At SAPA, our people are the heart of our work. Every team member brings a unique story, a deep connection to sport, and a shared commitment to strengthening the sporting landscape.
We sat down with our Integrity Manager, Angelos Marvogiannis, to talk about his journey, what drives him, and his advice for anyone looking to build a career in sport.
What made you want to pursue a career in sport?
I’ve always been involved in sport growing up and knew from a young age that it was the field I wanted to work in. Initially an obsession of football and Formula 1 is what drove my passion, but what really shaped my career direction was seeing how much influence sport has beyond what you see on the field. Through my studies and experiences, I became more interested in the structures behind sport, how decisions are made, how organisations protect participants and how they manage keeping a level playing field.
That is what ultimately led me into sports integrity. I realised that I wanted to contribute and lead in shaping environments that are respectful, fair and safe for everyone involved, so that sport can truly be a spectacle for both participants and spectators.
What do you love most about working at SAPA?
What I love most about working at SAPA is the people. It’s a genuinely supportive environment where everyone is willing to help each other, and there’s a strong sense of teamwork. I also really value the opportunity to be involved across different areas of the business and various sporting organisations, which keeps the work interesting and allows me to keep learning and developing new skills.
At SAPA we are working across various different sporting environments, each with its own challenges, stakeholders and priorities.
What does your day-to-day role involve?
My role is similar to being a private investigator for sport. I handle complaints, assess and investigate issues relating to sports betting, safeguarding, and broader integrity concerns. This involves gathering and analysing information, speaking with relevant stakeholders, and ensuring that any potential breaches of rules or ethical standards are thoroughly examined. The goal is to help maintain fairness, transparency, and trust within sport.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy staying active, whether that’s football, swimming or going to the gym. I am still obsessed with watching football, waking up in the early hours of the morning to watch the EPL or Champions League and my weekends are mainly filled with watching Formula 1 or Moto GP.
Outside of that, I switch off through travel and taking many road trips or reading a book.
What is your favourite sporting moment of all time?
It is really hard to pick just one, but one of the most memorable moments for me is Greece winning the EURO in 2004, not only because of it being an incredible achievement but also for what it represented. Best underdog story of all time, we stunned the world.
Another incredible experience was being inside the biggest pyro show in the world, when PAOK played Olympiakos in 2014 and won 1-0 for the Greek Cup Semi-Finals, I have never seen anything as wild as that game.
What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to enter the sporting industry?
Sport is a relationship focused industry. Network as much as possible, as knowing people and creating new connections will create many opportunities for you. Also, don’t be afraid to take risks and always aim high. Be willing to start in roles that give you access and responsibility, even if they are not exactly what you had in mind at the start.