Available to book
Francis Benali
High Performance
Team Building
Effective Leadership
Inspire resilience and peak performance with Francis Benali, speaker and former Southampton FC legend. Francis works with organisations to develop mental toughness and charitable leadership, delivering motivational insights backed by his MBE award and £1 million+ fundraising achievements.
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After 389 games with Southampton FC, Francis, or Franny as he's more affectionately known, is still a fans' favourite today, thanks to his commitment to the club, hardworking attitude and ferocious, full-blooded tackles. Since retiring, Franny has remained a big part of Southampton Football Club, working regularly with Saints Foundation and becoming a Club Ambassador.
In recent years, Franny has also been in the media spotlight for different reasons, completing 3 ultra-endurance challenges, all in aid of Cancer Research UK, for which he has gone on to raise over £1 million. Franny's other challenges include running a marathon and then cycling at least 75 miles every day, and attempting 7 Ironman distance triathlons in 7 days, to name just a couple.
In recognition of Franny's contribution to charity, including the Saints Foundation and Cancer Research UK, along with services to Southampton Football Club and the city of Southampton, Franny was awarded the Freedom of The City in 2016. He was named in the New Year's Honours list 2020, where he was awarded an MBE. If you want a story and message that will inspire and motivate your team, look no further than Franny.
Topics, sessions and talks
Francis Benali, a top-tier footballer, shares his unique insights on achieving peak performance in sports. He emphasises that success often hinges not just on talent, but on the determination and effort one is willing to invest. Attendees will learn how to cultivate a strong work ethic and mental resilience, essential traits for excelling in any competitive field. This talk will inspire individuals to push their limits and elevate their performance to new heights.
Franny's unparalleled dedication, both on the football field and through his extraordinary charity work, showcases his resilience, commitment, and ability to inspire. His journey from a celebrated athlete to a philanthropic hero embodies valuable lessons in perseverance, teamwork, and making an impact beyond one's field. Booking him as a speaker will not only motivate your team but also instill a profound sense of purpose and drive to achieve greatness.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email francis.benali.mbe@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Francis's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Francis Benali draws on his record of completing multiple ultra-endurance challenges — including daily marathon-and-cycle combinations and seven Ironman-distance triathlons in seven days — to illustrate how determination and work ethic drive performance beyond natural talent.
Francis Benali MBE speaks on peak performance, mental resilience, and work ethic in competitive environments. He made 389 appearances for Southampton FC and has raised over £1 million for Cancer Research UK through ultra-endurance challenges, for which he was awarded an MBE in 2020.
No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.
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Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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