Mikel Arteta and Maro Itoje Discuss Leadership With Under Armour

Under Armour brought together Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and England and Saracens rugby captain Maro Itoje in North London to discuss leadership, resilience and what it takes to continue performing at the highest level.

The meeting comes after major milestones for both leaders, with Itoje reaching his 100th England cap and captaining the British & Irish Lions to victory, while Arteta recently led Arsenal to a historic league triumph. The pair discussed how they plan to build on their success and continue improving.

Leadership was a key focus, with Arteta emphasizing the importance of creating an environment where athletes can reach their potential. “I want to create the environment where the players can fulfil their potential, their dreams,” Arteta said, highlighting trust, belonging and personal growth.

Itoje also spoke about the importance of collective leadership, accountability and preparation, noting that success is built through discipline and commitment away from matchday. The two leaders also discussed pressure and resilience, viewing challenges as opportunities to grow and improve.

Arteta and Itoje later met with athletes from Season 10 of Under Armour’s UA Next program, giving emerging athletes the opportunity to learn from two of the most prominent leaders in elite sport. The meeting reflects Under Armour’s continued focus on helping athletes develop both on and off the field.

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