Available to book
Mike Dean
Dealing With Pressure
Decision Making
Communication
Build resilient leadership with Mike Dean, speaker and former Premier League referee. Mike's insights help develop decision-making under pressure, leadership authority, and performance management, drawing from 22 years officiating 500+ Premier League matches. Recognised for VAR implementation expertise and featured regularly on Sky Sports programming.
Sports Leadership
After Dinner Sports
Celebrity
Mindset
Broadcaster
Sport
Football
After Dinner Speakers
Mike Dean, former Premier League referee, brings unparalleled insight from 22 years officiating at the highest level of English football. His career spans more than 500 Premier League matches, including the prestigious FA Cup Final in 2008, and he holds the unique distinction of being the only referee to have issued over 100 red cards.
After retiring from on-field refereeing in 2022 and from his role as a VAR official in 2023, Mike transitioned into broadcasting. He is now a regular contributor to Sky Sports’ Super Sunday and Soccer Saturday, where he shares his expertise on refereeing decisions, match dynamics, and the evolution of the modern game.
Having spent decades managing high-pressure matches and world-class players, Mike draws on his experiences to explore themes of composure, fairness, and leadership under scrutiny. His engaging sessions combine honest reflections with memorable stories from the pitch, offering audiences a fascinating look into the demands and decision-making that define elite sport. Audiences gain fresh perspective on what it takes to perform under pressure, maintain authority in challenging situations, and stay true to one’s principles in the face of intense public attention. Mike’s blend of authenticity, humour, and behind-the-scenes insight makes him a captivating presence for a wide range of events.
Book Mike Dean for an entertaining and revealing look at life at the heart of Premier League football and the lessons it offers beyond the pitch.
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email mike.dean@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 Mike'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.
Mike Dean draws on first-hand accounts from over 22 years and 550 Premier League matches to illustrate themes of composure, decision-making under pressure, and leadership, grounding each point in specific incidents from his officiating career.
Mike Dean speaks on decision-making under pressure, leadership and authority in high-stakes environments, and composure and resilience when facing public scrutiny. He officiated more than 550 Premier League matches across 22 seasons, refereed the 2008 FA Cup Final, and became the first Premier League referee to issue 100 red cards, and he now serves as a regular analyst on Sky Sports' Super Sunday and Soccer Saturday.
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.
Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.
The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.
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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