City in 1979, John turned professional two years later, making a number of league appearances for the side after promotion to the First Division. A compelling and hugely passionate sporting personality, Fashanu will entertain guests as a football speaker and guarantee that your event is a resounding success, making him one of the most desirable after-dinner speakers on the circuit. Moving to Wimbledon FC in 1986 for £125,000, John played an elemental role in the club’s push to gain promotion to the First Division.
With the side becoming a First Division authority within a decade of being elected to the Football League, John was part of an exciting squad that was taking large clubs by surprise, finishing sixth in the league in their first season in top-flight football.
Discussing the drive and determination needed to achieve this during talks as a football speaker; John is an enthusiastic personality that seeks to instil key attributes for success in every audience member. Leaving Wimbledon for Aston Villa in 1994 for a fee of £1.35 million, John again impressed with his strength and attacking style of play. Unfortunately during an away game at Manchester United in 1995, John snapped his knee ligaments after a strong tackle from Ryan Giggs. Fashanu was forced to retire at the end of the season. Recalling anecdotal tales as a sports speaker during events, John explains some of the key moments of his career, letting guests in on things the cameras may not have caught.
After retiring from professional football, John embarked on a successful media career, presenting the UK version of Gladiators, becoming well known for his catchphrase of “Awooga!”. John has also appeared on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! - coming second in the series. A wonderful TV presenter, John has extensive experience in front of the camera, making him the ideal addition to the 2023 series of 'Dancing on Ice.' He is looking to take part in future productions as well as assisting his polished performances in front of audiences as an after-dinner speaker. John has also gained corporate experience within football as he joined the Nigeria Football Association before becoming the chairman of the Welsh team, Barry Town.
How to hire John Fashanu
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring John Fashanu for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
