This week was a good reminder of just how quickly football moves – and how important it is to be ready before the story breaks.
A big part of my role at NEI is making sure we’re visually ready for whatever story comes next. This week was a perfect example of how fast things can move, especially when you’re working at the heart of football media with Rio Ferdinand Presents.

Reading the Game Before It’s Played

The week kicked off with Manchester United still searching for an interim manager. With speculation ramping up and names flying around, we knew an announcement could drop at any moment. Because NEI manages the production and content across the Rio Ferdinand Presents platform, preparation was key.
At the start of the week, Ole Gunnar Solskjær looked like the favourite. That led me to design an “Ole’s Back at the Wheel” graphic – a nod to the iconic chant that instantly resonates with United fans. The aim was simple: create something instantly shareable if the news broke.

But football rarely sticks to the script.
By Tuesday, the narrative had shifted. Michael Carrick was suddenly the frontrunner. Thankfully, anticipating that chaos is part of the sport – I’d already prepared an alternative Carrick graphic, ready to go.
This is the reality of modern football media: stories can flip in minutes, and content teams need to move just as fast.

Building Momentum After the Announcement

Once Carrick was confirmed as Manchester United boss on Tuesday evening, the focus shifted from breaking news to fan engagement. One of the next big talking points was his backroom staff, so I created a follow-up graphic announcing the coaching team.
For the creative direction, I took inspiration from the TV show Peaky Blinders. The idea was to position the new team as a group ready to take control, with a visual identity that felt powerful.

Alongside the fast-moving football news, this week also marked an exciting moment for NEI as we welcomed our newest client and team member, Jordan Graham.
Jordan is a professional player now stepping into the world of punditry, and it’s something we’re really excited to be part of. I created a welcome graphic to introduce him to the NEI roster, and we’re looking forward to helping grow his presence in the media space and providing him with the best opportunities possible as he builds this next chapter of his career.

Thinking Globally: AFCON Takes Centre Stage

Beyond club football, the African Cup of Nations was reaching its most exciting stage, with the semi-finals and final approaching. As Rio Ferdinand Presents continues to grow as a global brand, it’s vital that our content reflects football from all corners of the world.
I pre-prepared matchday build-up graphics for both the semi-finals and the final, designed to generate hype and spark conversation across social channels.

Manchester Derby: More Than Just a Match

To round off the week, attention turned to one of the biggest fixtures in the football calendar: the Manchester Derby.
At Rio Ferdinand Presents, there aren’t many games that carry more weight. The rivalry, the history, the culture – it all had to be reflected in the build-up graphic.
I wanted this piece to feel unmistakably Manchester. That meant blending current player head-to-heads with iconic moments from past derbies, while also nodding to local culture. Figures like Oasis’ Gallagher brothers, Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, Aitch and Bugzy Malone were included to represent the city’s music, attitude and divided loyalties.
The goal was to create something that felt noisy, gritty and full of energy – just like derby day itself.

The Bigger Picture

This week was a perfect snapshot of the ever-moving world of football content.
Stories evolve quickly. Narratives change. Fans react instantly. As designers and content creators, our job isn’t just to respond – it’s to anticipate, prepare and execute at speed without sacrificing quality.
Having content ready in advance, understanding football culture and staying plugged into the conversation allows us to move confidently when moments happen. This week showed exactly why that approach matters – and it’s something we’ll continue to build on as NEI and Rio Ferdinand Presents keep growing from strength to strength.