THE LOWDOWN: Recent Episodes
Conor Walsh
In this episode, we sit down with Juan Cale, one of football’s most respected agents, to explore what really goes on behind the scenes in the world of player representation. From negotiating contracts and managing careers to balancing player ambitions with club realities, Juan shares a candid look at the business side of the beautiful game.
He opens up about how he broke into the industry, the biggest misconceptions about agents, and the lessons he’s learned working with players at every stage of their careers. Whether you’re a young player, coach, or fan who wants to understand how deals really get done, this episode offers a rare inside perspective.
Listen to find out more including;
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How Juan got his start as a football agent and built his network in a competitive industry?
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The truth about what agents actually do — and what they don’t?
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How to guide players beyond the paycheck: choosing the right club, coach, and environment?
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The art of negotiation — striking balance between player goals and club expectations.
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The evolving role of data, analytics, and player branding in modern football.
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Juan’s advice for the next generation of agents and players entering the professional world.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Episode 180 is a repeat of one of our most downloaded episodes to date, a conversation with Owen Eastwood. Renowned for his work with NATO, Gareth Southgate's England, South African Cricket and most recently Europe's Ryder Cup winning team. He has carved out a reputation in elite sport for creating the optimal environment for teams to succeed. Here he brings us on a journey reflecting on his career, the lessons learned and allowing us remarkable access into his work. It's an episode you will listen to again and again. Enjoy. Listen to find out more including;
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Why “Belonging” is never an achieved state?
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What the art of good storytelling looks like?
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The ancient Maori belief Owen uses to maximise a team's performance?
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Inside his role within Gareth Southgate's England squad and reflecting upon how the national team culture has changed.
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Why being authentic and personal are the two key tools to navigating the future successfully?
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Owen's challenge to to each of you listening.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
It’s not every day that your book earns acclaim from Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, and Jürgen Klinsmann — but that’s exactly what Andreas Schumacher can attest to with his new book Two Versus One, co-authored with Bernhard Peters.
Having worked in the youth setups of clubs such as Stuttgart and Hamburg, Schumacher has seen first-hand how alignment between academies, first teams, and leadership can shape long-term player development.
Two Versus One is a thought-provoking work that challenges conventional thinking on attacking play, progression, and finishing. If you’re passionate about player development, creative attacking football, and innovative coaching, this episode will push you to rethink how the game is taught and played.
Listen to find out more including;
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Why 2v1 is more than just a numbers advantage—and how it transforms attacking play ?
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Why the most difficult part of football—scoring goals—is often the least trained?
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The surprising influence of hockey on football coaching.
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Why Andreas believes “there’s no such thing as a 1v1 in football” ?
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Where youth development needs to evolve in the next 5–10 years ?
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
From playing over 180 times for Canada during a golden era of women’s football to becoming a NWSL championship-winning coach, Rhian Wilkinson has had quite the journey from the backline to the touchline.
In this episode, she reflects on her journey from player to coach, how her experiences on the pitch shaped her philosophy, the importance of building trust in new environments, and what the future holds for the women’s game.
Listen to find out more including;
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What it meant to represent Canada on the global stage over 180 times.
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How her years as a defender shaped her coaching philosophy?
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The evolution of her coaching approach across youth, club, and international football.
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How the Wales national team role came about and the challenges of international management.
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Balancing empathy with high-performance demands in elite sport.
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Breaking down barriers and what excites her most about the next decade of women’s football?
00:00 - 04:10 - Playing
04:11 - 10:28 - Coaching
10:29 - 15:46- Management
15:47 - 23:04 - Wales
23:05 - 30:59 - Women's football
31:00 - 32:01 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Craig Dalrymple has built a career defined by resilience, adaptability, and an obsession with player development. From early adversity that fueled his drive, to over a decade at Vancouver where he oversaw the progression of more than 80 academy players into the first team — including global stars like Alphonso Davies — Craig has consistently found ways to turn potential into performance. Now as Head of Professional Player Development at Seattle Sounders, his mission is to design environments where every player can thrive. This episode is an insight into what it truly takes to stand out in high performance environments.
Listen to find out more including;
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The balance between relentless effort and the pursuit of quality in a young coach’s career.
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Designing learning environments across diverse settings, from Miami to the Pacific North West.
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Why he chose to focus on developing players as individuals rather than just coaching teams?
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What elite talent really looks like and the traits that separate the few who make it?
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The purpose and power of Individual Development Plan (IDP) meetings — and what many academies get wrong.
-Insights as to how he designs and directs resources plus attention to Sounders top talents.
00:00 - 08:59 - Whitecaps
09:00 - 17:06 - Feedback
17:07 - 25:10- Technical Leadership
25:11 - 37:46 - Seattle
37:47 - 45:44 - IDP
45:45 - 49:35 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Renowned for her pioneering work as a group dynamics analyst, Manon Eluere has spent years exploring how teams function beneath the surface. With a PhD focused on the strengths and challenges of multicultural squads, her research has provided coaches and managers with practical insights into cohesion, leadership, and performance in high-pressure environments.
Manon offers a rare perspective at the intersection of research and practice—where science meets the lived realities of the dressing room.
Listen to find out more including;
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Defining the role of a group dynamics analyst and why it matters in modern football?
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What we most commonly misunderstand about team settings?
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Cohesion vs. conformism – how high-pressure environments shape team culture.
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The role of data and technology in understanding and shaping group behavior.
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What her main indicator of staff retention is?
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Emerging trends that will shape team dynamics over the next decade.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
What does it really take to handle the world’s biggest players, the fastest games, and the fiercest scrutiny in football? Jonathan Moss knows better than most.
From starting out on grassroots pitches to taking charge of Premier League clashes watched by millions, Moss has lived the highs, the pressure, and the controversy of refereeing at the very top. Now Head of Referees at Football Australia, he’s leading the next generation of officials into a new era.
Listen to find out more including;
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The toughest part of climbing the ladder from local games to the Premier League.
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How he stayed calm making split-second calls in high-stakes moments?
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The truth about dealing with criticism from managers, players, fans, and the media.
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His honest take on VAR and whether it’s helped or hindered referees.
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Why communication and respect are the hidden keys to managing elite players?
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The changes he’s driving to improve refereeing for the future.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Peter Sturgess has been at the heart of reshaping English football’s approach to youth development. From designing the FA Youth Modules and creating the Play Phase for 4–6 year olds, to working alongside Dan Ashworth in building the England DNA, his influence has touched every corner of the game. Beyond the frameworks, Peter has also been a coach educator, researcher, and futsal advocate — all with one guiding principle: putting the child first.
In this episode, Peter shares his journey, his philosophies on skill acquisition and learning, and why even now he still sees himself as unfinished and excited about what’s next.
Listen to find out more including;
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How the FA Youth Modules and Play Phase transformed early player development?
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The story behind embedding the England DNA under Dan Ashworth.
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Why futsal accelerates creativity and adaptability in ways other formats can’t?
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Are players being pushed into academies too early — and what’s at stake?
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Coaching the coach educators and applying research in teaching and learning.
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Why putting the child first remains the cornerstone of development in the 21st century?
00:00 - 07:02 - Intro
07:03 - 13:16 - Coaching the Coach
13:17 - 19:06- FA
19:07 - 26:16 - Child First
26:22 - 37:43 - Futsal
37:44 - 44:24 - The joy of learning
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
In this episode, I sat down with Scott Miller — a coach whose story runs from buying a one-way ticket to the UK, working building sites, and cold calls, to standing on the touchline in a Europa League final with Fulham and later becoming the youngest head coach in A-League history.
Scott shares what it was like working with players such as Dimitar Berbatov, Damien Duff, and Clint Dempsey, the lessons he learned under Roy Hodgson & Ange Postecoglou and how trust, feedback, and culture have guided his journey. With over 20 years in football and a recent move into tech, Scott offers a unique perspective on where the two worlds intersect — and how the future belongs to coach plus AI, not coach versus AI.
Listen to find out more including;
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The bold move of buying a one-way ticket to the UK and breaking into the Premier League.
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Behind the scenes of Fulham’s Europa League final run and working with big personalities.
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What it meant to become the youngest head coach in A-League history?
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Working under Ange and why players are your CV!
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“Feedback beats perfection” as a guiding principle for Scott.
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How football and tech overlap — and what the best are doing with AI in coaching?
00:00 - 10:00 - Fulham
10:01 - 18:26 - Coaching
18:27 - 30:55- Leaving Professional Football
30:56 - 43:41 - Applying football lessons to tech
43:42 - 47:37 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Today’s guest, Bernat Mosquera is known for his innovative lens on individual development, player centred learning and final-third mastery, Bernat has worked across continents and cultures, shaping a coaching philosophy that encourages understanding over recognition.
He is the mind behind Modern Coach Hub, a leading platform for sharing fresh coaching ideas and frameworks. From rethinking how players read cues in the final third to refining how coaches design and communicate individual sessions, Bernat’s work continues to push the boundaries of player development.
Listen to find out more including;
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How working across continents shaped Bernat’s coaching philosophy?
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Why he emphasizes individual development as a cornerstone of coaching ?
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Why coaches often struggle to translate individual principles into the collective game ?
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The differences between dynamic and static references in decision-making.
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Key ideas from his final-third frameworks and reading cues.
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How communication styles, video, and data can support more effective knowledge transfer to players?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:58 - Intro
03:59 - 14:56 - Universal Principles
14:57 - 19:32- Push v Pull
19:33 - 27:40 - Modern Coach Hub
27:41 - 35:03 - Final Third
35:04 - 45:32 - Game Insight
45:33 - 49:45 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
The Sporting Director is one of the most influential and misunderstood roles in modern football.
Today’s guest, Dan Parnell, is at the forefront of changing that perception. As the CEO of the Association of Sporting Directors (ASD), Dan has been instrumental in shaping the way leaders in football approach system design, strategy, and long-term success.
With a background in academia, research, and leadership, Dan bridges the gap between evidence-based practice and the real-world demands of football. His work has created a global platform for Sporting Directors to share knowledge, develop professionally, and ultimately raise the standards of how clubs operate.
In this episode, we explore what truly defines the Sporting Director role, how to build sustainable football departments, and why alignment between academy, first team, and ownership is vital for long-term success. We also look ahead to how multi-club models, private investment, and technology are reshaping the role and what the future Sporting Director will need to thrive.
Listen to find out more including;
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The origins of the Association of Sporting Directors and why the role needed professionalisation.
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The non-negotiable responsibilities every Sporting Director must master.
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What common mistakes clubs make when designing their football departments?
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Why Dan believes the Sporting Director should act as both an integrator and a buffer?
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The impact of multi-club ownership, private equity, and financial models on leadership roles.
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Dan’s advice for aspiring Sporting Directors looking to break into the role.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:00 - ASD
07:01 - 11:39 - Collaboration
11:40 - 22:08- The Role
22:09 - 28:27 - Alignment
28:28 - 40:00 - Legacy
40:01 - 43:28 - Advice
https://associationofsportingdirectors.com/
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
" A good coach changes the game, a great coach changes a life"; - John Wooden.
A mantra from the one and only John Wooden but one in which today's guest Tom Hartley lives and breathes by.
Tom is a leading voice in coach development, system design, and player pathways. Tom brings a multi-disciplinary perspective from his roles at Arsenal, The FA, UK Coaching, Oxford United Women, True Athlete Project, and—most notably—Head of Competitor Development at Motorsport UK.
We explore what makes a great coach developer and how to build sustainable coaching systems that align from grassroots foundations to elite performance levels. We also dive into how emerging technologies like AI and data are reshaping coaching, and what forward-thinking strategies are essential for future readiness. Whether you’re a coach, technical director, or sports leader, this episode equips you with the frameworks and mindset to build impactful, future-facing coaching cultures.
Listen to find out more including;
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How coach developers support transformation, not just instruction?
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Key principles in designing scalable coach development systems.
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Building alignment across the player pathway, from youth to elite levels.
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What he learned from producing IDP's at Arsenal?
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Tom’s groundbreaking work in bringing structured coaching to motorsport.
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Opportunities and risks of integrating AI and technology into coaching.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:48 - Relationships
05:49 - 14:50 - IDPs
14:51 - 19:22- Handcuffs to Handrails
19:23 - 30:58 - Coach Development
30:59 - 38:18 - Self Awareness
38:19 - 42:06 - Motorsport
42:07 - 49:09 - AI
49:10 - 55:26 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
On today’s episode, we’re joined by Dan Lock — Head of Coaching & Individual Development for Columbus Crew.
Driven by an insatiable appetite to learn and grow, Dan shares insights into the diverse environments that have shaped his journey so far. Always seeking opportunities to stretch himself—whether through leadership, coach development, or exploring the intricacies of individual growth—Dan offers a compelling perspective on continuous development.
Listen to find out more including;
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How the Columbus Crew create lifelong fans within the Academy?
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Insights behind the processes guiding player development pathways at the Crew.
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The changes made in house to shape alignment from Academy to First Team.
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The balance of push & pull when it comes to leading staff & departments.
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More behind Dan's decision to move from a strategic to technical position within the Crew.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:02 - Perspectives
07:03 - 13:05 - Columbus
13:06 - 22:26- Pathways
22:27 - 32:29 - Leadership
32:30 - 41:19 - Player Development
41:20 - 43:52 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
On today’s episode, we’re joined by Gary Curneen — host of the Modern Soccer Coach podcast.
Gary's platform has been widely acknowledged as one of the best learning hubs for coaches worldwide. In this wide ranging conversation we tackle topics from youth development to the recent Club World Cup and even as far as what a modern soccer coach will look like over these next 5-10 years. Really fascinating conversation and great to hear from Gary on the other end of the microphone.
Listen to find out more including;
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Modern Soccer Coach & it's origins
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Filtering through noise and signal in consuming football content.
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Prioritizing obtaining experiences rather than information as a coach.
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What frustrates Gary about coaching at the moment?
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Which skillsets coaches need to focus on over the forthcoming years?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:23 - Modern Soccer Coach
09:24 - 16:21 - Content
16:22 - 22:16- Curiosity
22:17 - 29:31 - Club World Cup
29:32 - 35:07 - Experiences
35:08 - 46:47 - Youth Development
46:48 - 55:48 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
On today’s episode, we’re joined by women’s football pioneer Dawn Scott — renowned for her transformative work with both the England and U.S. Women’s National Teams. With a career highlighted by back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cup wins in 2015 and 2019, Dawn’s legacy is defined by relentless pursuit of excellence and innovation in high performance.
In this conversation, Dawn takes us through her remarkable journey from practitioner to performance leader, sharing insights into the evolution of the women’s game, the mindset behind championship teams, and what it truly means to lead in elite sport.
Listen to find out more including;
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Influencing change as a young practitioner by leading from the front.
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How effective communication & collaboration practices have evolved through Dawn's time in the game.
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Balancing the longer term picture whilst keeping an individual lens on the day to day.
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Learning from Jill Ellis in changing your game when on top.
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The steps Dawn has took to constantly improve upon her leadership skills and how she embraces the unknown.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:04 - Intro
07:05 - 17:21 - England
17:22 - 21:39- Balance
21:40 - 34:41 - USA
34:42 - 41:44 - Control v Guidance
41:45 - 1:05:45 - Leadership
1:05:46 - 1:11:54 - Signal v Noise
1:11:55 - 1:18:31 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Tomorrow you have an opportunity to be better than today."
Didier Chamberon is the Director of Coaching Education at US Soccer.
Today Didier discussed alongside myself the current state of Coach Education and the challenges it faces in modern society. Firstly harnessing ones passion, we then progress into areas such as how can coaches build their toolkit and furthermore how can one discover and iterate through intentional reflection and practice.
Listen to find out more including;
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How the role of the coach extends beyond coaching?
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The big questions Didier had to answer upon his coaching journey.
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Understanding the environment prior to identifying developmental needs.
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Didier's methodology for understanding coaches needs and preparing developmental plans.
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What does good reflection look like?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:46 - Inspiration
05:47 - 12:35 - Coaching
12:36 - 20:45- Self-Awareness
20:46 - 26:19 - Reflection
26:20 - 31:51 - Coach Development
31:52 - 38:33 - Values
38:34 - 41:23 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Today I am re-releasing one of my most popular recordings to date with Raymond Verheijen the owner of Football Coach Evolution.
“The aim of Football Coach Evolution is not to change the world but to develop coaches based on more objective & reliable information”.
Having served as an assistant in four World Cups & Euros alongside being mentored by the likes of Louis Van Gaal & Guus Hiddink there are few better equipped to guide the next generation. Utilizing evolutionary knowledge to explain tactical principles & methodology, Raymond has created a universal football language to better equip coaches for the challenges ahead. Yet knowledge is only the starting point and we gain insight as to the challenges faced when we begin to apply this objective knowledge in our respective environments.
Listen to find out more including;
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Raymond's coaching origin story.
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How Raymond turned his biggest disappointment into his biggest opportunity?
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Why has there been a “pollution of football language & methodology?”
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Top down control v Top down guidance.
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Guus Hiddink's mastery in change management.
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How to ensure your tactical principles are built on solid foundations?
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Can we change the conversation at boardroom level?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:30 - Intro
04:31 - 14:51 - Universal Football Language
14:52 - 25:37 - Application
25:38 - 32:47 - Change Management
32:48 - 45:38 - Clarity of Role
45:39 - 1:00:22 - Knowledge or Experience?
1:00:23 - 1:14:32 - Intelligence or Consciousness?
1:14:33 - 1:24:30 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Adam Mooi is the Technical Director of Newfoundland & Labrador Soccer.
As a young leader Adam has been responsible for designing and implementing game models, coaching education, building out games programmes, elevating current programmes, formalising player development processes amongst so much more.
A journey which has took Adam across his homeland working in a vast array of different markets, here he shares with us his thoughts and processes on the multi-faceted nature of his job whilst unpacking so much more. For any young coach on the path or transitioning to a leadership position this is a must listen.
Listen to find out more including;
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Developing the coaching bug at an early age.
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Finding people as curious & as passionate.
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Navigating the balance of making programmes accessible amongst the competitive landscape.
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Change management as a young leader.
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Embracing culture & Adam's process for meeting people where they are at.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:18 - Intro
05:19 - 10:38 - Coaching
10:39 - 23:04- Management
23:05 - 32:24 - Leadership
32:25 - 35:08 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"To be quick but don't hurry"
Famous words spoken by legendary basketball coach John Wooden yet a quote which today's guest Matt Jordan lives by. Having connected with Matt at January's ASD summit in Chicago I was compelled to invite him on the podcast. Making the transition from playing to front office is becoming a more widely popular route for many footballers nowadays. Matt was one of the earliest pioneers years ago retiring from his playing duties at CF Montreal to becoming it's Technical Director.
The following conversation provides remarkable insight into his current role as Vice President of Global Football at Trivela Group who's portfolio includes clubs such as Drogheda United, Walsall, Silkeborg alongside clubs in Africa. Learn more about many of the considerations which go into the management of this portfolio, how Matt builds synergies across different clubs, what good due diligence looks like and the reasons behind Trivela's decade long approach to investment.
Listen to find out more including;
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Making the transition between playing and front office.
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The influence of working in a range of markets on Matt's leadership approach.
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Which skillsets Matt would have focused on in hindsight during his transition to leadership roles?
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How Trivela implement centralised processes and individuate to each market?
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Matt's advice for career planning in modern football.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:00 - Intro
04:01 - 09:22 - Front Office
09:23 - 15:52- Houston
15:53 - 31:21 - Trivela
31:22 - 33:45 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
David Clancy is the CEO & Co-Founder of Nxt Level Group.
Creating a vision, discovering one's purpose, intentional reflection, planning for the future - all important right? Yet how often do we create the space and time to unpack and discover? At Nxt Level where their clients are the teams behind the team they help individuals position themselves not only for success right now but also in the future. A career steeped in curiosity & purpose David unpacks practical insights from mentors and experts alike whilst also drawing upon anecdotes from his own career to provide us with an episode full of gold.
Listen to find out more including;
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How to be both intentional and open minded as to what is next ?
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Insights from recording 200 episodes of a podcast exploring David's interests ?
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David's take on the generalist v specialist debate?
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Why everyone needs a "Mount Rushmore"?
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The big questions everyone need to ask to navigate the unknown?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:10 - Curiosity
05:11 - 11:42 - Career Planning
11:43 - 17:56- Nxt Level
17:57 - 24:45 - Identity
24:46 - 31:03 - Advice
The Essential Skills Book; https://www.eu.elsevierhealth.com/essential-skills-for-physiotherapists-9780443111280.html?nosto=nosto-page-search1
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
In this episode, I am joined by Paul Balsom, Head of Fitness Advisory for UEFA and Tigres UANL, who shares his incredible journey in the world of football fitness. From his humble beginnings growing up in Torquay to advising top football organizations, Paul reflects on the values, mindset, and experiences that have shaped his successful career. He dives into the importance of hard work, curiosity, and reflection—keys that have allowed him to excel in his field and push the boundaries of sports performance.
Listen to find out more including;
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Continuous reflection as a tool to aid your performance.
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How to optimize for your leadership approach ?
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Recruiting a multi-disciplinary team; specialists or generalists?
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What values aid Paul in his decision making?
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Why everything begins with the depth of connection you have with one another?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:21 - Intro
05:22 - 11:20 - Reflection
11:21 - 18:01- Leadership
18:02 - 21:58 - UEFA
21:59 - 33:34 - Sam Allardyce
33:35 - 42:09 - Recruitment
42:10 - 49:04 - Leadership
49:05 - 53:12 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Peter McDonnell is the U17 head coach of Philadelphia Union. A true student of the game and committed developer, Peter has strived to ensure he has passed on the many fruits of a path shaped by football.
Coaching in Ireland, at Seacoast United and Minnesota all preceded a move to Philadelphia Union in the last year. Winning this years U17 GA Cup proved to be one of many highlights Peter has had since joining the Union.
With an illustrious history of bringing through home talent Peter’s mission is to continue this trend. Inspired by what’s possible the Killala man has to tap deep into his philosophy of limitless development to get the most out of his talented squad.
A true storyteller this episode is to be sat back to and enjoyed.
Listen to find out more including;
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Is there a perfect way or environment to develop a player ?
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Why Philadelphia Union have such a successful track record in youth development ?
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How to challenge & support amid raising expectations?
-
Building a team culture in the era of the individual.
-
What’s the most difficult part of coaching?
-
How jiu jitsu has helped shape Peter as a person, coach & leader?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:26 - Intro
06:27 - 16:43 - Vocation
16:44 - 33:58- Philadelphia Union
33:59 - 39:38 - Evolution
39:39 - 49:18 - Jiu Jitsu
49:19 - 52:12 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
David Webb is the First Team Coach of the Georgia National Team. Since debuting on the podcast over 2 years ago David was contacted by Willy Sagnol to join the staff ahead of their Euro playoffs earlier this year. What ensued was possibly the story of this years European Championships.
Ranked 74th in the world did little to hold Georgia back and they attacked each game in the entertaining and inspiring manner for which they have gained plaudits in recent years. Their 2-0 victory over Portugal announced their arrival on the world stage with a historical qualification to the Round of 16.
Exiting to eventual champions Spain in the Round of 16 did little to dampen the feel good factor beside this generational side.
Luckily for us David joined us shortly after the Euros to recount this historic occasion.
Listen to find out more including;
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Inside Georgia’s robust training and analysis ahead of the Euros.
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What David’s moment of the tournament was ?
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Inside the gameplan to beat Portugal ?
-
Getting the best out of Kvicha Kvaratskhekia.
-
What was so impressive about facing Spain in the flesh ?
-
The historic homecoming to Tbilisi.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
“In your building, if the level of conversation is good the level of conversation goes out on to the pitch.”
Michael Beale is well known to many for his work as first team coach. However it is his track record in youth development which initially caught the eye. 15 years of an apprenticeship at Charlton, Chelsea and Liverpool working alongside some future Premier League managers helped shaped some of Michael’s strongest views of the game.
From South London to São Paulo Michael speaks here with a fervent passion as to what’s possible when development is intentionally tailored towards the individual. Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Trent Alexander Arnold are just few of tens of names which Michael has played a key role in their development.
Reflecting on recent jobs at QPR, Rangers and Sunderland have only hardened Michael’s desire to place development at the forefront.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How early did Michael realise coaching would be his vocation?
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Why tactics are overrated?
-
Getting the balance right between play and structure.
-
The three fundamentals essential to building any footballers hard drive ?
-
The transition to management from coaching.
-
Why the game always comes back to relationships and feelings ?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:13 - Futsal
04:14 - 13:26 - Development
13:27 - 21:13- Chelsea & Liverpool
21:14 - 29:50 - Sao Paulo
29:51 - 35:15 - Gerrard
35:16 - 49:10 - QPR & Rangers
49:11 - 56:04 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Sonny Cobbs is the Founder & CEO of Precision Football. It sits as the flagship Football Tech Centre of the Middle East at less than a few years old. With 25 staff and 3,000 people coming through the doors each week it is a paradise for anyone in love with the sport.
Even more remarkable than the very idea of its existence have been the milestones the organisation have hit in such a short space of time. This “overnight success” is not a surprise to many who know it’s founder Sonny Cobbs. Faced with the many trials and tribulations blighting many a young entrepreneur Sonny shares the story of how he lost everything only to bounce back and do it even better.
Winning 10 out of their last 11, with a run embodying the very grit the club was built on Precision recently achieved promotion in their maiden season. Speaking to Sonny we learn about how Precision has set a new standard for the Dubai region, how they plan to cement their place as a key stakeholder in the tech boom storming football, plans for international expansion and so much more.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Sonny's journey to Dubai.
-
Amongst a mix of factors how did one trip to America inspire the design behind Precision?
-
Foundations and thought process behind the use of Precision's advanced football technology.
-
Balancing the passion of a dream with the realities of being a young entrepreneur?
-
The story as to how Precision achieved promotion in their first season.
-
Plans to expand internationally and what role will Precision play in this latest tech boom?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:46 - Intro
06:47 - 16:05 - Dubai
16:06 - 26:07- Precision
26:08 - 31:08 - First Team
31:09 - 41:13 - The Main Thing
41:14 - 42:32 - Advice
Website; https://www.precisionfootball.com/
Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/precisionftbl/?hl=en
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Scott McLachlan is the Global Head of Football for Global Football Holdings.
After listening to Scott it is hard not to be infused with wonder and awe for the beautiful game. An expert storyteller Scott's anecdotes about the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and 2021 Champions League Final are just two wonderful milestones amid a formidable love affair with the game. Retaining this child like affinity for the game alongside his continuous dedication to the craft of coaching has ensured Scott to be an invaluable asset to each organisation he has represented
In his own words "2 ears, 1 mouth" coupled with an insatiable work ethic have dismembered all roadblocks on a relentless learning journey. Join us as Scott takes us inside his journey from early coaching days at Wimbledon to managing a group of scouts at Chelsea to the present overseeing a portfolio of clubs at GFH.
Ensure you have your notebook at the ready for this one.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How Covid reignited a passion for coaching.
-
Growing the competency framework of scouts.
-
How Scott strategically navigates the mile markers on his career map?
-
Quality control and managing the workflow of clubs within an MCO.
-
In which ways has Scott's communication had to evolve as a leader?
-
What professionalising scouting looked like at Chelsea?
-
Fostering a learning environment, turning learning into a behaviour and how to supercharge the knowledge share in your organisation.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:35 - Intro
07:36 - 16:54 - Coaching
16:55 - 24:30- Global Football Holdings
24:31 - 30:24 - Communication
30:25 - 43:22 - Learning Environment
43:23 - 53:03 - Leadership
53:04 - 56:02 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Todays guest James O'Connor is a man who has seen it all in football. The Louisville City President amassed over 500 appearances in first team football before beginning his coaching career in America. Seeking the pull of making an impact at a higher level James jumped at the chance to become Club President.
Overseeing the building of a $50m training complex, $75m stadium and the expansion of the women's team it is hard to underestimate his impact on the club and city. An insightful episode taking us through the foundations of building a leading USL club.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How to build a community presence as a new club?
-
Leveraging the blue-collar mentality permeating throughout the city as a competitive advantage.
-
In what ways did James mentality shift after retiring as player?
-
What systems and processes James uses for managing his staff?
-
The mindset which keeps James one step ahead and enables him to continue to grow and develop.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Todays guest Alex Clapham is a Tactical Advisor with 777 Partners and founder of Cano Football.
As a young coach Alex repeatedly sought to challenge his worldview taking influences from the outside. It wasn’t enough for Alex to only read and watch from afar, he was soon pulled to embody and live that experience.
That set in motion a journey of discovery forging a coaching career in Mexico and Spain. Promotion campaigns with Vasco de Gama and Genoa reinforced Alex’s belief that football always comes back to feelings and emotions.
A career full of rich experiences, what ensued here was a fascinating conversation as to the future of profile profiles, the battle for control in top flight football and principles for being effective as a set piece coach.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The sacrifices early on Alex made to forge a coaching career in Spain.
-
Stretching your comfort zone and why you can’t develop without this.
-
How significant are the linguistics of football on development?
-
Where Alex sits on the positionism v relationism continuum?
-
Inside the turbulence and excitement of two promotion pushes in one season.
-
How Brazil completely changed Alex’s approach working with players.
-
The power of integrating data into your coaching practice.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 11:42 - Spain
11:43 - 17:37- Experiential learning
17:38 - 22:51 - Relationism
22:52 - 32:11 - Perception
32:12 - 38:54 - Vasco de Gama
38:55 - 44:09 - Set Pieces
44:10 - 49:50 - Genoa
49:51 - 1:00:39 - Control
1:00:40- 1:06:45 - Advice
Cano Football; https://www.canofootball.com/
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Winning takes talent, to repeat it takes character..."
James Kerr is best known for his book; "Legacy - What the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life". Here James goes deep into the heart of the All Blacks distilling 15 practical lessons for leadership and business.
Working with the All Blacks at a time where they reframed winning, "Legacy" best encapsulates the arc of a team who would go down in history. Champions do extra, they sweep the sheds, they keep a blue head, they are good ancestors.
"He who has the best story wins" and in that fashion we learn of the prominent role storytelling has in building a culture and how you too can similarly utilise this. Where cultures either stagnate or regenerate, character is a requisite for continuing to play the game of life. Fuelled by positive emotion we learn all of this becomes very achievable once we shift our attention from what is this in service of to who.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Why is storytelling important?
-
How the All Blacks regenerated their culture?
-
The All Blacks use of mantras in times of high pressure.
-
What tools do leaders need in order to grow a culture?
-
In today's digital age how ought training and development be used to accelerate growth in teams?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:38 - The End in Mind
03:39 - 10:25 - Stories
10:26 - 22:53 - Culture
22:54 - 32:04 - Character
32:05 - 36:56 - Ownership
36:57 - 46:08 - Pressure
46:09 - 54:25 - Whakapapa
54:26 - 1:02:38 - Ethos
Legacy Book; https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-James-Kerr/dp/147210353X
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Nice have earned plaudits aplenty this season for their bold, courageous and unrelenting style of football. Led by Francisco Farioli they have a staff who live and breathe these core values on and off the pitch.
Today I was joined by the very special; Jarkko Tuomisto, their goalkeeping coach. The following conversation with Jarkko lends to some fascinating insight as how he ascended to the top of his profession. In his own words, on the road to "climbing the second mountain" Jarkko juggled multiple jobs as a barman, youth worker and musician upon deciding to go all in on his passion.
Applying lessons from all these roles, living on the edge of his craft, success soon became a byproduct. Many people speak of the transformational impact Jarkko has had on players and colleagues alike in Finland, Italy, Qatar, Ecuador and now France. What you got you here won't necessarily get you there and it is within that frame we explore Jarkko's inspirational tale. An episode for the ages.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Building coaching stamina and how to fail forward quicker?
-
The leap of faith moving to Italy with a backpack.
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How Jarkko's experience as a youth worker helps him break down walls with players?
-
Why does "creativity needs boundaries"?
-
How Jarkko relates building out from the back to values?
-
Why the future goalkeeper needs to be ready for any action?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:55 - Intro
06:56 - 13:14 - Coaching Stamina
13:15 - 24:28 - Leap of Faith
24:29 - 37:11 - Ecuador
37:12 - 43:28 - Soft Skills
43:29 - 52:42 - Qatar
52:43 - 1:00:00 - Awareness
1;00:01 - 1:08:12 - Buildup
1:08:13 - 1:14:32 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Today's guest Jon MacKenzie is the face and voice of TIFO Football.
He has been regarded as one of the finest minds on football tactics in recent years. It was fascinating to spend an hour in Jon's company going in depth on his topic of choice.
Here we cover everything from hybrid pressing, Jon's fascination for the out of possession phase, Liverpool's evolution, Michel's new age football at Girona, what makes Xabi Alonso fascinating to study and TIFO's plans going forward.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How his studies of philosophy shaped his views on football?
-
How Jon's consumption of the game varies from fan to analyst?
-
When did Jon start following coaches as opposed to teams?
-
Why Relationism v Positionism is not a question of either or?
-
An argument for viewing football as one phase.
-
Who is leading the tactical evolution and why these evolutions happen in a dialectical manner?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:24 - Intro
09:25 - 19:29 - Relationism
19:30 - 30:19 - Analyst v Fan
30:20 - 42:09 - Out of Possession
42:10 - 46:28 - Rest Defence
46:29 - 51:29 - Girona
51:30 - 53:33 - Xabi Alonso
53:34 - 1:00:59 - Evolution
1:01:00 - 1:03:00 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Currently the allure of investing in Premier League football is as strong as ever. This has coincided with a rise of American investment into English football with 50% of Premier League clubs having some form of American investment. To understand this growing trend who better a guest to invite on than one of the leaders responsible for attracting the best talent into the boardrooms and also Head of Capital Investment for the UK government in North America; Richard Albert.
Working to support the deployment of strategic capital to a variety of industries stemming from tech to social sciences and sport Richard's role is encompassing and certainly not for the faint hearted. The nature of private capital investment, the battle for streaming rights and impact of MCO's are all noteworthy topics and part of a rapidly changing investment climate.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The multitude of experiences and roles which help shaped Richard's trajectory?
-
What foreign investors commonly overlook when investing in UK sport?
-
How US investors best generate unrealised value in UK football?
-
The fine balance between regulating investment in football and remaining attractive investment wise.
-
How investors are factoring the potential creation of a European Super League into their decision making ?
-
What changes in investment dynamics Richard is excited to see in the forthcoming years?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:57 - Intro
08:58 - 20:02 - The Role
20:03 - 28:30 - Investor's Leverage
28:31 - 37:52 - Decision Making
37:53 - 50:19 - Governance
50:20 - 56:07 - Investment Trends
56:08 - 1:00:27 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Football needs to go back to the creative players, football is entertainment, if you cannot entertain the spectators what do you got?"
Today's guest is Al-Wasl Head of Youth Development; Michel Mommertz. Meeting Michel time aplenty in Dubai over coffee I thought it was just time to host him and share his wonderful story to date.
Michel doesn't do half measures, the youngest professional footballer still in Dutch history with a fervent love for the game had his playing days curtailed short by injury. Yet this did not stop Michel in his tracks, meeting the infamous Wiel Coerver pre-empted a 20 year relationship of working with one of the most famous developers to grace the sport.
Armed by lessons and experience aplenty Michel joined me on the show to discuss all things coaching, creativity and keeping the joy in development.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Meeting Wiel Coerver and the direction in which that shaped Michel's journey.
-
What is the "right way" to develop?
-
Creativity in coaching and breaking past copy to create.
-
Why cultivating the personality is one of the most important parts of development?
-
What the future of youth development looks like in Dubai and the Middle East?
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Today's episode is an enlightening conversation with world respected football journalist Ben Jacobs.
In today's age of bottomless content and ITK's galore it can be often tough to identify the signal amongst the noise. However we have no such problem with today's guest. With a punditry career spanning 15+ years Ben takes us through many of the principles which have fuelled his ascent and enabled him to build reciprocal relationships in the game.
With the added scrutiny of a large social media following, Ben's world can be an often a precarious place at times. So how does he deal with this?
Learn as to how "the work in a transfer window is done before the transfer window", how Ben recovers from setbacks and how his preparation remains his separation.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Behind the scenes of a journalist's life in a transfer window.
-
Developing genuine relationships within the industry.
-
Being an early adopter of the digital age and the advantages which ensued.
-
How to be adaptable without sacrificing the end goal?
-
Getting the story out versus getting it right.
-
Having a solid foundation and maintaining it even during running transfer sagas such as Messi and Mbappe?
Ben Jacobs website; https://www.ben-jacobs.com/
Ben Jacobs X; https://twitter.com/JacobsBen?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Put yourself on the path to the career you always wanted"
In today's episode I am joined by Daniel Geey who here details his rise from car parts lawyer to one of the most respected and trusted lawyers in the game. An inspiration to many with his book "Done Deal", he has followed it up with his latest book; "Build the Invisible".
At the top of the iceberg people see only the deals and success. Here we focus on what lays below the water. In his own words Daniel's sheer stubbornness and obsessiveness kept encouraging him to lay the foundations of his football career brick by career necessitating doing the thing nobody else could see, without expecting anything back.
Creating that roadmap and doing that work can be quite a daunting experience. Luckily for us Daniel has reflected and distilled many of the core principles which helped him and you too can follow him on his journey of turning your side hustle into a main job.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Principles for sustaining a career in sport.
-
How to create the cascading effect in of endless opportunities?
-
How to build knowledge and relationships coincidingly?
-
Why consistency is the biggest barrier to entry in the sporting industry?
-
How identity based outcomes elevated Daniel's habits?
-
The power of surrounding yourself with different motivational climates
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:51 - US v UK
03:52 - 07:39 - Side Hustle
07:40 - 16:10 - Cascading Effect
16:11 - 20:05 - Identity Based
20:06 - 25:13 - Long Term Games
25:14 - 30:01 - Inspiration
30:02 - 33:20 - What's Next?
33:21 - 35:57 - Advice
Daniel;s book; https://www.danielgeey.com/build-the-invisible
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"If you do the work, know yourself, know your team, then you can grow your team."
Orlando SC have undergone quite the transformation over these past few years and have become known as a perennial title contender in the MLS.
Today's guest David Cosgrave has played a huge part in redefining service excellence for the Florida outfit in their quest to build a top class culture. "Find a Way" has become the motto of the "The Lions". You don't build community by chance and with social cohesion at the heart of the squad with players and staff empowered alike, Orlando earned plaudits this season for achieving a near perfect availability rate of 97%.
The following episode is a superb case study of how one leader leverages "culture as a competitive advantage."
Furthermore learn as to how winning deep begins with happy staff, how HR can be cross pollinated with sporting performance, how you can test your culture today with a "stinky fish" and so much more.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The transformative impact which a trophy win can have on a community?
-
The influence of Pippa Grange on building out the culture framework in Orlando.
-
Why real culture happens underneath the iceberg?
-
How David and the club win the "the war for talent"?
-
Identifying areas of hidden potential and creating structures for opportunity within it.
-
What goes into David's sense making work to reflect on the past season and to plan ahead?
-
What brings David joy from the game itself?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 02:01 - Miami
02:02 - 08:17 - Road Warriors
08:18 - 18:52 - Culture
18:53 - 22:58 - Copenhagen
22:59 - 30:44 - "Brain Trust"
30:45 - 43:20 - Winning Deep
43:21 - 52:36 - Self Reflection
52:37 - 57:30 - Mental Models
57:31 - 59:13 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Just over one month ago Bolton had won 7-0 at home in front of 25,000 people continuing their promotion push to the Championship. It is a far cry to a club just over a few years prior who had just come out of administration, straggled at the bottom of League 2. When a situation is as ground zero where do you even begin?
For the new Sporting Director; Chris Markham it was quite the remit however fear not Wanderers had found a professional very equipped from his time at Huddersfield Town and the FA. A few years later and with an expansive playing style, aligned leadership and savvy recruitment Bolton have rightly earned plaudits on their way to being "a league of one".
I was fortunate Chris joined me today to share more about the old school values and modern methods propelling Bolton up the EFL.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The masters on the grass at Huddersfield Town which kickstarted Chris' career?
-
What an analysis culture looks like and lessons from heading up the game insights department at the FA?
-
The meticulous planning and detail which goes into placing Bolton in a position to thrive and not just survive.
-
How Chris and Bolton encourage risk taking not only in players but staff?
-
The use of the loan market in Bolton's squad building.
-
How has his leadership style had to evolve between managing a department to managing a club?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:27 - Huddersfield Town
09:28 - 14:43 - The FA
14:44 - 21:58 - Bolton
21:59 - 24:37 - Innovation
24:38 - 28:46 - Sporting Director
28:47 - 36:49 - Squad Building
36:50 - 43:52 - Leadership
43:53 - 46:00 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
The year John Stones had the most amount of successful dribbles in a Champions League Final since Lionel Messi, 2023 was a year for the ages.
From Gateshead to Nice the universal search for control took on a new level and has appeared in many shapes and forms.
Box midfields, hybrid pressing are on the menu today as we go through some of the tactical innovations and setups which have caught our eye.
Liam Tharme joins me to dissect the past year and cast an eye as to what maybe on the horizon for 2024.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Roberto De Zerbi and the principles of play in his Brighton side.
-
The many different iterations of the box midfield.
-
Manchester City's evolution out of possession on their way to a historic treble.
-
Hybrid pressing and why it is more important than ever?
-
Girona, Nice, Leverkusen - the year of the underdog?
-
What to keep an eye out for in 2024?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:49 - Brighton
05:50 - 12:46 - Box Midfield
12:47 - 16:51 - Clash of Styles
16:52 - 21:59 - Man City
22:00 - 28:56 - Hybrid Pressing
28:57 - 35:05 - Nice
35:06 - 37:11 - Leverkusen
37:12 - 44:07 - 2024
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Meeting Frazer pitch side in Philadelphia last summer it was clear that he has been on a special journey with an upward trajectory evidenced further since which is showing no signs of slowing down.
Going through the ages and stages of development, Frazer has left no stone unturned in his quest to better himself as an individual. Luckily for us some of those lessons cascaded into coaching and today he joins us to reflect and share anecdotes regarding some of the key experiences from his journey to date.
From an all encompassing apprenticeship in Scotland to becoming the First Team Coach of a top European side it has been some ride for the Scotsman. Some special experiences at Right to Dream in Ghana and Philadelphia Union in the USA have only served to reinforce Frazer's faith in the long term development process.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The importance of working every age group throughout your coaching journey.
-
How soft skills may not get you in but certainly ensure you stay there?
-
Why joining Right to Dream was the best decision he has ever made?
-
The invisible benefits of residential academies?
-
Knowing the person before developing the player.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:45 - Intro
04:46 - 07:54 - Ages & Stages
07:55 - 10:46 - Attributes
10:47 - 22:17 - Right to Dream
22:18 - 27:01 - Philadelphia Union
27:02 - 31:22 - Standard Liege
31:23 - 34:18 - Pathways
34:19 - 36:40 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"The future of football is going faster and faster, scanning becomes so important..."
For those who are curious, life often serves the best returns. What was a deficiency in Karl Aksum's playing career became a topic of fascination for the newly turned coach in his early days.Studying thousands of game situations Karl soon became inspired to put pen to paper on some groundbreaking research on visual perception in elite football.
Collaborating with clubs such as Ajax and Southampton, organisations such as UEFA and under the mentorship of Arsene Wenger Karl was soon able to translate into actionable tangible insights serving not only his coaching but the wider football community.
As someone who is not against departing from popular convention this is an insightful and inspiring listen on what the future of football could look like.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The difference between looking and seeing when it comes to scanning?
-
How visiting Arsenal and Arsene Wenger helped Karl iterate upon his studies in scanning ?
-
What huge differences Karl noticed between the U17 and U19 age groups in his studies?
-
The everyday impact on Karl’s training from his research.
-
How colours and movements change how Karl trains?
-
Why coaches need to fall out of love with rondos ?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 01:47 - Intro
01:48 - 07:24 - Scanning
07:25 - 12:49 - Training Methodology
12:50 - 20:18 - PhD
20:19 - 33:40 - Results
33:41 - 39:35 - Rondos
39:36 - 44:49 - Relationism
44:50 - 48:53 - Evolution
48:54 - 51:25 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"The football we want, the football we need."
This Tuesday December 12th and Wednesday December 13th World Football Summit (WFS) will run their annual Asian event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
WFS see themselves as "a community of leaders who share knowledge and ideas to drive the evolution of the industry both business and values". At the heart of this is co-founder Jan Alessie who alongside Marian Otamendi have ran events all over the world since 2016. What begun as a think tank is now one of the largest yearly football exhibitions, Nonetheless with fewer industries containing a bigger voice than football there is an acknowledgement that "with a strong voice comes a strong responsibility."
Listen to find out more including;
-
The advantages of not coming from a football background.
-
Internationalising WFS and the challenges which ensued.
-
Why the demand for long form content in football outstrips the supply?
-
WFS' growth strategy and how Jan foresees future events evolving.
-
What can people look forward to in Jeddah?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:42 - Intro
04:43 - 07:39 - Origins
07:40 - 13:14 - Long Form Content
13:15 - 19:17 - Win-win Partnerships
19:18 - 23:21 - Jeddah
23:22 - 24:47 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town". - Leonard Tolstoy
Today's guest is one of football's expert storytellers. Throughout time Guillem Balague has shared the stories of many of football's greats, expertly sharing insights and humanizing the person behind the performer.
So it was about time I figured to turn the tables on Guillem and ask him to share his story.What was originally meant to be a conversation about Lionel Messi turned into an intimate story about Guillem's move to Liverpool as a young student, the early days of Revista De La Liga, the emotions which sustain his love for the game and so much more.
The first of five big episodes recorded in Miami and one which is not to be missed.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The inspiration behind taking over at Biggleswade?
-
The story as to how Revista De La Liga came to life?
-
His relationship with David Beckham alongside unique insight into the early days at Real Madrid.
-
How Guillem broke the news of Messi moving to Inter Miami.
-
Behind the scenes of Argentina's World Cup Win and how Messi evolved as a leader in Qatar.
-
Who does Messi turn to in his lowest moments?
-
How breaking the Fernando Torres move to Chelsea changed Guillem's relationship with social media forever?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:00 - UK Early Days
09:01 - 14:07 - Emotion
14:08 - 19:48 - Biggleswade
19:49 - 30:48 - Revista De La Liga
30:49 - 36:42 - Beckham
36:43 - 1:01:30 - Messi
1:01:31 - 1:06:30 - Social Media
1:06:31 - 1:08:21 - Advice
Guillem's Book; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Messi-must-read-biography-champion-Balagues/dp/1399619136/ref=asc_df_1399619136/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=658789276035&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4549027146112015269&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006524&hvtargid=pla-2197207796556&psc=1&mcid=68ef9cc52c083a86941091bee9d2d85a&th=1&psc=1
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Football is conquering the world at an unstoppable speed and at the moment there is a dysfunction between the audience and practice in some countries." - Arsene Wenger.
The man who's role it is to minimize that gap is today's guest; Matthew Clement who is also the FIFA Training Centre Manager. From the conceptualisation of a new football language to overseeing the development of FIFA's new competency framework it has been an eventful time in charge for Matthew. A combination of the most ardent fan's passion and the curiosity and drive of a top coach, Matthew strikes me as the perfect fit to "oversee the strategic development of technology and content for FIFA's global education".
Reminiscing about the last male and female World Cup's in the last year, modern trends with respect to playing styles, unique age profiles and how youth development is being challenged to evolve, it is clearly an exciting time to be playing a part in the development of the World's game.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Moving from the path of specialist to the generalist and why it proved to be the fitting apprenticeship?
-
Taking the call from Arsene Wenger to join FIFA.
-
What a healthy relationship looks like between technology and coaching?
-
Where Arsene Wenger thinks the future of football is going to develop?
-
Understanding how coaches can make better decisions and FIFA's plans to enhance the psychological development of coaches.
-
Excitement internally over the impending Club World Cup and a potential matchup between Diniz' Fluminense and Guardiola's Man City.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Football is not just about a result, it is a way of living."
On December 2nd Juan Roman Riquelme will run against Andres Ibarra for the Boca Juniors presidency. Today's guest Gustav Salvestrini is a Boca Socio and member also of Ibarra's party. Ibarra's campaign push centres around the need to commercialise Boca, modernise revenue structures and return Boca to one of the top 5 clubs in World Football.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The cultural significance of Boca Juniors within the community.
-
What distinguishes Argentine football from the rest of world football?
-
How club elections are ran in Argentina?
-
"Passion y Gestion" and plans to revolutionalise Boca from a new stadium to it's internationalisation.
-
How the recent appointment of Javier Milei as President may potentially impact the Boca elections?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 02:17 - Intro
02:18 - 07:07 - Boca Juniors
07:08 - 11:19 - Elections
11:20 - 17:15 - "Passion y Gestion"
17:16 - 22:51 - Milei
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
“You want to be a builder...”
Mark Cartwright is the Sporting Director of Huddersfield Town. Mapping out his pathway from player to agent and now the current day, he joined us to distill some of his most pertinent learnings to date.
Navigating change, working across every facet of the organisation Mark has learned to adapt and evolve quickly across his time at Stoke City, USL and now Huddersfield. Learn as how to Mark built out his own pathway, how he continually humbles himself, principles for winning in the boardroom and how he envisages his field changing.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How comparable are the skillsets of Agent & Sporting Director?
-
Embarking upon a career path that did not even exist.
-
"You don't have to be an expert in every field but you have to have knowledge."
-
Modernising Stoke City's recruitment process and what "Premier League ready" looks like?
-
Mark's process for identifying and navigating bottlenecks.
-
Influencing thought process at the USL with 40+ clubs to manage.
-
How will the modern Sporting Director have to evolve their skillset?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 02:54 - Intro
02:55 - 07:07 - Agent
07:08 - 10:20 - Gaining an edge
10:21 - 14:20 - Stoke City
14:21 - 19:36 - Evaluate & Adapt
19:37 - 32:28 - USL
32:29 - 35:31 - Huddersfield Town
35:32 - 38:00 - Evolution
38:01 - 40:39 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
David Garcia is the founder of "It's Just a Sport".
One's coaching journey will pull and drag you a thousand different ways. In many a different direction and amid a war of attention what football stands out most to you? Furthermore how do you create a methodology and bring this to life? After a while searching down the path less trodden David Garcia has alchemised plenty of lessons inspiring thousands of coaches. In his current work as an "experience architect" David is passionate about how we as coaches can gather tools to be our best selves in front of players.
Via a period of studying positional play in Spain and a few other adventures in between we learn here about the moment where it all clicked for David along his coaching journey. Furthermore we unpack as how David came to be so passionate about coach development, the broader tangible impact a game model has, how technology and youth development can work hand in hand and so much more.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Why he created "It's just a sport"?
-
Authenticity of self in light of the growing "homogenisation" of football.
-
Why the new wave of rule breaking coaches will emerge from those who delve deeper into enhancing connections between players and game model?
-
Play as a form of transcending oneself.
-
Coach burnout and how to stave off it's threat?
-
Integrating technology which enhances the game experience of young players.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:18 - Intro
03:19 - 06:23 - Coaching
06:24 - 10:38 - Community & Curiosity
10:39 - 17:36 - Positional Play
17:37 - 25:47 - Game Model
25:48 - 30:50 - Authenticity
30:51 - 37:07 - Character Development
37:08 - 43:07 - Coach Wellbeing
43:08 - 51:57 - Evolution
51:58 - 54:53 - Advice
David's LinkedIn; https://twitter.com/IJaSport?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
It's Just a Sport; https://www.itsjustasport.com/
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Take care of the game and the business will take care of itself."I for one cannot wait to attend this year's SoccerEx in Miami. To preview this year's offering, CEO Patrick McCreanor joined the show. From it's debut event in Wembley right through to a landmark 50th convention in it's adopted city of Miami SoccerEx has cemented itself as the world's largest football business event. As over 600 clubs from all around the world embark on the Magic City we chart through the rise of one of football's most prestigious brands.Listen to find out more including;- The origins of SoccerEx.- What makes Miami the full package as a host city?- Post 2026 what does football in North America look and feel like?- The efforts taken to grow the brand and modernise it's existing offering.- Who is on the agenda for 2023? And what panels and discussions can we look forward to?Timestamps;00:00 - 01:32 - Intro01:33 - 03:43 - Origins03:44 - 05:20 - Miami05:21 - 10:28 - Legacy10:29 - 15:38 - Evolution15:39 - 18:41 - The Agenda18:42 - 19:42 - AdviceSoccerEx; https://soccerex.com/Patrick's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mccreanor-24a16058/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"The objective is to win but at what cost...."
Jonathon O'Neill is the co-founder of HeadCoach.
Turning potential into performance HeadCoach is an app which allows you to master your mental, emotional and social skillsets. At a time where coaches and players bandwith have never been as stretched the app seeks to optimize and enhance your ability to reflect, realign and refocus.
A tool which we must constantly develop, there is no arrival point or time at which we master EQ. Integrating the game of sport within the game of life indeed there is no separation between performance and wellbeing. Through a range of features varying from a habit tracker to a wellness journal the app seeks to minimize that gap.
Learn more as to why coaches should be concerned with EQ, the distinction between confidence and competence, the flipside of the Dunning-Kruger effect, why coach burnout is on the rise and so much more.
Listen to find out more including;
-
What does scalability look for coaches who are already overloaded?
-
Managing competition and cooperation within sport.
-
Distinguishing between "d needs" and "b needs" and understanding how this impacts your EQ strategy.
-
The intersection between the "Dunning-Kruger effect" and Imposter Syndrome.
-
What does a healthy relationship with technology look and feel like?
-
Coach development sitting at the top of the ultimate self-actualisation.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:54 - HeadCoach
05:55 - 10:23 - Chimp Empire
10:24 - 19:04 - Cooperation
19:05 - 30:25 - Team Development
30:26 - 45:59 - Confidence v Competence
46:00 - 53:47 - Wellbeing
53:48 - 57:35 - Coaching
57:36 - 1:03:26 - Evolution
1:03:27 - 1:07:42 - Technology
1:07:43 - 1:15:01 - Advice
HeadCoach App; https://www.headcoach.app/
Jonathon's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathon-o-neill-3b0a95b9/
Transcend book; https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Self-Actualization-Scott-Barry-Kaufman/dp/0143131206
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"There is always a next step..."
Darren Powell's mantra for player development is too something which he holds close to his heart. Now the Director of Player Development for Inter Miami Darren is responsible for overseeing the transition of players from their MLS Next side into the professional game.
Understandably and not entirely an exact science, Darren and Inter Miami have received plaudits galore for their shrewd judgment in the ascent of as many as 6 homegrowns to the pro ranks recently.
Listen to find out more including;
-
College soccer as a character building experience.
-
Creating a player's IPP through understanding their motivational trigger points.
-
How Darren envisages the composition of MLS squads will evolve?
-
Understanding the not so exacts science as to when to accelerate a player's pathway?
-
What Darren learned by studying how the greats get to top in their chosen field?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:44 - Intro
04:45 - 11:06 - USA
11:07 - 18:01 - Inter Miami
18:02 - 26:43 - Modern Player
26:44 - 28:27 -Advice
"Adapt or else...." Yiannis Tsalatsidis is the Technical Director & First Team Coach of FC London. In this specially recorded podcast Yiannis takes us on quite the football journey through his lens over the course of 2 hours. Empowered by a duty to develop beyond the regular realm Yiannis' work can best be described as player centred. Armed by this mission, it is with this very unique and compelling picture of the future we frame Yiannis' journey and explore the evolution of the future game. Firmly embedded in the development of tomorrow's player what trends in the modern game does Yiannis observe which will have monumental impacts in shaping the game going forward? Learn as to how this has been influenced from wide ranging references such as Zidane to rhythm in music and his study of complex adaptive systems. However before one goes forward one must return to the roots. Listen to find out more including; - What influences the type of football Yiannis likes? - Character development, embedded in talent identification and it's foundation in developing players. - Creating a culture of curiosity and aligning a player development model across a whole club from mini's to adults. - Seeing situations as energy and how that influences interactions with players. - How top managers are working to implement micro adaptations into their model? - IPP work beyond the field in raising self and situational awareness. - The critical performance window in which we are missing in talent development? - Solving the accessibility issue of football and the wide ranging impacts this will have on the growth of the game worldwide. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1... Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en YouTube; / @thelowdownpod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Ravi Ramineni is the co-founder and CEO of src | ftbl. He has also been at the forefront of the football analytics boom over the last decade.A former employee of Bing and Microsoft Ravi played a huge role in the success of the Seattle Sounders organisation rapidly ascending from analyst to VP in the organisation.
In his own words the journey has been “a steep learning curve” and here Ravi reflects on what brought him here to the present day. From leaving building data pipelines out of a Starbucks or leading a multi million dollar sporting department Ravi has taken the long road. With football at the source and Ravi is still adamant that we are still at the infancy of the football analytics boom.
Here there are insights galore for everyone.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Ray Hudson, dial ins and the early days forging a career in football
-
Building data pipelines and early days working on GPS data at Starbucks.
-
Understanding what skill sets are “low supply & high demand”.
-
Founding SRC FTBL and what he believes the knock on impact this will have for the worldwide analytics culture?
-
The ideal coach - analyst relationship.
-
Quantifying your game model and the significance this has throughout the organisation.
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"High Performance comes from the mindset of it cannot be done alone."
Today's guest is Max Lankheit, Head of Performance & Innovation at the Philadelphia Union. Working across the Bundesliga, MLS with a stint in MLB, Max has over a decade's worth experience in sporting performance.
Finding his true passion in building and leading teams, Max joins us on the show today to share some principles guiding his style of leadership and as to how to effect change in organisations across a variety of realms.
A timely and inspirational listen, there are lessons in Max' message for everyone.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Principles for change management when already successful?
-
High Performance as a collective mindset not an individual action.
-
The difference between leadership and management?
-
Creating an environment where innovation thrives.
-
Reflecting as a leader day in, day out to stay on the right path.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:54 - Intro
06:55 - 11:01 - High Performance
11:02 - 19:15 - St Pauli
19:16 - 27:56 - Leadership
27:57 - 42:34 - Philadelphia Union
42:35 - 50:50 - Evolution
50:51 - 54:22 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
In 1995 Bruno Costa was a budding 15 year old intern departing home with the aim of working in professional football.
What ensued has been a story of movie like proportions taking us from the Amazon rainforest to Silicon Valley featuring a supporting cast of Brazilian legends.
Amid political turmoil and public scrutiny in his early years as a leader Bruno has succeeded in helping proliferate the Brazilian of young talent and spearhead several projects to International, Olympic, Continental and Domestic success.
Now in his role as Director of Scouting & Recruitment at the San Jose Earthquakes he joins us to open up candidly about his story.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The trials and tribulations working as Chief Scout for the Brazilian federation.
-
Learning to lead as a 26 year old Technical Director at Fluminense.
-
Recouping $100m+ in sales over a 3 year period at Fluminense.
-
Building the 4 year project which ended in Brazilian gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
-
How San Jose Earthquakes protect player & coach pathways through fit & alignment?
-
Altering identification practices in the MLS to acquire undervalued talent.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 12:39 - The Journey
12:40 - 17:00 - Mentors
17:01 - 33:23 - Leadership
33:24 - 41:07 - Fit & Alignment
41:08 - 1:05:09 - Pathways
1:05:10 - 1:08:15 - Advice
Get in touch;
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en
YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod
Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"I believe we can teach people anything but we cannot teach them culture".Sharona Friedman is the President of the Global Institute for Sport (GIS).Now partnered with UCFB, Sharona was part of the team that launched the world's first football industry. In the space of 11 years it has grown from 53 - 3,000 students with multiple campuses in the UK such as Wembley and the Etihad. Furthermore it has staged summits worldwide including the likes of New York, Toronto and Melbourne. Sharona and her team have been relentless in their efforts turning GIS into a global leading educational institution.On the back of their recent Melbourne summit it was apt time to interview Sharona and learn more about the secrets behind GIS continued success. In a changing world how have they managed to stay on top and more so continue to innovate? What started as solving an initial supply and demand problem has transformed into an entire eco-system dedicated towards bettering the education of sporting professionals worldwide.Listen to find out more including;- The reasons behind UCFB's early success?- Solving the accessibility issue of third level education.- Navigating change and GIS' plans to "remain ahead of the puck"?- The legacy of the recent Women's World Cup?- Authenticity and building long term relationships and partnerships. - How students can future proof their careers in the game?Timestamps;00:00 - 04:30 - Intro04:31 - 12:49 - UCFB12:50 - 16:12 - Culture16:13 - 21:38 - Accessibility21:39 - 30:01 - Evolution30:02 - 42:50 - Women's World Cup42:51 - 47:14 - Partnerships47:15 - 53:26 - AdviceSharona's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonafriedman/GIS; https://gis.sport/
"Stop listening, start talking"IMG Academy is one of the world’s most prestigious sports, performance and educational institutions located in Bradenton, Florida. A unique campus allowing students to continue their studies alongside pursuing mastery in their chosen sport has already allowed many student athletes to fulfill their dreams of attaining a sports scholarship at university.And who better to take us inside it's doors than Director of Personal Development; Dr. Duncan Simpson. Previously Head of Mental Conditioning on campus, Dr.Duncan is responsible for creating the best conditions possible for the person behind the athlete to flourish. Here he shares his thoughts on topics such as mental toughness, the buy-in process regarding mental skills training, and the importance of training focus at the high school level.A fantastic episode steeped in gold, learn more as to how Dr.Duncan and his department continue to set their students up for the best possible success in and outside of sport. Listen to find out more including;- Dr.Duncan's view on "the game of life"?- How a high challenge, high support environment is not enough and teaching students the art of asking good questions.- Where athletes most commonly become stuck?- Teaching teenagers that they are part of a broader community and that they are not isolated individuals.- The five skills most crucial for prime mental performance?-How to train focus on an individual and team level?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:46 - Intro03:47 - 10:06 - Lifelong Success10:07 - 17:52 - Athletic Department17:53 - 22:10 - Inner Voice22:11 - 32:17 - Mental Performance32:18 - 36:27 - Self-Talk36:28 - 44:38 - Self-Growth44:39 - 46:55 - AdviceDr.Duncan's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-simpson-ph-d-cmpc-76244b1a/
Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Dominic Casciato is the Head Coach of Union Omaha. His continual upward trajectory has been no surprise given his journey to date. Taking calculated risks with an unquivering thirst to learn he is a shining example of a coach who has made successful transition from academy to first team.Thinking outside the box, integrating outside knowledge, learning a second language, coaching all age groups, Dominic has skipped no steps on his journey to first team coach. An inspirational listen and undoubtedly full of gold for coaches to implement in their own environments.Listen to find out more including;- How to be intentional with filling in your development gaps as a coach?- Why wearing many different hats as a coach may come to the deprivation of building your methodology. - How coaching in a second language improved Dom's ability as a communicator?- Building a culture of development at El Paso through an innovative cross border games programme.- How to surround yourself with good role models who cure blindspots?- Nadirs in a season and navigating them in your first managerial post.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:50 - Intro04:51 - 11:48 - Development11:49 - 18:10 - Espanyol18:11 - 23:46 - New York23:47 - 35:51 - El Paso35:52 - 45:06 - Union Omaha45:07 - 46:07 - Advice
Andoni Bombin is the Academy Manager at Independiente de Valle in Ecuador.Formerly the Head of Methodology and long time academy coach at Athletic Club de Bilbao, Andoni underwent a significant apprenticeship at home demonstrating how the values required for a successful career on field were equally transferable to a successful career away from it. Armed with this knowledge and it's proof in a never ending lineage of academy graduates Andoni used these learnings as a platform travelling worldwide to spread the Bilbao gospel. The apprentice has now become the master and Andoni all these years later has proven astute adapting to different contexts, managing expectations and in turn facilitating a knowledge exchange in the likes of China and Ecuador. Listen to find out more including;- Inside the unique culture for development at Bilbao.- The importance of providing players with autonomy in their own development.- How the phases of development align to ensure a constant conveyor belt of talent from academy to first team.- Why a coach cannot begin their journey without the clarity a direction brings. - The huge social purpose driving development at Independiente de Valle.- How IDV facilitate knowledge exchange amongst players and coaches in Ecuador?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:30 - Intro03:31 - 08:05 - Bilbao08:06 - 14:15 - Phases of Development14:16 - 24:53 - Learning24:54 - 29:56 - Pathway Progression29:57 - 36:37 - China36:38 - 48:13 - Ecuador48:14 - 54:14 - Holistic Development54:15 - 1:00:14 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"It took 1 hour to plan but 9 years to consistently implement it".Des Ryan is the Director of Coaching & Performance at Setanta College. Furthermore he was also the Head of Sports Medicine & Athletic Development from 2013-2021.Des is a leading practitioner in the field and is widely regarded for his body of work at Arsenal's academy. With the help of Arsene Wenger, Liam Brady and Colin Lewin, Des helped to build an athletic framework in line with the club's overarching football philosophy.Playing the infinite game of development, Des and his former colleagues still see the fruits of this labour to this very day with a significant proportion of academy graduates moving into first team football in Europe's top 5 leagues.This is truly a great listen as to the impact which an interdisciplinary team can achieve with the right vision, mission and values.Listen to find out more including;- How the football philosophy lives & breathes at Arsenal?- Implementation of the athletic development framework at Arsenal?- Distributing skin in the game to make the philosophy sticky.- How vision and mission align decision making from top down in an academy setting?- Des' tips for innovation and effecting change with limited resources. - Inside the physical development of Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:30 - Intro04:31 - 08:58 - Athletic Framework08:59 - 14:54 - "Strong Young Gunners"14:55 - 23:55 - Change23:56 - 32:44 - Culture of Growth32:45 - 48:08 - Inside the Programme48:09 - 52:23 - AdviceArsenal Research Paper; SCJ_Developing-world-class-players_2017.pdf (setantacollege.com)GAA Sports Science Paper; Launch of new Sports Science framework for Gaelic Games (gaa.ie)
Dave Clarke has been head coach of Quinnipiac college soccer for over 20 years.His journey to this point has been wholly encompassing and one in which he has left no stone unturned. Retaining that childhood passion for the game blended with a hunger for growth has ensured his longevity in the game on American shores.On his pathway to becoming a leading coach educator with US Soccer he has gained profound insight as to why he coaches and as to his own unique method of leadership. Advocating a life skills approach, Dave likens his overarching role within college to that of "surrogate parent" with no student athlete left behind. I was very fortunate to spend time in Dave's company hearing raw insight regarding his profession.Listen to find out more including;- Inside college soccer culture- How wholly encompassing is the life of a college soccer coach?- Leading as a player v leading as a coach.- How Dave guides players and staff through complexity and change?- What is of the utmost importance to get right in college recruitment?- Remaining curious as a coach educator and what his work is currently teaching him about himself?Timestamps;00:00 - 02:12 - Intro02:13 - 08:45 - US08:46 - 20:03 - College Soccer20:04 - 30:56 - Recruitment30:57 - 38:22 - US Soccer38:23 - 43:08 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Adam Lawrence is the head of player development for U13-U16 at Manchester United. Ever passionate and proactive, there has not been a single step skipped in his coaching journey.Hailing from south London Adam has gained recognition going above and beyond coaching across all age bands at clubs such as Millwall, Charlton and now Manchester United. Always in service of the player Adam offers us his lens as to what good coach education looks like, the pastoral care afforded by Manchester United and the preconditions required for success.Much like his own journey, shaped by tradition yet constantly looking to evolve, Adam takes us right inside the beating heart of one of the world's leaders in talent development.Listen to find out more including;- How does the environment of South London support the development of players?- The profound impact of a study trip to South America?- How Charlton leveraged Talent ID as a competitive advantage?- What separates the best coach developers?- Inside the unique culture for talent development at Man United.- Integrating Man United first team players into the youth development process.Timestamps;00:00 - 03:12 - Intro03:13 - 12:21 - Getting Reps12:22 - 21:46 - Talent ID21:47 - 27:12 - Head of Coaching27:13 - 39:32 - Man United39:33 - 44:28 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Matt Rizzetta is the Chairman of North Sixth Group, a family office operating company with investments in marketing, media, technology, sports and entertainment. A diversified portfolio yet there was not much one could prepare them for the purchase of Campobasso. 8 days out from their season start and no coach, players and a pitch covered in mushrooms. Yet in spite of this they achieved promotion in a season framed as "fame di rivincita".Part of a portfolio which also includes Ascoli FC and newly founded pro team in Brooklyn, Matt speaks about ultimately how passion and purpose fuels their investing pursuits. Listen to find out more including;- Motive to invest in football?- How they got Campobasso up and running operationally off the pitch and technically on it?- Their plans to diversify revenue streams in a bid to remain competitive.- Why bring professional soccer to the "underdog" borough of Brooklyn?-MCO's and how North Sixth Group's portfolio will evolve?Timestamps;00:00 - 05:41 - Intro05:42 - 19:21 - Campobasso19:22 - 26:56 - Brooklyn26:57 - 30:46 - MCO'sWebsite; https://northsixthgroup.com/
“Who you become as a result of the chase is the most important thing”One of the most transformational podcasts I have recorded to date. It was a pleasure to speak with Dr.Jim Loehr about his new book "Wise Decisions" and his brilliant work in the Sport Psychology sphere over the past 30 years!Utilising sport as a tool to impact others, "you get a life by giving it away." This purpose driven lens has flavoured Dr.Jim's work for the past 30 years. As one begins that journey of "coming home" they must learn best as to how to navigate that path.With the brain responsible for making 35,000 decisions a day, how can you harness this to coach you forward? It is after all the most important asset one can have. Furthermore why with every decision we take we either are getting closer or further to home?For all of those involved in Sports indeed what is presented to us here is an extraordinary opportunity and in an extraordinary time. Listen to find out more including;-What does it mean to repurpose sport to build character?- How does one begin the journey of "coming home"?- How does the brain makes decisions- What does Y.O.D.A stand for?- Having a dsyfunctional private voice and still being successful.- What is the best coach you could ever have?- How has this research impacted Dr.Jim's own life?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:04 - Intro03:05 - 16:10 - The End in Mind16:11 - 23:24 - Youth Performance23:25 - 34:25 - Wise Decisions34:26 - 40:49 - Inner Voice40:50 - 49:28 - Impact of research on him?49:29 - 52:40 - AdviceDr. Jim's Website; https://www.jim-loehr.com/Dr. Jim's Book; https://www.amazon.com/Wise-Decisions-Science-Based-Approach-Choices/dp/1119931401
Today I am joined by the Founding Partner of Elite Performance Partners; David Slemen. EPP help organisations and individuals within sport reach their potential. They have helped with the support and building of high performance teams at organisations such as The FA, Right to Dream, LTA and Leicester Tigers. For anyone interested in building the team behind the team this one is for you. Learn here as to how to unpick bias in the recruitment process, why experience can be overrated, how there is no "path" and how sustainable success ought to be at the forefront.Listen to find out more including;- Why football is sometimes slow to innovate?- How to balance long term planning and short term success?- The differences between the hiring process at Amazon and Lego?- What skillsets does the modern day technical director have?- The role of the "specialist generalist"?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:53 - Intro03:54 - 06:38 - Innovation06:39 - 12:46 - "Cultural Fit"12:47 - 22:10 - Unpicking Bias22:11 - 27:27 - Technical Director27:28 - 34:01 - Evolution34:02 - 36:06 - AdviceWebsite; https://eppglobal.com/TGG Article; https://trainingground.guru/articles/five-key-roles-for-high-performing-teams
"The world is not lacking in expertise and knowledge, it's lacking in the imagination in what to do with it." - Kevin KellyKirk Vallis is the Global Head of Creative Capability Development at Google. For years Kirk has worked in various different environments unlocking people's potential. However it was at Google where he faced a novel challenge where in their own words; "brilliant at being the smartest people, not always good at unlocking the smartest thinking".Fast forward 11 years, Google and it's employees have undergone quite the transformation. Not quite all plain sailing however through a first principles based approach combined with a desire for people to be at the centre of everything Google's slick operation has iterated once more. Learn as to amongst other things as to why expertise is overrated?, the difference between creative thought and eccentric thought, and one tool coaches can integrate into their training periodisation.Listen to find out more including;- The techniques and frameworks which you can start implementing to disrupt your thinking?- "Behaviour eats process for breakfast."- What is a "smart creative" at Google?- How has Kirk's creative process evolved?- Why ideas are overrated?- "You don't have to be serious to solve serious problems."Timestamps;00:00 - 03:16 - Intro03:17 - 06:00 - "Smart Creative"06:01 - 12:30 - Google12:31 - 21:49 - Changing the Problem21:50 - 33:27 - "To Think About Lists"33:28 - 43:17 - Football43:18 - 48:36 - AI
Neil Banfield is currently the Rangers first team assistant coach. Like many of the players he has coached over 30+ years in the game he has undergone quite a journey himself. A widely respected expert in player development and migration Neil's views of the game were largely molded by the 20+ years he spent at Arsenal.Alongside the likes of Arsene Wenger and Liam Brady, Neil was part of the coaching cohort that put together the infamous Elite Development Group which has formed the backbone of a successful number of graduates for Arsenal's first team. Here in this episode you will learn as to how the strength of a club's youth structure really is the underpinning of everything. Learn as to how Neil's career has come full circle now as he assists a former player of his in Michael Beale at Rangers. An unwavering passion for developing better people alongside footballers there are nuggets galore in this one.Listen to find out more including;- The importance of not skipping any steps in 0ne's coaching journey.- What exactly is "The Arsenal Way"?- How Arsenal consistently produced players year in year out?- Knowing when players are ready to step up to first team level.- Person first mentality when it comes to youth development.-Vieira, Arteta and Wilshere - why it's not always clear as to why certain players make the step up to management?-How does the Old Firm compare to the North London derby?Timestamps;00:00 - 04:30 - Intro04:31 - 08:17 - Arsenal08:18 - 19:11 - Elite Development Group19:12 - 23:31 - Players > Teams23:32 - 32:12 - Wenger32:13 - 35:39 - Where are they now?35:40 - 41:58 - Rangers41:59 - 46:24 - Love for the game46:25 - 51:15 - Advice
Growing up with an unbridled joy for the game, climbing through the ranks of professional coaching staffs at a young age, Alessandro Davite has soon become one of the names to know in Italian analysis circles. Being able to adapt to different contexts, Alessandro has propelled himself forward in a career where there is nothing given. A student of the game, his observations and insights have been absorbed by a list of managers including Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Luciano Spalletti and Mauricio Sarri. Enjoy this conversation with one of Italy's brightest footballing minds.Listen to find out more including;- The changing point of analysis in Italian football.- Versatility and adapting to the different demands of Antonio Conte and Luciano Spalletti. - How rigorous the routine of a match analyst in European competition's exactly is?- Inside the pressure cooker of working at Inter Milan.- The tactical evolution of Serie A in the past few seasons.- Working with Mourinho and what makes him so special?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:54 - Intro03:55 - 08:02 - The Role08:03 - 16:35 - Inter Milan16:36 - 21:24 - Serie A21:25 - 27:09 - Tactical Evolution27:10 - 33:03 - Mourinho33:04 - 37:30 - AdviceAlessandro's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/alessandro-davite-70a096b3/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Spielverlagerung is a world renowned tactical analysis platform. One of the key protagonists behind it's rapid ascent has been Martin Rafelt. What started out as a mere hobby soon became a passion with their work attracting the gaze of Thomas Tuchel among others. Obtaining experience coaching soon flavoured Martin's work in analysis, constantly building his football network. Years later the success arc of the platform has gone full circle with Martin amongst many others educating patrons through their new academy and podcast platforms. It was a joy to speak with Martin and hear his views as to a myriad of topics from the importance of networks, environmental design for youth development, simple v hard practices and so much more.Listen to find out more including;- The connection between coaching and analysis?- Why football is universally popular?- Spielverlagerung; early days and how it has evolved.- Thomas Tuchel & opposition analysis at Mainz.- What is at the core of football tactics?- Simple v Hard continiuum when it comes to youth development.Timestamps;00:00 - 06:16 - Intro06:17 - 14:55 - Spielverlagerung14:56 - 17:37 - Tuchel17:38 - 23:57 - Coaching23:58 - 30:40 - Role Models30:41 - 40:59 - Hajduk Split41:00 - 54:06 - Tactics54:07 - 56:12 - AdviceMartin's Twitter; https://twitter.com/martinrafelt?lang=enSV Academy; https://spielverlagerung.com/sv-academy/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Being talented is no longer enough. The game now demands more of players and they need to be intelligent to understand the game. Teams with more intelligent players are harder to play against because they're far less predictable," - Javier Mascherano.Slawek Morawski better known as "Mindfootballness" to his audience is an avid student of the game. With the game being the best teacher there is no shortage of content for Slawek to explore. Investing his time and energy into the player development process, Slawek has learned over time that knowledge only has true value when shared with others. This has been an iterative and interactive process with has included presenting to a whole host of federations alongside working individually with some of football's best known stars. Listen to find out more including;- How Slawek views individual development?- The challenge of retaining creativity amongst players?- Some of the gaps which Slawek believes exists in training methodology?- Are intuitive players valued appropriately in modern football?- How IDP work differs between in season and off season?- Why small details make all the difference with big players.Timestamps;00:00 - 03:33 - Intro03:34 - 09:35 - Individual Development09:36 - 15:09 - Intelligence & Decision Making15:10 - 20:56 - Intuition20:57 - 37:16 - Small details & Big players37:17 - 47:55 - Learning Process47:56 - 53:07 - Body Orientation53:08 - 56:14 - AdviceSlawek's Twitter; https://twitter.com/slawekmorawski/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"There is no universal truth, only one's own path"Adrien Tarascon is a name many will be familiar with in French football and beyond. Renowned for his work in individual development Adrien holds a unique role balancing the bigger picture for player development in the midst of the unquenchable taste for short term success in elite European football.Creating a competency model per position stacked with KPI's under Tuchel, gamifying the process and in the process fine tuning relationships between players such as Mbappe and their metrics it is little wonder why PSG were the envy of top European clubs for their approach to data. Furthermore here we discuss where the future of player development lies, the common characteristics Adrien sees in top performers and what sets Thomas Tuchel and his staff apart from the other coaches which he was worked under.Listen to find out more including;- How a varied skillset created a niche in data scouting?- Data scouting and how it effected Mbappe's position on the field?- How the breakthrough in player development occurred at PSG?- Learning the methodical approach of Tuchel & Emery- Data tuning & enhancing player trading value- Adrien's gripe with learning models in footballTimestamps;00:00 - 03:16 - Intro03:17 - 08:58 - Data Scouting08:59 - 14:45 - Communication14:46 - 21:41 - Player Development21:42 - 28:14 - Data Tuning28:15 - 33:56 - Adaptability33:57 - 35:35 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Playing the long game, investing in it's youth, breaking down barriers citywide it is fair to say today's guest Nick Mulvaney and Chicago City soccer club have not skipped any steps in transitioning between academy to first team level. Competing with the Chicago sports scene, City have had to be different and it is in community in which they have found their competitive advantage. Through alignment between academy and first team in the process individualising each player and staff's development pathway, City have been applauded for their investment in people. Learn here how Nick seeks to expand on this with community at the forefront.Listen to find out more including;- How Chicago City break down barriers in the local community?- Player development beyond the elite players.- Managing expectations with parents through individualising pathways and development.- What is their competitive advantage versus other sports teams in the city?- How thorough their squad and succession planning is for their USL teams.- Plans for future growth and expansion within Chicago.Timestamps;00:00 - 02:36 - Intro02:37 - 09:21 - Chicago City09:22 - 17:01 - Player Development17:02 - 24:05 - USL24:06 - 32:23 - Inspirations & Learning32:24 - 37:31 - AdviceNick' LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-mulvaney-7b68a127/Chicago City; https://www.chicagocitysoccerclub.com/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
Recently it was a pleasure to spend time in the company of one of the game's most renowned youth developers in Paul McGuinness. With 20+ years at Manchester United Paul oversaw 90 academy prospects making their first team United debut with 20+ playing international football. A childhood impacted by the spin of the ball, Paul seeks to speak to the child in coaches and players with his approach to individual development within the team environment. A very important episode for those who are invested in the training process.Listen to find out more including;- The culture behind youth development at Man United.- Why modern football is not the most stable environment for development.- Sir Alex Ferguson and the art of connection.- The individual approach within the team context.- "What is tactically feasible must be technically possible."Timestamps;00:00 - 03:27 - Intro03:28 - 09:52 - Man United09:53 - 13:19 - Sir Alex Ferguson13:20 - 24:50 - Inter Disciplinary Approach24:51 - 31:22 - Rashford's Development31:23 - 39:29 - Understanding the player39:30 - 47:21 - Evolution47:22 - 51:19 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
"Football is the vehicle but what we are doing is helping people to triumph in life."Mental skills are often an undervalued part of elite sport. The harsh lessons from a short career in the game informed today's guest's journey through the sport. Dr.Ceri Bowley is the former Head of Methodology at City Football Group and ex Rangers First Team Coach. Fresh from finishing up at Rangers Dr.Ceri joined me today to reflect on his career to date with a huge emphasis on how we as coaches ensure lifelong learning never stops for the athlete.Through consistent support and challenge learn from Dr,Ceri as to how we can make success inevitable in our circles, why the best answers exist beyond the performance environment and why the most optimal approach is usually "as individual as possible, as specific as possible and as often as possible".A lot to takeaway in this one.Listen to find out more including;- How struggling with psychology as a young player fuelled a desire to learn beyond the pitch.- Understanding the person to unlock potential.- "Personal stability leads to consistent performance."- What does effective practice look like?- His take on Cody Royle's quote regarding "coach optimization is the biggest barrier to success in team sport".- Working for the global behemoth that is City Football Group.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:38 - Intro04:39 - 13:21 - Unlocking Potential13:22 - 18:09 - Individual Focus18:10 - 25:03 - City Football Group25:04 - 29:16 - Coach Support29:17 - 32:35 - Rangers32:36 - 42:26 - Technical Director42:27 - 45:30 - AdviceCeri's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ceri-bowley-cmgr-mcmi-37b26048/Ceri's Twitter; https://twitter.com/ceribowley?lang=enGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
The best Technical Directors in Football need to be solution minded. With a "360 Skillset" complimented by a buffet of experiences across various corners of the world Mads Davidsen is well renowned in football circles for his strategizing and execution behind the scenes.Seeking a position not just contingent on Saturday's results? Found it.Searching for the book he wanted to read on Football strategy? Wrote it.Finding a club that plays the "infinite game"? A never ending journey of exploring purpose combined with good mentors along the way has made for quite the career arc. As Mads settles into his new role as "Head of Football" for Right to Dream he joined me to discuss his journey to date and why this role "adds percentages otherwise unexplored."Listen to find out more including;- How has Mads' why changed over time?- How Sven Goran Eriksson altered the trajectory of Mads' career?- The influence of Andre Villas-Boas & Vítor Pereira. - Laying foundations for success at Al Jazirra.- Writing the book he was searching to read.- Inside RTD and how the mission underpins everything.- What is required of the modern day coach?Timestamps;00:00 - 02:10 - Intro02:11 - 11:36 - Why?11:37 - 16:03 - Mentors16:04 - 28:03 - How hard can it be?28:04 - 36:33 - Right to DreamMads' Twitter; https://twitter.com/MadsReDavidsen?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor"How hard can it be?" Book; https://www.amazon.com/How-Hard-Can-Mads-Davidsen-ebook/dp/B09F2WPKPY/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=how+hard+can+it+be%3F&qid=1670882377&sr=8-9Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie
As the 2023 Mina Cup gets underway this weekend I was delighted to sit down with it's founder; Chris Brown for a wide ranging chat on it's inception and place within Dubai football. Chris is someone who has had a front row seat at the heart of Dubai's growth and it's footballing industry over the past 19 years. In our 40 minute chat learn more about the origins of the Mina Cup, what the UAE can do better in relation to youth development and the growth of CBF.Listen to find out more including;- Transitioning into life post playing.- Building a business in Dubai and the challenges which that entails.- What fans can expect to see from the Mina Cup this April?- The growth of CBF and it's footing within UAE football.- How the UAE can reform youth development within the region?Timestamps;00:00 - 06:21 - Intro06:22 - 12:14 - Dubai12:15 - 20:06 - CBF20:07 - 30:09 - Mina Cup30:10 - 36:55 - UAE Football36:56 - 40:16 - AdviceChris' LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brown-57139b14/CBF; https://cbfootballmanagement.com/
"It is in destabilization and movement and not stability and fixedness that reality finds opportunities to develop in interesting and unpredictable ways".
Argentina's recent World Cup success represented a shift in the eco system of World Football. Football after all is a cultural expression however lately the local forces in which the game emerged have been usurped by global idealism as to how the game ought to be played. "Without a vibrant, bubbling multiplicity of footballing realities interacting with each other the game becomes stagnant, mineralised in its current state, fossilised and frozen in time." The Argentine's crowning glory saw the universalization of the European positionist approach meeting "La Nuestra" (our way) of the Argentinian's and came up short.
Is this triumph of localism a one off success?
Is it happening elsewhere?
Have we reached Year Zero and the dawn of a new beginning?
Esteemed tactics writer and football coach; Jamie Hamilton joins me to discuss all the above and so much more.
Listen to find out more including;
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The issue with treating football tactics as a problem to be solved.
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Juanma Lillo and the homogenisation of football.
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How people misconstrue Total Football?
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Fluminense, Napoli and the dawn of a new era.
-Messi, Van Gaal and the altercation which encapsulates the tension between two counter schools of football.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:43 - Intro
05:44 - 11:42 - Theory v Practice
11:43 - 15:55 - Consumption of Football
15:56 - 23:15 - Total Football
23:16 - 31:30 - Relationist Approach
31:31 - 43:02 - La Nuestra
43:03 - 49:41 - New Age
49:42 - 58:04 - Coaching
Jamie's Twitter; https://twitter.com/stirling_j?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Jamie's Medium; https://medium.com/@stirlingj1982
Four Nations Football Consulting are a Barcelona-based international consulting company founded by experienced professionals, who hail from Europe, Middle East and Africa. Coming from different nations and cultures and through their network of contacts, collaborators and partners, they provide a wealth of international business experience and football knowledge. Today I had the pleasure to be joined by their co-founder and managing partner; Guillermo Perez. We discussed a range of topics from the current investment climate, multi-club ownership schemes to sustainability in football.
Listen to find out more including;
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How their investment advisory services work?
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The extensive market analysis and due diligence which occurs before proceeding with an investment.
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Why European clubs are specifically attractive for US investors?
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MCO's; general trends, advantages and disadvantages.
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Is Financial Fair Play dead? or does the regulation need tweaking?
-FC Barcelona and their financial levers.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:37 - Intro
03:38 - 06:37 - Investment Advisory
06:38 - 12:49 - Due Diligence
12:50 - 20:03 - MCO's
20:04 - 32:32 - FFP
32:33 - 34:17 - Advice
Website; https://www.fournations.football/
"I don't want to know everything of one thing, I want to know one thing of everything."
Jeroen Peters is today's guest on "The Lowdown". As someone who is responsible for overseeing the high performance department at FC Utrecht the job is becoming increasingly more and more cross disciplinary. As the game evolves continuously through innovation and technology there has been sometimes a disregard for the humane element of the game. The small steps to change a culture begin in house and the energy transferred amongst colleagues. Discomfort is inevitable yet there is magic going through it as a team. With a shared end in mind there is no limit to what a group can achieve.
Listen to find out more including;
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Detaching self from the bigger picture and see the nitty gritty details.
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Where you begin bringing a performance philosophy into a team?
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A performance culture invested in developing the professional and the individual.
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Why and how the process of 1% gains emanates from working together towards a shared goal?
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Why the art of good conversation looks hard on content soft on people.
-
How in house departments are preparing for the next evolution of the game.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:12 - Intro
06:13 - 09:30 - High Performance
09:31 - 17:00 - Culture
17:01 - 23:15 - GRIT
23:16 - 33:15 - 1% gains
33:16 - 42:01 - Game demands
42:02 - 44:16 - Advice
Delighted today to share the 100th episode of “The Lowdown” with a special recording with the Academy Director of New York Red Bulls; Sean McCafferty. One of the world's leaders in youth development sharing insight regarding their work. In this conversation find out why their identity won't be a crutch as the game evolves, their methodology behind developing young players and Sean's own investment in the area which he believes lies the largest room for growth in the game.
Being an expert in patience without sacrificing the Red Bull identity of intensity.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Their methodology behind youth development
-
The unique competitive advantages behind the economies of scale of a multi club network.
-
How they accelerated development through the professionalisation of the environment?
-
What steps are they taking to ensure the programme evolves to develop more whole rounded players?
-
Why we will return to player on the street?
-
The next big frontier for youth development.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:54 - Intro
03:55 - 08:27 - Barca
08:28 - 12:11 - Red Bull
12:12 - 24:05 - Training model
24:06 - 32:49 - Cognitive development
32:50 - 36:47 - Game demands
36:48 - 41:40 - Old wine in new bottles
41:41 - 43:50 - Advice
Bostonians hold their sports teams to a very high standard. To compete against some of America’s successful franchises could be seen as a terrible weight to burden however for New England Revolution they see it as a competitive advantage. Cathal Conlon is todays guest on “The Lowdown”. As MLS has continually grown to become a league of choice there have been changing expectations to contend with. With the Apple TV deal, 2024 Copa America and a 2026 World Cup all on the horizon listen to how Cathal's role as Vice President has evolved since taking the helm. Furthermore we discuss a range of topics from fan identity, the changing sphere of players attracted to the league, MLS growth in untapped markets and so much more.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Fan identity & Boston Sports.
-
MLS becoming a league of choice.
-
Engaging fans through the logo changing process.
-
Impact of Apple TV deal on MLS finances and scheduling.
-
What will the defining legacy of the 2026 World Cup on North American soil?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:20 - Intro
04:21 - 07:03 - Boston Sports
07:04 - 14:55 - MLS
14:56 - 22:31 - New Markets
22:32 - 26:17 - Growth
26:18 - 34:15 - Future
34:16 - 36:42 - Advice
From appointing Mauricio Pochettino to signing Virgil Van Dijk and working alongside Ryan Reynolds it’s fair to say Les Reed has seen it all in football. Being one of few coaches to coach all underage England teams before managing Charlton in the Premier League he was well versed in understanding the organisational ebbs and flows of a top flight sports group prior to making the jump to the Sporting Director role. Here Les takes us through the journey of helping bring Southampton from League One to a regular top 10 side in the Premier League. A journey built on personality and credibility, Les is now passing on the lessons of his top flight experience to the Hollywood custodians at Wrexham.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The evolution of the Sporting Director role.
-
Changing recruitment strategy at Southampton.
-
The art and science of succession planning.
-
Inside Mauricio Pochettino's interview process.
-
"Turning potential into excellence".
-
Inside the Wrexham boardroom.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 27:14 - Sporting Director
27:15 - 47:39 - Southampton
47:40 - 1:01:43 - Van Dijk & Mane
1:01:44 - 1:16:30 - Pochettino
1:16:31 - 1:27:16 - Wrexham
1:27:17 - 1:29:21 - Advice
Growing up on a small island off the coast of mainland Colombia, Carlos Ortiz had a dream to travel and explore the world. Utilizing football as a tool to connect with and empower others Carlos realized that dream and more. Retaining that childhood sense of curiosity Carlos embarked on a journey that has yet to run it's course. Fortunately for us he took some time out to share some of the gold he has collected of that expedition. Carlos' story is a lesson to all of us involved in football, not to take a single day for granted and take care of the child within who fell in love with the game.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How visualization played such a prominent role in Carlos' playing career.
-
Playing experiences in South Korea, US, Costa Rica, Australia and Greece.
-
Why did Carlos leave a playing career to transition into coaching?
-
The biggest area for growth in developing professional footballers?
-
How Carlos advises aspiring coaches and players to deal with the inevitable highs and lows of a career in the game?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:00 - Intro
05:01 - 12:01 - Perspective
12:02 - 19:16 - South Korea
19:17 - 26:04 - US & Costa Rica
26:05 - 36:27 - Coaching
36:28 - 45:19 - Journaling
45:20 - 50:19 - Austin FC
50:20 - 1:01:50 - Sports Psychology
1:01:51 - 1:04:53 - Advice
Following eight years leading the "personal" side of professional and academy football, both male and female, at Brighton & Hove Albion, Sue Parris now works mainly with elite athletes, and their support networks, facilitating their emotional and mental health development. Recently she co authored a paper alongside Paul Mortimer called "The Boy in the Man’s Mask" which is the analysis of a collection of voices from inside the football Academy environment, U18s, U23s and staff, who shared their experiences with through face-to-face interviews. The results of which were intriguing to say the least.
What we discussed included;
-
Unique characteristics of young footballers in comparison to their sporting peers.
-
Is there a misunderstanding of what development means in academy environments?
-
The fear and anxiety which young players feel living in the future.
-
At what level does the prevention work need to be done?
-
Should the role of coach be redefined?
-
What is the side of football which comes to threaten to destroy what we love?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 12:23 - Research
12:24 - 22:03 - "Fear in Football"
22:04 - 26:56 - Coaching Cultures
26:57 - 36:17 - Unheard Voices
36:18 - 45:05 - Pre-Care
45:06 - 52:07 - Future
52:08 - 54:26 - Advice
Sue's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-parris-b2120666/
"Those who look for the road don't get lost" is an old Finnish proverb. Having worked in different regions including South Africa, USA, Qatar and Scandinavia Jyri Nieminen has used football as a vehicle to lean into different cultures, unpacking another layer of himself each time in the process. Jyri's holistic view of the world has informed his views of the game and the goalkeeping position within it. Now responsible as head of goalkeeping for New York Red Bulls Jyri takes us through this unique and specialist position.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Turning back on playing for a coaching career.
-
A deep period of introspection in Buenos Aries.
-
Acclimatizing into different cultures.
-
Keeping identity in the work.
-
Where Jyri sees the goalkeeping position evolving?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:55 - Intro
03:56 - 09:56 - Curiosity
09:57 - 17:58 - Acclimatization
17:59 - 25:54 - Coaching
25:55 - 31:37 - Modern Game
31:38 - 37:46 - Evolution
37:47 - 46:47 - Growth
46:48 - 48:45 - Advice
Stuart Lancaster is the senior coach of Leinster Rugby. Here he lifts the lid behind the day to day in their high performance environment. With an insatiable appetite for growth and development learn here how Stuart balances growth with performance. Amid the background of a relentless elite sporting calendar Stuart reflects on his career to date with a special emphasis on the last seven seasons at Leinster. Here Stuart takes us through the art of good leadership, sustaining a high performance culture. understanding the peaks and troughs of the "performance clock" among so much more.
Listen to find out more including;
-
What does a typical day look like?
-
The process of getting to player led ownership.
-
Balancing growth with performance.
-
Learning from different sports and industries.
-
Biggest challenge facing leaders today?
-
Managing the "performance clock" of elite level sport.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:35 - Day to Day
06:36 - 14:17 -" Performance Clock"
14:18 - 20:48 - Culture
20:49 - 31:40 - Reflection
31:41 - 33:48 - Advice
“What is football?”
Marcel Lucassen is the technical director of the UAE FA. Marcel is a firm advocate that better players need better coaches and it is within this lens Marcel views the game. In this episode we speak about coaching and how it has evolved through the lens of his experience in the game. Marcel's evolution as a coach has coincided with him taking top leadership positions at the likes of the DFB, KNVB and Arsenal. Here he takes us through how he has successfully managed to instigate change and ignite new processes within a host of different cultures.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How early moments of intrigue led him down the coaching path?
-
Innovating and achieving buyin amongst staff.
-
Coaching the individual player within the team context.
-
What is football?
-
Why do football coaches need constant evolvement.
-
Leading change at the DFB and raising awareness at Arsenal.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:24 - Intro
09:25 - 19:00 - Evolving
19:01 - 28:07 - What is Football?
28:08 - 42:30 - German Football
42:31 - 52:14 - Leadership
52:15 - 1:12:48 - The next evolution
This Sunday, December 18th a date with destiny beckons for Didier Deschamps' French side and Lionel Scaloni's Argentine squad as they compete in the 22nd FIFA World Cup Final. Liam Tharme joins me to preview this titanic clash.
Among what we discussed included;
-
Standout trends from this World Cup.
-
Responding to Jorge Valdano & Juanma Lillo criticisms of the modern game.
-
The reinvention of Antoine Griezmann.
-
Lionel Messi and a date with destiny.
-
A case for the immortalisation of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Scaloni post Sunday.
-
Where the game will be won and lost tactically?
-
Our team, young player and player of the tournament.
Liam's Twitter;https://twitter.com/LiamTharmeCoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Andre Zanotta is the Chief Soccer Officer & Technical Director of FC Dallas. Having just come off the back of their best finish to a season since 2016 Andre joined me to speak about his own and the club's journey to date. Protecting the long term vision of a club amid the relentless grind of modern day football is no mean feat however it is something which Andre has become accustomed to in his role as Technical Director. Join us as we converse about the insides of Neymar's world breaking transfer, building a high performance unit destined for continental success and the realities of living inside the pressure cooker of two of Brazil's biggest clubs. In the never ending pursuit of continuous growth and learning Andre is certainly playing the infinite game.
Listen to find out more including;
-
The realities of being a top flight sporting director.
-
Managing expectations in the short and long term.
-
Inside Neymar's record breaking transfer to Barcelona.
-
How Gremio built a team destined for success?
-
How FC Dallas protect their player development pathways?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 02:46 - Intro
02:47 - 12:42 - The Role
12:43 - 22:49 - Santos
22:50 - 28:53 - Neymar Transfer
28:54 - 32:45 - Gremio
32:46 - 44:11 - High Performance
44:12 - 1:02:52 - Pathways
1:02:53 - 1:06:23 - Advice
"Vision as a doorway to performance"
Okkulo use the eyes as the doorway to improve an athlete's economy of movement. Having the vision the turn the marginal gains of athletes into exceptional gains, CEO & Founder Mel O'Connor offers us insight into their work. Learn more as to how Okkulo was shaped in and outside of the lab over a 20 year period with innovation and a willingness to succeed at the forefront. Already operating amid a range of sports including football, basketball, cricket, Mel and I spoke about the technology's functionality and where he sees technology and sport intersecting in the future.
Listen to find out more including;
-
How it took 20 years for Mel to realize his calling.
-
Teambuilding at the speed of change.
-
The relentless pursuit of overcoming obstacles.
-
How the technology impacts performance ?
-
What has been the major hurdle in entering the football industry?
-
Taking on feedback and working in tandem with clubs.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:50 - Intro
05:51 - 11:27 - Vision
11:28 - 16:52 - Exceptional Gains
16:53 - 26:40 - Innovation
26:41 - 29:26 - Advice
Okkulo YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@okkuloltd1973
Okkulo Website; https://www.okkulo.com/
Michael Brown is the Head of Performance at FK Bodø/Glimt where he is embarking upon the start of his fourth season at the club. Here he lifts the lid on their fairytale, how one club in the Artic Circle has managed to defy the odds and consistently compete with some of Europe's best. Lifting the lid on what happens behind the scenes, we are offered a glimpse into how strongly knit together the club and community is. Learn how what some may perceive as a weakness has been embraced by the club as a competitive advantage and how alignment and consistency of message has guarded their ascent.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Considerations upon taking a new job.
-
What unique constraints to High Performance are posed by their location?
-
Intricacies behind support staff management.
-
Purposeful planning for domestic and continental fixtures.
-
What high performance and culture means to Michael?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:00 - Intro
03:01 - 10:04 - Bodø/Glimt
10:05 - 19:37 - Adapt & Overcome
19:38 - 27:10 - High Performance
27:11 - 32:51 - Advice
Professor Simon Chadwick is the a Professor of Sport & Geopolitical Economy at Skema Business School in Paris. Throughout his career he has studied the impact of geopolitics on the beautiful game. Increasingly over the past decade and as part of his studies he has spent a lot more time outside of Europe exploring regions where there is government involvement and football is used as "nation building". Ahead of the World Cup kickoff Simon joined me to discuss how football has evolved over the last 30 years to the point now where it is now unrecognisable to the game which he found in his youth.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Where did football and "nation building" begin?
-
Brazil and how football can shape a global narrative.
-
Insight into FIFA's navigation through the complexity of a changing world.
-
Where is transnational governance headed to combat the hyper-commercialization of football?
-
Baking a bigger cake to satisfy the voracious appetite for football.
-
Is football beyond repair?
“Recruitment is the most bullet proof way to run a club”.
What does this look like in a football club ? Furthermore who is responsible ?
The Sporting Director role for a long time has held an element of mystique in footballing circles. Better known as the first lieutenant of the ownership, these professionals often go under the radar. Some are masters in player trading others in straight talent arbitrage while often utilizing their exhaustive contacts book to be first in the race for gathering information. In a job where success cannot even be accurately measured find out why paying another £60 million in the hope of certainty may actually be worth it. To bring us through the lay of the land there is no one better than Davide Igono (@undervalu). Listen to find out more including;
-
Defining the role of a Sporting Director.
-
Why fit & alignment is crucial?
-
How the role differs at "player development" clubs such as Dortmund, RB Salzburg & Bilbao?
-
Why talent arbitrage is a harder science to master than player trading?
-
What sporting directors are doing now to be first in the information race?
-
How the position of a sporting director will evolve over the coming years?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 12:05 - Intro
12:06 - 22:55 - Sporting Director
22:56 - 31:30 - Player Development
31:31 - 43:31 - Talent Arbitrage
43:32 - 51:32 - Race for Talent
51:33 - 1:04:58 - Success
1:04:59 - 1:11:40 - Future
1:11:41 - 1:19:34 - Advice
Davide's Twitter; https://twitter.com/undervalu
Davide's Website; https://undervalu.gr8.com/
David Tenney is the High Performance Director for Austin FC and has spent almost two decades in elite performance roles in the MLS and NBA. David has worked for two MLS expansion franchises helping build high performance units alongside working in the NBA and completing a PhD on organizational leadership. In this episode we speak about building the preconditions to adapt at the speed of change, how US soccer has evolved and the future of high performance.
Furthermore what we discussed included;
-
The Dutch influence on his football beliefs.
-
How David defines high performance?
-
Evolving at the speed of change with Seattle Sounders.
-
The 80/20 rule when it comes to analysing and application of football data.
-
How organisational leadership differs between sports and demographics?
-
Inside Austin FC's successful season.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:56 - Periodisation
05:57 - 11:52 - Seattle Sounders
11:53 - 20:02 - Building a team
20:03 - 28:00 - NBA
28:01 - 33:21 - Austin FC
33:22 - 36:49 - Advice
David's Twitter; https://twitter.com/davetenney
“If something means everything to you, then you go above and beyond”.
Marc Pugh is one of very few footballers to have played and scored in all top five tiers of English football. From the National League to the Premier League with Bournemouth Marc reached the pinnacle of top flight football. Moving up through the divisions Marc soon discovered the consistent key differentiator was an investment in his own performance.
Embarking down the path of a continuous education and investigating his own curiosities regarding nutrition Marc never stood still and ensured he remained playing at the top. Now in his current guise as “The Foodie Footballer” here he is paying forward the lessons of a career to the next generation.
Furthermore we discussed;
-
Secrets behind a successful career in the game?
-
The percentages to getting to the top and staying there?
-
How exactly recovery is linked to nutrition?
-
“Feeling better at 34 than he did at 22”.
-
The birth of “The Foodie Footballer”.
-
Compound effect in the power of investing in your own performance.
-
The one biggest nutrition belief Marc has changed his mind on?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:50 - Intro
04:51 - 08:02 - Nutrition
08:03 - 14:52 - Accountability & Routine
14:53 - 21:36 - Foodie Footballer
21:37 - 30:47 - Football Fuel
30:48 - 36:06 - Evolution
36:07 - 39:24 - Advice
Marc's Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/thefoodiefootballer/?hl=en
Marc's Twitter; https://twitter.com/marcpugh7
How do you envisage retirement? Setting off sail into the sunset? Winning the lottery?
For professional athletes that idyllic image can feel far removed and it can be quite a messy process.
And what if it's taken from you overnight?
Gareth Farrelly's life was turned upside down by a serious illness at just 32. Afterwards the former Everton, Aston Villa, Bolton and Ireland international was set down a path all too familiar with those in the footballing world which all made for a inconspicuous exit away from the game several years later.
Being strategic, leveraging lessons learned from challenging times Gareth soon came out the other side. Now Gareth leads a life of purpose in his new identity as a solicitor. Throughout this episode you too will be able to hear the never ending journey of education Gareth is on which permeates through our conversation. It was fascinating and a genuine privilege to hear Gareth's nuanced perspective on the game. Furthermore we discussed;
-
A breakdown of the external and internal challenges which footballers face?
-
Football as a reflection of society.
-
Starting at the bottom of the right ladder.
-
The concerted need to think beyond 'low resolution' in footballing circles.
-
Why we need to ask ourselves is the view worth the climb?
-
The fantastic work of Player 4 Player.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:43 - Early Years
03:44 - 10:52 - The Industry
10:53 - 24:28 - Retirement
24:29 - 27:35 - Law
27:36 - 31:08 - Values
31:09 - 38:49 - Player 4 Player
38:50 - 41:09 - Future
41:10 - 45:07 - Advice
Gareth's Twitter;https://twitter.com/garethfarrelly1?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Recently I was delighted to be joined by The Athletic's Liam Tharme to breakdown the current Premier League campaign. From changes in the dugout to on the field, the narrowing quality gap and the ever evolving nature of the game there are no shortage of talking points. Listen to learn out why there has been a huge dropoff in the number of throughballs, which new manager has already conceded his philosophy for the greater good and so much more. We also discussed;
-
What Chelsea fans can expect to see of Graham Potter?
-
How soon should a managerial reign be evaluated?
-
How have Man City have adapted to Erling Haaland?
-
Why Liverpool have stagnated?
-
Has the quality gap ever been as narrower in the Premier League?
-
Who is most likely to break into the top 6?
-
The trends which characterise the evolution of football.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:31 - Intro
03:32 - 09:08 - Potter
09:09 - 14:55 - Ten Hag
14:56 - 19:34 - Man City & Haaland
19:35 - 23:30 - Liverpool
23:31 - 29:11 - Quality Gap
29:12 - 35:20 - Evolution of Football
35:21 - 40:36 - Death of the Throughball
40:37 - 43:35 - World Cup
43:36 - 45:14 - Advice
Liam's Twitter;https://twitter.com/LiamTharmeCoach?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
“Creativity is to find the rule and break it”.
Recently appointed as Kansas City's head of coaching, Gerard Jones has leveraged curiosity as a force multiplier in his career to date. Traversing continents in the search of knowledge and experiences to help shape the future player and coach. The mixture of an innate passion for the game alongside surrounding himself with the best ensured success was inevitable. In the midst of Gerard's persistent quest to educate and improve himself and those around him I was delighted to share in his accompany for an hour dissecting many facets of the game including;
-
Translating curiosity into actionable insights which inform your coaching.
-
The lengths and extents to which Gerard went to build a career in the game?
-
Detailing the shift in coaching profiles coming through the game?
-
Sensemaking in a VUCA world.
-
What does the future game look like?
-
Why is “Football coaching is an art underpinned by science”?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 14:50 - Intro
14:51 - 25:38 - Pracademic
25:39 - 37:10 - Player Development
37:11 - 47:08 - Cultural Considerations
47:09 - 53:46 - Innovation
53:47 - 1:00:20 - US v UK?
1:00:21 - 1:01:48 - Advice
Ulearnably ; https://ulearnbly.com/get-app
Gerard's Twitter; https://twitter.com/GerardJones?refsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
“You cannot see something right or wrong, there are observations of tactical patterns, it's about being more effective than the other side in the way you want to play.”
Max Bergmann of Hallescher FC made headlines earlier this year becoming one of the youngest coaches ever to manage a coach in German football history at 24 years old. Here he discusses his (young) career to date detailing how he found his passion for football in the form of analysis. Taking on multiple responsibilities has only supercharged his development in the game. Beginning as a writer for Total Football Analysis Max produced outstanding tactical content whilst in the same process educating himself and others. Fascinating listen with a coach I am sure we will continue to hear more of in the coming years.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Building integrity as a young coach.
-
Creating tactical content to educate self and others.
-
What Max looks for in analyzing a game?
-
Maximizing out on roles and responsibilities in the third division.
-
Why there is a continuous pipeline of young German coaches?
-
Overcoming stereotypes in professional football.
Max' Twitter; https://twitter.com/maxbergmnn?lang=en
“If I don't take that opportunity, someone else will”.
Andy Parslow is the first team set piece coach at Swansea City. At the time of recording he was just after completing his final season with AFC Wimbledon. Rising through the academy pathway Andy has made a career out of his passion, rising to the challenge in the stomping ground of the EFL. As the topic of set pieces continues to populate football speak, Andy has been recognised as of one of the finest in the UK. Here in this episode he shares with us his whole process from achieving buyin, design & implementation to the feedback cycle. With grand ambitions he has been sure not to skip steps along the way. A path worth trailblazing and now Andy returns to share some of the lessons of his journey thus far.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Where his passion and curiosity for set pieces originated?
-
How Andy defines his role and responsibility?
-
The topic of unpaid internships.
-
How AFC Wimbledon became the UK's top set piece scorers in 2021?
-
Preparation & Analysis in a condensed EFL season.
-
Why principles > pre set routines?
-
The importance of player freedom in designing & implementing set pieces.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 02:30 - Intro
02:31 - 05:40 - Internships
05:41 - 10:03 - AFC Wimbledon
10:04 - 20:27 - Set Pieces
20:28 - 23:40 - Feedback Process
23:41 - 27:45 - Future
27:46 - 29:21 - Advice
“The aim of Football Coach Evolution is not to change the world but to develop coaches based on more objective & reliable information”.
Raymond Verheijen is the owner of Football Coach Evolution providing a best in class coaching education to coaches all over the world. Having served as an assistant in four World Cups & Euros alongside being mentored by the likes of Louis Van Gaal & Guus Hiddink there are few better equipped to guide the next generation. Utilizing evolutionary knowledge to explain tactical principles & methodology, Raymond has created a universal football language to better equip coaches for the challenges ahead. Yet knowledge is only the starting point and we gain insight as to the challenges faced when we begin to apply this objective knowledge in our respective environments. In this episode which is the longest I have recorded to date I believe there is something here for everyone no matter what level of the game you are involved in. An openness to learn, collaborate and falsify our opinions are the only way we can hope to evolve and further grow the game. Thank you Raymond for a wonderful and thought provoking chat.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Raymond's coaching origin story.
-
How Raymond turned his biggest disappointment into his biggest opportunity?
-
Why has there been a “pollution of football language & methodology?”
-
Top down control v Top down guidance.
-
Guus Hiddink's mastery in change management.
-
How to ensure your tactical principles are built on solid foundations?
-
Can we change the conversation at boardroom level?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:30 - Intro
04:31 - 14:51 - Universal Football Language
14:52 - 25:37 - Application
25:38 - 32:47 - Change Management
32:48 - 45:38 - Clarity of Role
45:39 - 1:00:22 - Knowledge or Experience?
1:00:23 - 1:14:32 - Intelligence or Consciousness?
1:14:33 - 1:24:25 - Advice
Raymond's Website; https://www.fcevolution.com/
Raymond's new book; https://www.fcevolution.com/winkel/books/tactical-principles/
Owen Eastwood is a performance coach who has worked with organisations such as NATO, South African Cricket and England Rugby. He is probably best known for his role as performance coach within Gareth Southgate's England setup where he has spent the best part of seven years. He has carved out a reputation in elite sport for creating the optimal environment for teams to succeed. Here he brings us on a journey reflecting on his career, the lessons learned and allowing us remarkable access into his work. It's an episode you will listen to again and again. Enjoy.
Listen to find out more including;
-
Why “Belonging” is never an achieved state?
-
What the art of good storytelling looks like?
-
The ancient Maori belief Owen uses to maximise a team's performance?
-
Inside his role within Gareth Southgate's England squad and reflecting upon how the national team culture has changed.
-
Why being authentic and personal are the two key tools to navigating the future successfully?
-
Owen's challenge to to each of you listening.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:08 - Intro
06:09 - 11:11 - Peer to Peer
11:12 - 20:47 - Belonging
20:48 - 27:38 - Storytelling
27:39 - 34:23 -Whakapapa
34:24 - 37:28 - Future
37:29 - 40:21 - Advice
Owen's Book; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Belonging-Ancient-Togetherness-Owen-Eastwood/dp/1529415063
“Don't always chase the dream, work hard and things will happen for you”.
Willie McNab is the Head of Children's Football at Celtic Football Club. With 20+ years in the game he has accumulated experience coaching at all ends of the spectrum. It was so insightful to hear Willie reflect upon his wide ranging coaching pathway with plenty of anecdotes and lessons to boot. Priding himself on a football philosophy built on beliefs and values, Willie has helped foster a process driven culture within Celtic's academy. A lifelong learner, he speaks fondly of his time being back in the classroom completing a MSc in Performance Coaching and the importance of being inquisitive and asking good questions. An episode not be missed.
Listen to find out more including;
-
A senior coaching debut at 18!
-
The interviewing tactics of the great Tommy Burns.
-
Building a philosophy beyond the x's and o's.
-
Overcoming challenges in the pursuit of creating robust players (and coaches).
-
Why having a coaching strategy is a better alternative than a pre described coaching style?
-
What is so unique about the environment and the player/coach relationships at Celtic Football Club?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:36 - Intro
09:37 - 14:56 - Reflection & Progress
14:57 - 21:53 - Celtic
21:54 - 26:50 - Head of Children's Football
26:51 - 35:31 - Holistic Development
35:32 - 47:50 - Robust players & coaches
47:51 - 57:52 - Lifelong Learning
57:53 - 59:20 - Advice
Nuno Cardoso is the CEO of Proplayer Group. For a long time he believed that differentiation and strategic collaboration can change the game of football. So much so that Proplayer Group have now bought a seat at the table acquiring Sport Clube Vianense in the Portuguese lower leagues. They have done so amid the backdrop of an unfavourable investment climate and an equally uncertain future. Rather than dismissing conversations about the future game, Nuno and his colleagues are imploring the football community to embrace this era of change. Listen to find out more including;
-
Fleeing war torn Angola as a young child.
-
How football is ridden of inefficiencies?
-
Why bureaucracy is killing the growth potential of Portuguese football?
-
Inside the process of building a “professional team on an amateur budget”.
-
Why instead of avoiding conversations about NFT's we should be building strategies!
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:40 - Intro
03:41 - 09:06 - Angola
09:07 - 18:29 - Football's Inefficiencies
18:30 - 22:06 - Portugal
22:07 - 27:30 - Sport Clube Vianense
27:31 - 31:32 - Future of Football
31:33 - 40:57 - Tokens & NFT's
40:58 - 43:38 - Life as CEO
43:39 - 46:38 - Advice
Proplayer Group; https://proplayer.pt/
My guest today needs no introduction. Stephen Constantine is a familiar name in coaching circles with a coaching career spanning over 20 years having coached five different countries and numerous clubs on four different continents. As he returns home briefly from his call to adventure he joined me to discuss his career in detail. With countless lessons ranging from team building to adapting to new cultures, amid all the organisational hurdles to navigate in between Stephen has been kind enough to provide some eye opening truths about the beautiful game. Was the route quite as scenic as promised? Nonetheless it is evident that the hunger which took Stephen from Delhi to the Den still remains. What's next? Find out more here including;
-
How Stephen's childhood influenced his ability to adapt to new surroundings?
-
Building your game idea from solid foundations.
-
Asking Michel Platini why he did not become a coach?
-
The differences in buy in between club and international football.
-
Why you cannot separate long term development and short term results?
-
Why consistency is the key to high performance?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:36 - Intro
04:37 - 09:35 - Adapting
09:36 - 18:22 - Foundations
18:23 - 27:43 - India
27:44 - 32:45 - Hiring Bias
32:46 - 36:46 - Empathy
36:47 - 42:36 - Reflections & Progress
42:37 - 44:35 - Advice
There are few who know how challenging the role of Sporting Director is better than Mike Rigg. Having worked the role at a number of clubs including Man City, Fulham, QPR and Burnley, Mike is now educating the next generation of the perils and prospects involved alongside his colleagues at the Association of Sporting Directors.
Fit & alignment in finding the right job, being able to link the business with the football, managing player recruitment amidst the noise, you can tell it is not easy to go travel this path which often changes. However with a bit of purpose and clarity you might just not only survive but triumph. What we discussed included;
-
How has the role of Sporting Director evolved over the years?
-
The three different hats of a Sporting Director.
-
What Mike's apprenticeship looked like at Blackburn in the pre-data age?
-
Fit & Alignment in finding positions.
-
Which two things are important to succeeding in the job?
-
Playing long term but being judged short term.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:20 - What is the role?
06:21 - 11:16 - Apprenticeship
11:17 - 20:36 - Fit & Alignment
20:37 - 27:06 - Income v Outcome
27:07 - 33:12 - Recruitment
33:13 - 37:09 - Advice
Association of Sporting Directors; https://associationofsportingdirectors.com/
We have a special episode for you this week to preview the 2021/22 Champions League Final between Liverpool & Real Madrid. A date of destiny as Liverpool's quest for a historic treble meets the “last dance” of Real Madrid. Something has to give. Hoffenheim academy coach; Christian Dobrick joined me to dissect where the game will be won & lost. Listen to find out more including;
-
How Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool have evolved?
-
The “swiss army knife” of Liverpool's attack.
-
Why Liverpool won't be dragged into the Real Madrid chaos?
-
The many tactical styles of Carlo Ancelotti.
-
How Real Madrid continually rise to the occasion?
-Why the midfield battle will be crucial to deciding Saturday's clash?
Christian's Twitter; https://twitter.com/chrdob?lang=en
Christian's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-dobrick/
The name Sean O'Shea is synonymous with Dubai Football. Beginning in the academy scene as many coaches Sean quickly climbed through the ranks, becoming head of football at NAS working under Sheikh Hamdan. Soon Sean was hosting training camps for the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid whilst also privately coaching the likes of Virgil Van Dijk and Luke Shaw. Becoming assistant coach at AIK, he was soon scaling the likes of Celtic Park on European nights mixing it up with elite of European football. Having recently left his posting Sean joins me here to reflect on his journey to date and what he's learned throughout all his experiences. Sean's story is full of ambition and a guiding example to many young coaches out there looking to break into the pro game. What we discussed included;
-
Repurposing his passion for football in the form of coaching.
-
Goal setting versus doing it for the love of the game?
-
Stepping outside his comfort zone and getting on the professional ladder in Norway.
-
Sheikh Hamdan's vision which saw him step away from Huddersfield.
-
IDP coaching versus being a first team coach?
-
Considerations and reflections going forward in the future game.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:02 - Intro
09:03 - 16:47 - Norway
16:48 - 23:52 - Dubai
23:53 - 27:38 - IDP Coaching
27:39 - 34:20 - AIK
34:21 - 42:36 - UEFA Pro
42:37 - 46:06 - Advice
There has been a lot of debate surrounding the recent changes by UEFA to FFP and their reformatting of the Champions League. With so much noise and little certainty who better is there than Alex Phillips, former head of governance and compliance at UEFA to give us the inside scoop on what these changes actually mean. Being part of several projects that include the creation of the Deloitte rich list, the European Clubs Association and Supporters Direct, Alex' industry expertise is undisputed. We tackle a whole host of topics in this one including;
-
Has the European football landscape changed over the years?
-
Inside the formation of and the purpose behind the European Clubs Association.
-
In what sense do European clubs need to be protected from themselves?
-
Can UEFA be both the tournament organiser and regulator?
-
Why the changes to the Champions League format are nothing more than a “rebadging”?
-
Alex' proposed regulatory changes in response to the latest from UEFA?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:45 - Intro
07:46 - 16:14 - European Football
16:15 - 19:51 - ECA
19:52 - 26:02 - Proposed changes
26:03 - 33:24 - The clubs
33:25 - 41:05 - Competitive Balance
41:06 - 47:42 - UCL Format Changes
47:43 - 50:36 - Advice
Karan Tejwani is the author of the new book; “Glorious Reinvention; The Rebirth of Ajax Amsterdam.”
Karan tells the story of how Ajax rediscovered their mojo to compete again with Europe's best. In November 2010, after Ajax's 2-0 loss in the Champions League group stage to Real Madrid, Johan Cruyff wrote a newspaper column criticising his former club. He believed the side were poorly run, had lost their identity and been left behind by modern football. He wanted Ajax to rely on their academy as they once had, and he wanted former Ajax players in high positions calling the shots at the club. This was dubbed “the Glorious Reinvention” - a peaceful coup that would propel Ajax to once more compete with the best. A few years on, with many of the changes in place, the side reached a Europa League final and a Champions League semi-final with an exquisite style of football and methods that Cruyff would have appreciated. Ajax, now run by former club greats such as Edwin van der Sar combined the techniques of old with modern elements.
What we discussed included ;
-
Why Ajax fell behind in the 90's?
-
The magical figure of Johan Cruyff.
-
Inside the processes and procedures of a world class academy.
-
Where does the 2019 Ajax team rank among the pantheon of great European sides?
-
What can Manchester United fans expect from Eric Ten Hag?
-
How Ajax will rebuild this summer amid losing key players and staff?
Karan's Twitter;https://twitter.com/karan_tejwani26
Book; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Glorious-Reinvention-Rebirth-Ajax-Amsterdam/dp/180150069X
“Making something beautiful out of the simple.”
Where the path seemed unclear to others to Johnathan McKinstry it seemed plain and obvious. Being a youth football coach in Northern Ireland, role models were few and far between so John became his own. Turning a perceived disadvantage into an advantage, combined with an insatiable desire to learn has led to John scaling the highest mountains of the professional game. In 2013 he became the then youngest manager in International football coaching Sierra Leone at just 27, bringing them to the top 50 of the FIFA World Rankings. Since then John has continued to work at the top echelons of the game spanning four continents. Now as John comes back to base for a brief sojourn he he has some reflections which he would like to share.
What we discussed included ;
-
John's onboarding process upon taking a new job in a new culture.
-
Identifying and developing skillsets that are crucial to staying in the game.
-
Why starting as an international coach can be a better introduction to senior management rather than the club game?
-
Managing emotions in the high pressure cooker of professional football.
-
Constantly reassessing the mountains you can climb and further insights into John's goal setting process.
-
Why learning how to network effectively is a key pillar to any coaching success?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:05 - Intro
09:06 - 14:22 - The Path
14:23 - 17:36 - Adaptation
17:37 - 24:50 - Sierra Leone
24:51 - 31:58 - Management
31:59 - 35:56 - Goal Setting
35:57 - 42:12 - Coaching
42:13 - 49:47 - Advice
John's Twitter; https://twitter.com/johnnymckinstry?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
John's Website; http://www.johnnymckinstry.com/
“Strategy in the absence of culture gets you nowhere.”
A must listen for all coaches steeped in youth development.
Tom Byer's journey into the football world is a familiar one for many a coach. Unsatisfied with what football had to teach him in his formative years he embarked upon a journey to find experts within their field. What ensued has been over 40 years of learning, growth and constantly itching away at the forever moving target of youth development. Here Tom is kind enough to distill the insights behind what he has learned and manage to share with some of the best clubs and federations in world football. These range from winning the battle at entry level to closing the gap between best in class and least developed. At the heart of it all is a deep spirit of collaboration. Yet why does Tom feel he is more welcomed by the greats and not the minnows?
A lot to get through and unpack. Furthermore we discussed;
-
Discovering football growing up in upstate New York.
-
The set of circumstances which brought him to Japan.
-
The common denominators taken from thousands of hours researching the most successful players and countries?
-
How technical competence should be a pre-requisite before organised play?
-
Designing emotionally charged environments which support deep learning and long term memory.
-
What implications does the latest groundbreaking neuroscience research have for skill development?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:45 - Intro
06:46 - 13:01 - Japan
13:02 - 46:11 - Football Starts at Home
46:12 - 56:04 - Football Ecosystems
56:05 - 1:07:56 - Collaboration
1:07:57 - 1:12:54 - Advice
Tom's Twitter; https://twitter.com/tomsan106?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Tom's Book; https://soccerstartsathomebook.com/
Fresh from World Cup qualification I was delighted to be joined by the leadership & team dynamics coach of the USMNT; Travis Thomas. How can improvisation help professional sports teams? Travis has cross pollinated his love of improv and team sports over the past 20 years to serve a wide range of sports and corporations all over the US. Here we unpack how he is faring in his current challenge within the USMNT setup. His is an amazing story full of anecdotes which went full circle after a late camp cancellation one Florida Winter. Luckily for us Travis was present to provide some hearty advice on pursuing your passion and trusting the process even when it does not make sense.
Among what we discussed included;
-
How US Soccer has evolved generation to generation?
-
Cross pollinating his love of improv with his passion for team sports.
-
What exactly does “Live, Yes, And” mean?
-
The series of events which led to Travis saying yes to Gregg Berhalter & the USMNT?
-
What are some of the non-negotiable behaviours in the US setup?
-
The criteria for evaluating a successful camp.
-
Why should we be on the lookout for the USMNT in this year's World Cup?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:02 - Intro
08:03 - 15:29 - Live, Yes, And
15:30 - 22:56 - USMNT
22:57 - 29:38 - Non-Negotiables
29:39 - 36:56 - Advice
Travis' Twitter; https://twitter.com/liveyesand
Travis' Book; https://linktr.ee/travislthomas
As Chelsea travel to Madrid in the hope of overcoming a two goal deficit in their Champions League Quarter Final tie, Stamford Chidge of the award winning Chelsea Fancast joined me to speak all things Chelsea. In these 40 minutes we unpack Chelsea's historical past, tumultuous present and uncertain future. Approaching the business end of the season and in the midst of a protracted takeover there is no shortage of talking points.
Among what we unpacked included;
-
The origins of the award winning podcast?
-
What does Chelsea look like post Abramovich?
-
The role and function of the Chelsea Supporters Trust in moments like this?
-
Analysing all takeover bids.
-
Could Thomas Tuchel turn out to be the greatest manager in Chelsea Football Club's history?
-
What is the Chelsea identity?
Chelsea Fancast ; https://chelseafancast.com/
Germany has launched new regulations that will transform the way youth football is played in the country. The emphasis will be on a fun and a player-centred approach, with Ronny Zimmermann, DFB Vice President responsible for children’s and youth football, saying: “We need to think like children, not like adults. Only children who develop fun and joy in the game will stay in football.”
One man who has strongly advocated this change for a long time has been Matthias Lochmann, friend and colleague of the late Horst Wein who created Funino. The concept focused on small sided games and festivals of football which were a huge part of the DFB's latest restructuring. Doing less as a coach & players doing more, rules do the work for you, quality of session independent from the coach. You can start to see why there was an aversion to change over time. However through a relentless attitude, covering thousands of air miles and support from a few famous friends this change was realized. What ensued was a captivating conversation on where the future of the game is headed.
Among what we discussed included;
-
Meeting Horst Wein for the first time.
-
Detailed insight into the game intelligence approach.
-
How to design an environment led by “rules of provocation”?
-
Insights into how Hansi Flick incorporated the game intelligence approach within his Bayern Munich & Germany sessions.
-
What are the common mistakes in youth development?
-
Lobbying DFB head; Oliver Bierhoff for change and how it came to fruition?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:50 - Intro
04:51 - 13:39 - Funino
13:40 - 23:58 - Change
23:59 - 31:57 - Criticisms
31:58 - 41:09 - Hansi Flick
41:10 - 48:27 - Common Mistakes
48:28 - 51:59 - Advice
Germany has recently launched new regulations that will transform the way football is played in the country. The emphasis will be on fun and a player-centred approach, with Ronny Zimmermann, DFB Vice President responsible for children’s and youth football, saying: “We need to think like children, not like adults. Only children who develop fun and joy in the game will stay in football.” Some of the key changes revolve around small sided games and the introduction of festivals.
One man who has been advocating this change for a long time has been Matthias Lochmann. Matthias is a friend and colleague of the late Horst Wein who pioneered Funino which promotes the game intelligence approach. Doing less as a coach & players doing more, rules do the work for you, quality is independent of the coach. It is quite clear as to why there was such aversion to change for a long time. However through adopting a relentless attitude, covering thousands of air miles and lobbying from a few famous friends that change was realized over the past few weeks. Here Matthias gives us the lowdown on what the future of football can look like within Germany and beyond.
Among what we discussed included;
-
Meeting Horst Wein for the first time.
-
Detailed insight into the game intelligence approach.
-
How to design a learning environment led by “rules of provocation”?
-
Insights into how Hansi Flick implemented the game intelligence approach with Bayern Munich & Germany training sessions?
-
What are the most common mistakes Matthias sees in youth development?
-
Lobbying DFB head; Oliver Bierhoff for change and insights into how the DFB finally relented.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:50 - Intro
04:51 - 13:39 - Funino
13:40 - 23:58 - Change
23:59 - 31:57 - Criticisms
31:58 - 41:09 - Hansi Flick
41:10 - 48:27 - Common mistakes
48:28 - 51:59 - Advice
“Create the podcast you want to listen to. “
For a long time coaching has existed within it's own silo. With the modern head coach resembling something akin to a CEO it's clear that what got us this far isn't good enough to move us forward. Looking beyond the coaching badges there is an acute understanding of organisational dynamics required to operate at this level of elite sport. Throw on top a chronic workload, family commitments and inclement health, then this means we should be educating our people & leaders accordingly to navigate this terrain right? The answer isn't the one you wish to hear....
Mistaking the map for the territory, getting off the treadmill of complexity and returning back to humanity and simplicity it is clear that this conversation needs changing. One such person who's mission is to turn this oil tanker around is Cody Royle. Cody is the author of “The Tough Stuff“ & the host of the “Where Others Won't“ podcast. He is also the coach of several elite coaches across a multitude of sports.
Among what we discussed included;
-
How has Cody's why changed over time?
-
Why Cody believes coach optimization is the greatest barrier to team success in sport?
-
Learning from some of the world's great thinkers and coaches to rapidly accelerate his coaching.
-
The role of unlearning in moving forward
-
Why the concept of balance doesn't exist in elite sport?
-
What head coaches can do to bridge the conversation at board level?
-
Inside the thought process of coaches such as Pep Guardiola and Eddie Jones having their own coach.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:53 - Cody's Why
05:54 - 18:00 - Coach Optimization
18:01 - 25:33 - Unlearning
25:34 - 34:50 - Balance
34:51 - 45:16 - The Future
Cody's Twitter; https://twitter.com/codyroyle?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Cody's Book; https://www.amazon.com/Tough-Stuff-Seven-Truths-About/dp/1660114446
Cody's Podcast; https://open.spotify.com/show/13w1hFUG3jzoA0IrmSlc4m
On March 10th Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK government thereby effectively freezing Chelsea FC as one of his largest commercial assets. Ultimately an unprecedented move in the football world latent with more questions than answers. In an attempt to make some order of the ensuing chaos Matt Slater of The Athletic joined me to breakdown what this actually means in practice.
All very sobering stuff yet it is very important to note that inspite of our affiliations and (at times) blind love of football clubs that the ongoing situation at Chelsea and other effected clubs is the least of the world's worries at the moment.
Among what we unpacked included;
-
What these sanctions mean for Chelsea?
-
The practicality of Chelsea abiding by the current restrictions in place?
-
How grave the situation may become if alterations are not made to the current licence.
-
Is there a serious existential threat to Chelsea Football Club?
-
Will key figures Tuchel, Hayes, Cech, Granovskaia jump ship?
-
Should other Premier League clubs cast a nervous eye upon proceedings at Stamford Bridge?
Follow Matt on The Athletic; https://theathletic.com/author/matt-slater/
“You are not there to tell people what to do, you are not an expert in sports science, in video analysis, your job is to recruit those best people for the role. “
With a lot of uncertainty over the role of Sporting Director, Chris Casper of Salford City joined me recently to clarify the job, it's function and how it's evolved. Graduating from the “Class of'92“. Chris has taken the best principles and applied it within his own guise. Whether it has been playing, coaching or now at executive level he has taken ownership of his own pathway whilst holding the torch for many others. Not being afraid to adapt & change, embracing the new whilst remembering the old listen to how Chris marries up the short and long term to stack the odds in Salford City's favour.
Among what we discussed included;
-
High performance lessons from Sir Alex Ferguson & “The Class of 92“.
-
Are support networks best equipped to enable players to make the transition out of football?
-
How Chris defines his role as Sporting Director?
-
Insights into how Salford City navigated GB permit changes post Brexit ?
-
Has a Sporting Director time to switch off from the game?
-
How will the role of Sporting Director evolve ?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 10:25 - Class of '92
10:26 - 16:27 - Resilience
16:28 - 19:26 - Coaching
19:27 - 27:45 - Sporting Director
27:46 - 31:42 - Recruitment & Academy
31:43 - 35:49 - Identity
35:50 - 40:57 - Advice
Chris' LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-casper-msc-8501b5157/
“The greatest good for the greatest number of people, If there is any meaning in discussing fair play and codes of conduct in sports, then it is time to show Russia the red card.“
Yesterday February 24th was a dark day for humanity. Amidst the backdrop of current affairs Professor Kenneth Cortsen and I recorded a podcast regarding the growing commercialization of the once beautiful game. In this hour or so we documented it's growth from the reformation of competition format's in the 1990's to the integration of social media platforms today. The top echelons of football seem to be fueled by the mutual interests of career politicians and new upstarts with little corporate governance to boot, With NFT's, cryptocurrencies and diverging ownership motives thrown into the mix, 90 minutes of football on Saturday has never been as profitable.
Yet is what we are doing sustainable? Is it ethical at it's core? How can we do it better? At what point does “fan engagement“ meet the law of diminishing returns?
Or should we hand free reign to these tenants?
Among what we discussed included;
-
What impacts will current events in Ukraine have on the continental game?
-
A history of the professionalization and the subsequent commercialization of football.
-
DAZN and the cautionary tale of sports broadcasters.
-
How football clubs can better ethically conceptualize tokenisation?
-
What steps athletes are taking now to leverage Web3 as they attempt to control the narrative?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 13:55 - History
13:56 - 23:43 - Russia
23:44 - 35:01 - Corporate Governance
35:02 - 41:18 - Romanticism
41:19 - 46:30 - Fan Engagement
46:31 - 53:23 - NFT's
53:24 - 58:31 - Web3
58:32 - 1:05:56 - Advice
Kenneth's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethcortsen/
Kenneth's Website; https://kennethcortsen.com/
South London rightly generates a lot of clamour in recognition of the players it produces but what about it's coaches? Harry Watling joined me this week as we dove in deep into the secrets behind the rise of one of the UK's top coaching exports. At 31 Harry was appointed as the head coach of USL team; Hartford Athletic, in the process becoming the league's youngest. Coaching at prestigious academies such as Chelsea, Millwall & West Ham provided Harry the ultimate education in talent development. His experience as an elite developer alongside a healthy dose of emotional intelligence with some old school values added into the mix stacked the odds in his favour. Not knowing when the opportunity is coming but doing everything to be ready. This is Harry's journey to date and there is something here for everyone to take away. Among what we discussed included;
-
What did Harry do in his first off season in management?
-
Learning the art of balancing performance and education within Chelsea's academy.
-
The rising tide of young English coaches breaking down barriers to enter the game.
-
How understanding business dynamics smoothed Harry's transition from coach to manager?
-
The steps taken to achieve buyin amongst a new group of players before inspiring the execution.
-
Generalist v Specialist coaches (and the art of delegation).
-
Where Harry looks for inspiration?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:14 - A coach's life
05:15 - 13:25 - Breaking down walls
13:26 - 16:30 - Talent development
16:31 - 22:57 - Management
22:58 - 29:26 - Generalist v Specialist
29:27 - 36:16 - Inspiration & Advice
Harry's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-watling-060623123/
Harry's Instagram ; https://www.instagram.com/h_watlingcoach/?hl=en
“Purposeful work won't find you, you have to go and find it”
I am proud to have had the good fortune of learning from one of the best I have come to know within the football industry over this past year. David Cosgrave & the guys at The Leadership Bunker have drastically expedited my learning curve and enabled me to reflect and make sense of my journey to date and how I arrived here. Therefore I thought it was ample time to pass the buck and listen to David's own unique and captivating story. Having spent nearly 20 years at a whole host of clubs including Liverpool, Spurs, Bolton & Fulham it was his departure from Copenhagen which led to an intense period of self reflection and discovery. Recently appointed the new Director of Sports Medicine & High Performance at Orlando City David is set to embark upon a new chapter in his life and career. This is a story of values, mission and never compromising on your purpose. Among what we discussed included;
-
The path from chiropractor to leading a whole MLS department?
-
Standing on the shoulders of giants at Bolton.
-
Does “service excellence” exist amid the never ending tension at top flight clubs?
-
The rise of purposeful value driven football clubs.
-
Losing inside to unpack whether or not your identity is tied to your job?
-
Why unlearning is more important than learning as a leader?
-
David's process for achieving buyin just 3 weeks out from the start of a new MLS season?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:44 - Intro
03:45 - 09:36 - Pioneers
09:37 - 15:20 - Values, mission & purpose
15:21 - 18:40 - Copenhagen
18:41 - 25:05 - Burnout
25:06 - 30:22 - Beyond the game
30:23 - 39:26 - Leadership
39:27 - 43:21 - Advice
David's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cosgrave-09187b3/
The Leadership Bunker; https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leadership-bunker/
John Demartini values assessment; https://drdemartini.com/values/
“Bet on yourself” , was Brian Walsh's simple advice to me in response to examining his success to date.
Arriving in the US nearly 20 years on a college scholarship Brian has continued to fulfill that promise to himself rising through the ranks to launch and spearhead youth programmes at NY Cosmos and now NYCFC. Leveraging critical thinking, navigating change successfully and being prepared to go above and beyond have been at the heart of Brian's career to date. With over 25,000 kids passing through NYCFC youth programmes over the past 5 years it's hard to argue against it's success and sturdy foundations. Unprecedented interest and growth in football combined with a home World Cup on the horizon allowed for us to have a timely conversation about youth football and it's rise in one of the largest metropolitan areas on Earth. Among what we discussed included;
-
20 years in the United States from college scholarship to youth director.
-
The Monday evening in downtown New York which altered Brian's path?
-
Building the youth development programmes at NY Cosmos & NYCFC from scratch.
-
Insights into running a youth development programme the sheer magnitude and scale of NYCFC's?
-
Advantages of working within a multi-club network?
-
Impact of the monumental growth and interest of the game in shaping the eco-system around a player?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:04 - Early Beginnings
05:05 - 09:09 - Change of Path
09:10 - 15:45 - NY Cosmos
15:46 - 31:45 - NYCFC
31:46 - 39:06 - Advice
Brian's Twitter; https://twitter.com/nycsoccer1?lang=en
It would not be an understatement to say Jonathan Harding authored one of my favourite football books to date in “Mensch” which appraised the story of the German coaching revolution and the person behind the coach. However as Jonathan explains here once he began to scratch an itch he discovered the longing for plenty of coaches to discover a connection that runs deeper than just winning or losing. In his new book “Soul” Jonathan grapples with the idea that maybe professional sports can care a lot more for their people. Although the concerns we speak of are unwelcome guests there ought to be an urgency to address these now before they tear down the remaining value structures of the game which we adore. What followed was a conversation that perhaps both of us did not want but was ultimately needed. Among what we discussed included;
-
The origins of Mensch.
-
What exactly is a “menschenfanger”?
-
Are Klopp, Tuchel & Nagelsmann unrealistic ideals to aspire towards for young German coaches?
-
Are the traditional German values such as hard work & commitment to achieving excellence good or bad virtues?
-
What is prohibiting innovation in German football?
-
Does professional sport care about people?
-
Character development beyond 90 minutes.
-
The over professionalisation of children in academies.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:05 - Mensch
08:06 - 15:17 - Grand Expectations
15:18 - 24:58 - Rulebreakers
24:59 - 33:22 - Soul
33:23 - 44:16 - Player Welfare
44:17 - 51:36 - Managerial Recruitment
51:37 - 55:11 - World Cup
Mensch; https://www.amazon.com/Mensch-Beyond-Cones-Jonathan-Harding/dp/1910906182
Soul; https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1910906255/ref=dbs
Jon's Twitter; https://twitter.com/JonBloggs66?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Doug Lemov is the author of 'Teach Like a Champion' & 'The Coach's Guide to Teaching'. Doug has a track record of going into underprivileged schools and turning them around. How he did so and why this can help sporting organisations and their coaches is what we delve into during the blockbuster conversation. During our talk Doug gives the lowdown on a range of subjects varying from performance v learning to the inverse relationship between resources and success. This will be a podcast which I'm sure you and I will be returning to frequently. What we discussed also included;
-
Key differences between the classroom & the locker room?
-
What is the most efficient way for players to learn in the long haul?
-
The concept of the 'quiet eye'?
-
Separating the wheat from the chaff in the cognitive revolution.
-
Why in Doug's experience there's an inverse relationship between resources & success?
-
Retrieval practices for building up long term memory.
-
How to improve coach efficacy in delivering feedback?
-
What Doug learned about player interaction from Eddie Jones & England Rugby?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:16 - Coaching v Teaching
09:17 - 18:53 - Cognitive Revolution
18:54 - 26:46 - Cultural & Resource Constraints
26:47 - 39:00 - Performance v Learning
39:01 - 47:00 - The future player
47:01 - 54:56 - Burnout
Omar Chaudhuri is the Chief Intelligence Officer of the Twenty First Group. The Twenty First Group provides ground-breaking sports intelligence to drive sporting success and unlock commercial value. Omar gave me the lowdown on his story to date. From beginning a blog in his bedroom to sharing the boardroom with some of the sporting world's most powerful stakeholders, Omar has a unique perspective on how to forge a niche within the industry. From playing a role in three Premier League managerial hires this season to redressing the competitive balance of European football there are no shortage of topics to discuss. Listen to hear more about;
-
The number one thing to do to enter the football industry?
-
Inside Omar's role within Twenty First Group.
-
Playing a role in three Premier League managerial hires this season.
-
Key differences between player and managerial recruitment?
-
The impact of fixture congestion on playing styles?
-
Redressing the issue of competitive balance within European football?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:40 - Intro
05:41 - 09:32 - Prozone
09:33 - 12:15 - Twenty First Group
12:16 - 17:24 - Recruitment
17:25 - 28:25 - Current Affairs
28:26 - 32:26 - Governance review
32:37 - 38:40 - Season Predictions
38:41 - 40:23 - Advice
Little under two months ago, our guest today Chris Docherty took the helm as Sporting Director of FC Akron; a second division team in Russia, at the tender age of 29. Despite his whirlwind start to life in Russia, Chris was kind enough to share some time with me to speak about his intriguing career arc to date. What followed was a fascinating yet intricate conversation on multiple subjects ranging from the different types of sporting directors to how various visible and invisible factors can influence youth development. Chris' journey to date is a shining example to many as to what can be achieved when you merge an insatiable hunger to improve with a first class network whilst adopting a patient approach. Umpteen personal and professional lessons to take from this one. Some of what we discussed included;
-
The long road between apprenticeship & mastery.
-
Implementing versus discarding research at football clubs and the cultural considerations in between.
-
Opportunity amongst the managerial chaos at Hajduk Split.
-
Remarkable insight into the factors behind Croatia's successful youth development record.
-
The different types of sporting directors and considerations.
-
FC Akron's data driven approach to challenge the elite of Russia.
-
Building foundations for future success at FC Akron.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 13:55 - Apprenticeship
13:56 - 17:38 - Passion meets Reality
17:39 - 25:13 - China
25:14 - 32:35 - Hajduk Split
32:36 - 52:02 - Croatian Youth Development
52:03 - 1:08:35 - FC Akron
1:08:36 - 1:16:04 - Advice
From working as a volunteer coach to now being the academy director of one of the world's most productive youth systems, James Gow has been on a journey. Working in the performance analysis department at Liverpool James learned the value of standards and small details working day in day out with some of the world's leading coaches and players. Yet despite this his sense of adventure appealed and James went on a journey to discover more about himself and football in the process. No matter whether it was Liverpool, Australia, China or Abu Dhabi James' value driven approach enabled him to surround himself with people of similar vision and ambition. It has made for one great story to date which is yet to run it's course. Listen and learn to hear more about;
-
Learning the importance of standards through working daily with the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez.
-
The “most difficult experience' of James” life?
-
How Al Jazira are “changing their game while being at the top of their game”?
-
Inside the work done on and off the pitch at Al Jazira to back up their grand vision.
-
Navigating change and using goals as feedback loops.
-
Why achieving “buy-in is a constant conversation”?
-
What one thing James believes about player development now which he didn't when departing England?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:55 - Liverpool
09:56 - 17:02 - China
17:03 - 35:17 - Al Jazira
35:18 - 45:45 - Routines & Self-Mastery
45:46 - 55:36 - Advice
“Be authentic, don't conform”
Sally Needham's career has been a never ending quest as to how to better understand the how & why behind kid's behaviour. After honing her craft as a coach & coach educator within the FA for 13 years Sally left to pursue her area of passion in the psychological and social aspects of the game through the lens of neuroscience. She has certainly got lost in the learning and is one of the game's go to experts in areas such as neuroscience and child development. Sally now works at Sheffield United where she puts many of these practices into place throughout the academy. Here in this episode she unpacks her career to date and as to how we can apply some of these teachings into practice. A must listen for all coaches and educators alike. Furthermore we discussed;
-
Living in the moment versus pursuing your goals.
-
The turning point in Sally's coaching career.
-
Common misconceptions surrounding Sally's work?
-
“Getting in the green zone” - what is the polyvagal theory?
-
Practical examples as to how to apply Sally's teachings on the pitch.
-
How to stress and stretch players approapriately within the challenge-skills sweetspot?
-
What can coaches do now to begin providing for the future player?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:46 - Coaching Pathway
06:47 - 14:34 - Neuroscience
14:35 - 19:38 - Application
19:39 - 28:23 - Challenge-Skills Sweetspot
28:24 - 35:45 - Future Player
35:46 - 39:55 - Sheffield United
39:56 - 44:22 - Advice
It was a pleasure to speak recently with Henry Staelens, the CEO of the world's greenest football club; Forrest Green Rovers. Despite hailing from a town of under 4,000 they have over 100 international fan groups. This is in no small part attributed to their consistent efforts to raise awareness and challenge thinking over sustainability and environmental issues. Henry was kind enough to share some insights as to how he and the club are supplementing their big vision with big action. Furthermore he unpacks as to how the club managed to navigate the trials and tribulations of the past 18 months. With the club top of EFL League 2 they are a shining example of how on pitch and sustainability goals can co-exist. Expect to hear more regarding;
-
The unconventional path which took Henry to CEO of Forrest Green Rovers.
-
The intricacies of managing the 'world's greenest football club'?
-
'Autonomous accountability'.
-
Biggest lesson he has learned to date in football?
-
Insights as to how the club navigated the challenges of COVID?
-
What's the smallest initiative a grassroots or professional can take today?
-
What does the future hold both on and off the pitch?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:32 - Intro
04:33 - 11:55 - Management
11:56 - 17:40 - Challenges
17:41 - 20:59 - On the pitch
21:00 - 23:09 - Future
23:10 - 26:34 - Advice
Today to celebrate the special 50th episode of 'The Lowdown' I was joined by Jonathon O'Neill who was back by popular demand after his last appearance where he unpacked emotional intelligence and as to how we can better harness it in football. Today we decided to just press record and let the mind wander with nothing off limits. For those of you that enjoy a good old fashioned football chat this one is for you. Some of what we discussed included;
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whether today's sport is still the game we fell in love with as kids?
-
how Jon has been preparing himself for the next challenge?
-
how the 'Art' of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal and the 'War' of Sir Alex Ferguson's United shaped modern football?
-
our theory as to why generational teams maybe a thing of the past?
-
Jon's 2017 thesis paper on the future player and which predictions have come to pass?
-
the importance of inspiration and what it means for evolving your game model?
-
the art of 'tactical interference'
Jonathon's Twitter; https://twitter.com/headcoach_app?lang=en
Jonathon's Email; jonathon@headcoach.app
Head Coach App; https://www.headcoach.app/
This week I had the pleasure of speaking with one of football's greatest storytellers; Tim Vickery. 'Legendinho' was on top from in this wide ranging chat. From investigating the local domestic game to examining the wider cultural implications of the modern game we digressed. We left no stone unturned and I suspect there are few other football shows this week where Hemel Hempstead, Rio and John Coltrain all get a shoutout. I am sure you will enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed recording it. Furthermore we touched upon;
-
The wide impact of football on Tim's youth.
-
Exploring the sights and sounds of Brazilian football in the 90's.
-
Why Brazil 'is not for beginners'?
-
Is watching a game as a broadcaster a desensitizing experience compared to a fan?
-
Has modern day football left Brazil behind?
-
The myth of 'Samba Soccer'?
-
Is football entertainment or sport?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 12:30 - Early beginnings
12:31 - 19:17 - Brazil
19:18 - 22:45 - Life as a broadcaster
22:46 - 36:19 - Modern day football v Brazil
36:20 - 39:36 - Memorable moments
39:37 - 50:59 - Entertainment or Sport?
51:00 - 58:18 - Closing thoughts
“Tactics are repeated movements and processes that reflect the way a team sets out to win a game.”
TIFO Football is one of the world’s largest football media outlets with over 1 million subscribers. Their novel way of depicting the game merged with tactics, history and art has seen them go from strength to strength. Producer; Alex Stewart joined me to chart their incredible journey to date. We discussed a wide variety of topics including;
-
Alex' unconventional pathway into football.
-
Exploring the intersections between football history and tactics.
-
The origin of TIFO Football and it's growth.
-
Navigating the challenges and pitfalls of being a huge football media outlet?
-
Finding your niche v Exploring widely?
-
What exactly are football tactics?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:39 - Early start
05:40 - 20:15 - TIFO
20:16 - 28:42 - Tactics
28:43 - 33:16 - Positional Play & Pressing
33:17 - 41:50 - Producing Content
41:51 - 45:25 - Advice
It was a real privilege to have spent over an hour in the company of one of Europe's most esteemed player developer's; João Tralhão. The former academy manager of Benfica has enjoyed a coaching path which has taken him from U6 to First team coach. From being involved in the growth of Ruben Dias and João Cancelo to coaching Rui Costa, Cesc Fabregas and Radamel Falcao at first team level, João is not short of anecdotes. As always we look behind the curtain and João gives us the full lowdown on some of the methodology, coach development practices and periodisation he has employed at various stages. In addition listen to hear more about;
-
Building your football methodology upon solid foundations.
-
What it was like being thrown into the deep end coaching Benfica's first team at 27?
-
Changing the culture surrounding youth development at Benfica.
-
Reflecting upon failures in player development as much as successes.
-
The art of turning pro.
-
How João Cancelo's development changed his opinion on early specialisation?
-
Cultivating an identity and the formula behind it?
-
Working alongside Thierry Henry at Monaco.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 10:00 - Coaching Career
10:01 - 17:40 - Benfica First Team
17:41 - 25:18 - Benfica Academy
25:19 - 34:19 - Managing Expectations
34:20 - 40:52 - Turning Pro
40:53 - 47:56 - Methodology
47:57 - 57:20 - Generalisation v Specialisation
57:21 - 1:08:32 - Thierry Henry & Monaco
1:08:33 - 1:18:20 - Advice
Dave Reddin was one of the key cultural architects responsible for the overhaul in English football after his appointment as Head of Team Strategy & Performance back in 2014. Here in this episode he outlines in remarkable detail the vision and steps which the FA undertook to make them a key player on the world stage once again. A first principles approach coupled with lessons from being part of successful English Rugby and Team GB teams helped Dave to pioneer performance. Furthermore Dave gives his thoughts on "what is winning?" and "what is next for the England team on the Hillary step of Everest?" In addition listen to hear more about;
-
Working with investors to disrupt the status quo at Pitch 32.
-
The breadth of experience every young Sports practitioner should seek?
-
Lessons from England Rugby & Team GB?
-
The unique recipe which is winning.
-
Why organisations sometimes fail despite having the right people & capabilities?
-
Remarkable insight into the cultural & strategic change within the FA.
-
How a weekend away in a forest helped shape the future of English football?
-
Why behavioral changes sometimes make for better benchmarks over data?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:16 - Intro
04:17 - 21:32 - England Rugby & Team GB
21:33 - 35:05 - The FA
35:06 - 49:24 - Cultural Change
49:25 - 54:11 - Newcastle United
54:12 - 59:02 - Legacy
59:03 - 1:02:32 - Advice
A coaching masterclass with the technical director of the world famous Le Havre Academy; Mickael Bunel. One that I will be reverting back to for a long time to come. Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez, Dmitri Payet are just a few famous alumni that have graduated from Mickael's school. This episode is a deep dive into his coaching philosophy, cultivating intelligence within players and building out a wider game model. Mickael's excellent work on scanning is a prominent topic of discussion in our conversation too. For anyone aspiring to work at the top of the game, in leadership positions or just your local grassroots club there are nuggets of gold to take. Listen to hear more about;
-
How does he define his role?
-
'Coaching the player & not the exercise'.
-
Building a diverse game model.
-
What is football intelligence?
-
Why scanning is the key differentiator & how to coach it?
-
Growing out your game model with cues for fundamentals per position.
-
What is success in his role?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:54 - His role
05:55 - 09:55 - Philosophy
09:56 - 17:07 - Player Development
17:08 - 28:53 - Football Intelligence
28:54 - 36:22 - Scanning
36:23 - 47:52 - Game Model
47:53 - 53:35 - Success
53:36 - 56:28 - Advice
Simon Kuper is the author of “Barça - The inside story of the worlds greatest football club” and is one of the most respected authors in the football world. Recently I was honoured to sit down and speak with him about his new publication. We discussed the triumvirate of Cruyff, Guardiola and Messi, La Masía, the current day among many other topics of discussion. Listen to hear more about;
-
What is so unique about Barça?
-
The change Simon has personally witnessed at the Camp Nou over the years.
-
What drives decision making within the club?
-
How revelatory were Cruyff's methods at the time?
-
The differences between Guardiola & Cruyff?
-
How not everybody took to Guardiola's philosophy!
-Barça plans for life after Messi.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:19 - Inside the club
07:20 - 13:52 - Cruyff
13:53 - 20:05 - Guardiola
20:06 - 29:46 - Messi
29:47 - 32:15 - Advice
Simon' Twitter; https://twitter.com/KuperSimon?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Simon's book; https://www.waterstones.com/book/barca/simon-kuper/9781780724744
David Mayer is one half of the Gold Dust podcast and co-author of the book; 'Gold Dust: How to Become A More Effective Coach, Quickly'. The book and podcast is terrific for anyone wishing to improve their communication and coaching skills. David is a lifelong learner and this certainly shone through in our conversation. Here we strip it back from the 'X's and O's' and speak about what you can do today, tomorrow and in the future to coach and inspire future generations. As David said your journey is all about; 'learning, unlearning and relearning'. Expect to hear us speak about;
-
What does gold dust mean?
-
The set of skills which will set you apart as a coach?
-
The three things athletes want to know from coaches?
-
Why the process of writing a book is similar to the art of coaching?
-
The importance of cross pollinating from different walks of life.
-
Learning v Execution.
-
'Listen to learn before attempting to help.'
-One thing David would bring from the UK to the US and from the US to the UK?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:50 - Intro
03:51 - 13:20 - Gold Dust
13:21 - 19:55 - Book & Podcast
19:56 - 30:10 - Hidden School of Learning
30:11 - 34:09 - US v UK
34:10 - 43:43 - The Future Coach
43:44 - 47:10 - Advice
Gold Dust Twitter; https://twitter.com/golddustpodcast?lang=en
David's Twitter; https://twitter.com/djmayer3
Gold Dust book; https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Dust-Effective-Quickly-communicator-ebook/dp/B082357NW5
There is a lot of new research coming out now on Emotional Intelligence and how it deeply impacts our lives. As a coach I am intrigued to learn about what this means not only in my professional but personal life. Luckily for me, Jonathon O'Neill is a coach who is quite an expert in this field. Recently he has brought the football and EI worlds together with his new app; 'Head Coach' which promises to be a game changer. If this is your first time listening to Jony, sit back and enjoy listening to a masterclass not only on EI but on goal setting, self actualisation and more. I will certainly be listening back to this one a few times. Expect to hear us speak about;
-
What is EI and what does it look like in football?
-
How does EI differ from culture to culture ?
-
Important considerations when goal setting.
-
The conflict between who you are versus who you want to be?
-
Practices to improve EI on the pitch.
-
Why is there no separation between who you are on and off the pitch?
-
Details regarding Jonathon's new 'Head Coach' App.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:00 - Intro
03:01 - 09:30 - What is EI?
09:31 - 14:34 - Cultural differences
14:35 - 20:11 - Transcendence
20:12 - 31:59 - How to implement EI?
32:00 - 36:06 - Head Coach App
36:07 - 42:05 - Future plans
Jonathon's Twitter; https://twitter.com/headcoach_app?lang=en
Jonathon's Email; jonathon@headcoach.app
Head Coach App; https://www.headcoach.app/
Kieran Maguire or best known as the Price of Football is one of the go to football finance guys. So after a tumultuous year of Covid, Super League, FFP worries and fears over modern day sponsors who best to get the lowdown from than Kieran? After this 40 minute chat I feel a lot more educated but concerned over the future of the industry. Within this in depth exploration of football's finances, expect to learn more about;
-
How he carved out a nice career?
-
How Covid was a convenient excuse for certain clubs?
-
Should football be viewed through an ethical and moral lens?
-
The creation of wealth gaps within football.
-
The FFP fallacy.
-
Kieran's take on football's relationship with sponsors.
-
Will PSG make their money back on Messi shirt sales?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:58 - Intro
07:59 - 13:06 - Covid
13:07 - 15:48 - Wealth Gaps
15:49 - 19:12 - FFP
19:13 - 22:55 - Super League
22:56 - 29:45 - Sponsors
29:46 - 34:04 - Legacy Fans
34:05 - 37:44 - Messi
37:45 - 43:52 - Advice
Kieran's Twitter; https://twitter.com/KieranMaguire?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Kieran's Blog; http://priceoffootball.com/
Kieran's Book; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Price-Football-Kieran-Maguire/dp/1911116908/ref=as
Mark McGettigan or better known as FPL General within fantasy league circles is an avid player of Fantasy Football and has regularly finished within the top 500 over the past decade. This was an interesting chat with Mark getting to hear his story and some of the foundations behind his success. What's more if you are an avid or casual fantasy league player like me you will enjoy hearing more from Mark on his tactics, plans and strategies for GW4 and beyond. Also listen closely to the dilemna Mark has this week as a certain high valued player makes his long awaited return to the game. Expect to hear more about;
-
How he got involved playing the game?
-
Building a foundation for fantasy success.
-
Try not to get ownership% influencing you.
-
How many high value assets can you get in one team?
-
Who are the key players in fantasy football this season?
-
Personal v Professional conflict in fantasy football.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:46 - Intro
07:47 - 13:44 - Fantasy success
13:45 - 16:57 - FOMO
16:58 - 21:37 - Wildcard
21:38 - 24:21 - Professions that do well?
24:22 - 30:19 - Future
Mark's Twitter; https://twitter.com/FPLGeneral?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Mark's Podcast; https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-ronaldo-worth-taking-a-points-hit-for/id1341747815?i=1000534581959
Phil Denton is the co-author of The First 100 Days: Lessons in Leadership from the Football Bosses. When school headteacher Phil Denton bumped into Tranmere Rovers boss Micky Mellon, the two started swapping stories about their own leadership roles and they knew they had a lot to learn from each other. Thereafter the pair embarked on a journey of discovery interviewing top managers including Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and West Ham’s David Moyes who reveal the inside story of their first days in the job and explain the secret strategies that enabled them to lay the all-important foundations for success. Expect to hear more about;
-
What it was like to run a school like a football club?
-
The three p's; Purpose, People & Position
-
Why did Ole Gunnar Solskjaer literally knock down the walls at Carrington?
-
The 'burning platform' which David Moyes gave his West Ham players.
-
How to properly analyze the leadership challenge you walk into?
-
What are the key differences between coaching and management?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:05 - Intro
05:06 - 09:57 - Purpose, People & Position
09:58 - 21:17 - Solskjaer
21:18 - 26:00 - Dyche
26:01 - 31:26 - Moyes
31:27 - 36:20 - School Fire Alarm
36:21 - 41:50 - Reflections
Phil's Twitter; https://twitter.com/phildenton81?lang=en
The First 100 Days; https://www.amazon.ae/First-100-Days-Leadership-Football/dp/1911613979
Dennis Lukens is the technical director of FC Dynamic in Ukraine and he has quite the story to tell. Furthermore he is the second ever American to hold a UEFA Pro License. This podcast was a pleasure to record with Dennis as he took us from his childhood playing football in 1950's New York to coaching in the professional game in North America and Europe. Tune in to hear more about Dennis' love for Irish football and his plans to one day be an owner of a League of Ireland team. Expect to hear more about;
-
Football in 1950's New York
-
Dennis' move to Ukraine and getting lucky at the 33rd time!
-
Doing his UEFA Pro Licence with Andriy Shevchenko
-
Dennis' quest to become an owner of a League of Ireland club
-
Dennis' advice for anyone chasing after their football dream
Timestamps;
00:00 - 12:28 - USA
12:29 - 23:26 - Ukraine
23:27 - 26:55 - Ireland
26:56 - 32:42 - Advice
Danny Maye is the lead senior youth phase coach at Southampton. This discussion is very insightful for anyone who wishes to learn more about the intricacies of working within a Premier League academy. Danny & I take a deep dive on his career to date which at times serves to be a brutally honest self-assessment. Nevertheless Danny imparts plenty of guidance as to how he and Southampton have evolved over time, successfully navigated change, refined their approach and always strive to be better. I really enjoyed this conversation with Danny and know you will too. Expect to hear more about;
-
The formative experiences behind his coaching career.
-
Why what value you contribute will always trump which background you come from?
-
What is so unique about the Southampton way?
-
The 95% v 5% rule.
-
What does an interdisciplinary process of working look like?
-
The common denominator between those that make it as professionals?
-
Cross pollinating from other sports & industries - is it relevant or effective?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:50 - Intro
05:51 - 09:13 - Coaching Pathways
09:14 - 16:30 - The Southampton Way
16:31 - 22:56 - Holistic Development
22:57 - 27:57 - Reflection
27:58 - 34:29 - Character
34:30 - 42:02 - Change & Evolution
Conor Nestor is the head coach of Cambodian Premier League side; Svay Rieng FC. Recently I was fortunate to speak with Conor about his football journey to date. From being a young boy falling in love with the game in Limerick to managing professionally Conor's story is an inspiration to many. Carving out a career following your passion. Hitting a wall, finding a solution. Remaining true to your values. Being clear on your principles. Whether you geek out on football analytics, love the art of coaching or a football romantic this episode has something for all football fans. This is an insightful and deep exploration into Conor's evolution as a person and coach. Expect to hear more about;
-
How following his passion led to a career?
-
The key difference between coaching grassroots and professionally?
-
How multi-faceted is his role as manager?
-
Insights into building a title winning team.
-
How xG saved his job?
-
How not be constrained by your KPI's?
-
Getting lost in the work and getting better at it.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 11:27 - Passion
11:28 - 15:34 - Coaching
15:35 - 25:27 - Management
25:28 - 37:40 - Analysis
37:41 - 42:35 - Session Design
42:36 - 49:02 - Role Models /Leadership
49:03 - 54:02 - Balance
54:03 - 59:19 - Future
59:20 - 1:06:24 - Advice
Conor's Twitter; https://twitter.com/conornestor17?lang=en
Blaine McKenna is a UEFA A Licensed coach who's currently working in Phuket, Thailand. He has been on quite the adventure to date coaching in 11 countries over 5 different continents. In our discussion we focused on Blaine's twin passions, football and psychology. For young coaches out there this is an important conversation about the long road ahead and the challenges you will inevitably encounter. Yet Blaine is here to tell the tale and provides plenty lessons as to how we can all adapt and overcome. Expect to hear more about;
-
The power of networking
-
Why is storytelling important?
-
How to live more in the moment?
-
Looking at the holistic picture as a coach
-
What's it like to deliver a coaching session through a translator?
-
Blaine's evolution as a coach.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:22 - Inspiration
04:23 - 10:02 - Perspective
10:03 - 20:22 - Blaine's journey
20:23 - 26:50 - Coaching practice
26:51 - 33:24 - Evolution
Blaine's Twitter; https://twitter.com/BlaineMcKenna77?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Blaine's Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/bmck77/?hl=en
I was delighted to sit down recently and record with one of my favourite authors; Sam Walker. Sam’s extensive research on leadership has reshaped many peoples thoughts including my own on sculpting a team. 'The Captain's Class' is a book which will certainly stand the test of time. Here in this hour long conversation Sam debunks the myths and fallacies over what true leadership looks like, describing some of the characteristics we come to eulogize Tier One captains by. Furthermore we also discuss how his research has influenced important decisions taken by Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel in recent times. Expect to hear more about;
-
How this was the outcome of 14 years of extensive research!
-
Sam's consensus as to why there is such a diverse range of Tier One teams?
-
How much at odds is this idea of leadership with today's individual powered society?
-
Can a star player also be the key leader?
-
Insights into the selection process of Harry Kane as Gareth Southgate's captain.
-
Why exactly are dynasties so rare?
-
How transferable are these lessons to the business world?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:42 - Intro
06:43 - 15:49 - Carrying Water
15:50 - 23:48 - Intelligent Fouls
23:49 - 36:26 - Leadership Vacuums
36:27 - 41:48 - Why dynasties fail
41:49 - 51:30 - Intentional Leadership
51:31 - 58:48 - Sport v Business
Sam's Twitter; https://twitter.com/samwalkers?lang=en
Sam's Website; https://bysamwalker.com/
Rhys Carr is a UEFA A Licensed individual development coach who's most recent role was at Sheffield United. If you are inclined like me and enjoy the finer intricacies of the game then sit back and listen to an expert from his field. Rhys opens up on his coaching journey to date divulging insights as to what it takes to make it the top. Furthermore he discusses how coaches can help improve that transition for players between passion and profession. What struck me about Rhys was his curiosity, thirst for knowledge and hunger for improvement. We close speaking about the future game and what this requires of the future coach. Expect to hear more about;
-
The cultural evolution of youth development.
-
Reflections upon his time at Sheffield United.
-
The two core tenets behind his individual development philosophy?
-
What lies behind the art of coaching?
-
How to improve the transition between passion & profession?
-
Aligning individual development plans to your game model.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:28 - Intro
04:29 - 10:51 - Sheffield United
10:52 - 20:55 - The Philosophy
20:56 - 28:36 - Individual within the Game Model
28:37 - 34:15 - Principles v Matchday
34:16 - 39:36 - Advice
Rhys' Twitter; https://twitter.com/rhyscarr86?lang=en
Dalibor Plavsic is an analyst with the Canadian men's national team. Yet who is he and how did he get here? In this episode Dalibor gives us an insight into the power of the beautiful game. We speak about the unifying power football can have on a country, best coaching practices, how principles have usurped systems and what he thinks the future of the game ought to look like. From escaping the Yugoslavia war as a young refugee, arriving in Canada to now working with the national team on the verge of making history, this is his story. Expect to hear more about;
-
How football helped to integrate Dalibor within society?
-
Why football is increasingly becoming a game of principles and not systems?
-
The art of coaching beyond “what & if scenarios?”
-
Embracing chaos in session design.
-
Insights into the analysis process within the Canadian men's national team.
-
What is so special about the culture within the Canadian setup?
-
Dalibor's thoughts as to what the future game of football looks like?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:52 - Unifying power of football
07:53 - 13:30 - Principles > Systems
13:31 - 20:52 - Embracing chaos
20:53 - 28:30 - The player
28:31 - 35:32 - Analysis
35:33 - 41:07 - The future game
41:08 - 44:09 - Advice
Dalibor's Twitter; https://twitter.com/DaliborPlavsic_
We have a special episode this week as we gear up for the EURO 2020 Final between Italy & England. We discuss everything including;
-
Why this maybe our favourite international tournament ever?
-
The tactical trends which have defined Euro 2020.
-
How top level football is increasingly becoming more and more about systems?
-
Which key spaces Italy & England will look to dominate on Sunday?
-What is so special about this group of England players?
- Our picks for moment, performance, player & team of the tournament.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:57 - Tactical Trends
09:58 - 23:53 - Final Preview
23:54 - 33:05 - England
33:06 - 46:16 - Moments of the tournament
46:17 - 56:49 - Team of the tournament
Ryan Baldi is author of “The Dream Factory; Inside the Make-Or-Break World of Football's Academies”. The book is a journey deep into the heart of English youth football, revealing in gripping detail how home-grown Premier League stars such as Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander-Arnold are created, and at what cost. Ryan introduces a rich array of characters behind talent production lines at several Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, zooming in on the stories of Alexander-Arnold's unique development, how Rashford's sense of social responsibility was nurtured, and how Phil Foden has become a beacon to City’s young hopefuls. Nonetheless the book also explores the harsh realities of life away from the big academies, yielding unrivalled insight into the machine that manufactures these stars and everything it spits out in the process. Expect to hear more about;
-
Why some clubs do not see the academy process as viable?
-
How clubs are increasingly taking an individual stance towards development?
-
What the process of creating a Marcus Rashford on and off the pitch looks like at Manchester United?
-
Why support networks like Mason Mount's are all too rare?
-
The La Masia of the lower leagues
-
The Phil Foden v Dele pathway
-
If Ryan believes a World Cup or European Championship win would vindicate the process?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 12:10 - English Academy System
12:11 - 17:25 - Individual Development
17:26 - 23:41 - Cultural Architects
23:42 - 33:40 - The role of parents
33:41 - 43:40 - Breaking tradition
43:41 - 47:15 - Foden v Dele pathway
47:16 - 53:23 - Fear
53:24 - 01:04:43 - Future Solutions
Juan Delgado is the Academy Director of Austin FC. As his academy travelled to Dallas for a youth tournament Juan joined me to explain how the project is progressing to date. Juan's experiences at Villarreal, Valencia and Aspire Academy have provided him with tremendous context as to what the future player may look like. In our conversation Juan discusses how we can examine youth development objectively in this increasingly complex era. Moreover we discuss how this process is shaped, refined and adapted to the player's needs. Whether you are building a game model, defining your principles of play or looking for inspiration this is a must listen. Check out below to learn more about;
-
What does football mean to Juan?
-
What's the most challenging part of building an academy?
-
The power of knowing where you want to go.
-
Bypassing fear in youth development.
-
Why any philosophy should start with the player?
-
What does the future game look like?
-
The influence of Marcelo Bielsa on his beliefs.
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:55 - Valencia, Villarreal & Aspire Academy
05:56 - 11:07 - Austin FC
11:08 - 15:25 - Culture
15:26 - 19:43 - Game Model
19:44 - 26:07 - The future game
26:08 - 32:11 - Principles of Play
32:12 - 36:14 - Advice
36:15 - 41:01 - Success
There are few people better qualified to give an insight into top flight recruitment than David Webb. Having initially begun his career with sights on an academy manager's role a trip to Germany changed all of this. Not long after David moved into recruitment roles at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur & Bournemouth where he helped achieve a historic promotion to the Premier League. After this unprecedented success David soon moved into the boardroom with spells as technical director at Östersunds and most recently head of football operations at Huddersfield Town. David's story is one of lifelong learning and here he shares many of the lessons behind his success. Listen to learn more about;
-
What is required of the modern day technical director?
-
How a trip to Germany caused him to pivot?
-
What does a high performance environment look like?
-
What it was like to work daily with Mauricio Pochettino & Eddie Howe?
-
How to use resource constraints to your advantage?
-
How to compliment data alongside traditional scouting processes?
-
Why David is continuously adapting and refining for his next challenge?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:38 - Career path
08:39 - 12:33 - Modern Technical Director
12:34 - 16:44 - Common recruitment mistakes
16:45 - 23:46 - Southampton & Mauricio Pochettino
23:47 - 29:48 - Bournemouth & Eddie Howe
29:49 - 33:10 - Data
33:11 - 41:35 - Huddersfield Town
41:36 - 48:28 - The next challenge
48:29 - 52:03 - Advice
Larry Sunderland is the Director of Player Development at FC Cincinnati. Having worked previously within US youth national team set ups alongside the academies of Chicago Fire & Portland Timbers, Larry knows exactly what it takes to make it as a professional footballer. During our wide ranging conversation we discussed all the internal and external factors which go into shaping young talents. Listen to this episode to learn more about;
-
The importance of self-regulation in youth development?
-
How he narrows the gap between what someone is and what they can become?
-
What it is like to build an academy from the ground up?
-
Why it is important to look past the low hanging fruits of success?
-
The psycho-social components of establishing an identity?
-
Which soft skill must all player's possess if they are to become professional?
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:00 - Early beginnings
05:01 - 08:58 - Self-Regulation
08:59 - 12:55 - “Working in the gap”
12:56 - 17:42 - Environment
17:43 - 29:37 - Philosophy
29:38 - 33:10 - Identity
33:11 - 40:26 - Embracing Adversity
40:27 - 47:14 - Coach Development
47:15 - 49:36 - Legacy
David Dwinger is the founder of JOGO; an AI powered platform which aims to make talent development data & technology insightful and accessible to players and coaches all over the world. David has a brilliant seat at the top of the technology revolution that is gripping the football industry. Despite barely being 13 months old JOGO is now working with 65 academies worldwide and are involved with federations such as FIFA. By the end of our discussion I am even more convinced by the validity of David's work and how important a role software such as JOGO can play a role in youth development. Listen to this episode to learn more about;
-
How artificial intelligence can give you an edge in youth development?
-
How the football landscape is changing?
-
The trials and tribulations of establishing a startup.
-
Why the cognitive aspect of football is radically underappreciated?
-
How clubs can optimize youth development?
JOGO website: https://jogo.ai/
JOGO App; https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jogo-ai/id1524472015
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:01 - Early beginnings
03:02 - 06:38 - Football's changing narrative
06:39 - 09:02 - The startup process
09:03 - 13:27 - How does it work?
13:28 - 15:36 - Player ownership
15:37 - 24:40 - Cognitive aspect of football
24:41 - 28:26 - JOGO projects
28:27 - 31:29 - Advice for launching a startup
Tim Keech is the co-founder of MRKT Insights; a data focused football consultancy who supply data science, technical scouting, and recruitment services to football clubs and ownership groups. 90% of the clubs they have worked with have improved their league finishing position in the subsequent season. Tim joined me recently to explain how clubs can win infinitely and why and how an aligned strategy can springboard your club to success. Listen to this episode to learn more about;
-
The inefficiencies of football's labour market
-
Why this summer could increase the chasm between Europe's elite and the chasing pack?
-
How a multi-club model can save Europe's elite?
-
How strategy can bridge the revenue gap?
-
What the due diligence process looks like for acquiring a club?
-
Implications of Brexit on this summer and beyond?
Tim's Twitter; https://twitter.com/SBunching?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
MRKT Insights website: https://mrktinsights.com/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:03 - Intro
08:04 - 10:40 - Sustainability catalysts
10:41 - 17:28 - Differential models
17:29 - 20:40 - Wage Expenditure
20:41 - 29:56 - The Ownership process
29:57 - 36:04 - Sushi & Chocolate Cake
36:05 - 41:46 - Club Partnerships
41:47 - 45:22 - Transfer Market
45:23 - 51:34 - Elevator Pitch
We have a special episode this week as we dissect the upcoming Champions League Final clash between Manchester City & Chelsea. An advocate of positional play and an alumni of the Ralf Rangnick coaching school there are few better to preview this intriguing tactical clash than Holstein Kiel U-17 coach Christian Dobrick. Listen to find out more including;
-
How Pep Guardiola built a collective bigger than any individual?
-
How Man City regained their rhythm?
-
Why the half spaces are integral to City's game model?
-
How Thomas Tuchel has impacted Chelsea?
-Why Tuchel is unlike any other Premier League coach?
-
Why Chelsea fans should be enamoured by Timo Werner?
-
How undervalued is the role of social competence within top level football?
Christian's Twitter; https://twitter.com/chrdob?lang=en
Christian's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-dobrick/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 15:30 - Manchester City
15:31 - 33:29 - Chelsea
33:30 - 37:18 - Holstein Kiel
John Muller is author of the “Space Space Space” newsletter; a weekly publication musing about data and tactical analysis within football. For quite some time now I have followed John's work and there are few better qualified to give a breakdown on the modern state of data and tactical analysis within football. Listen to this episode to hear more about;
-
How a move to South America and watching Pep's Barcelona fueled a desire to study tactics?
-
Moving from law into football
-
Why we are in a new era of data analytics within football?
-
Preview of the upcoming Champions League Final
-
Why there is no single path to understanding football?
-
What is the next frontier of data analytics?
John's Twitter; https://twitter.com/johnspacemuller?lang=en
“Space Space Space” Newsletter; https://spacespacespaceletter.com/archive/
FiveThirtyEight article: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/soccer-is-learning-to-see-the-whole-game/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:50 - Intro
05:51 - 09:30 - How to analyse a game?
09:31 - 14:15 - Event & Tracking data
14:16 - 21:34 - Data analytics within football
21:35 - 28:56 - Elbow backs
28:57 - 32:51 - Categorising midfielders
32:52 - 41:00 - Man City v Chelsea
41:01 - 49:21 - Validity of data
49:22 - 52:19 - “Learn as much as possible & share what you can”
Essam Alsuhaibani is the Regional Development Manager for Asia at FIFA. In this episode Essam speaks to me about his journey to date and why you should pursue your passion. From growing up in Saudi fascinated with the English and Argentinian game, Essam pursued his curiosity. This eventually takes us to the current day where Essam leads a department at FIFA responsible for developing the Asian game. Listen to how multi-facted the day to day really is at FIFA. Furthermore hear more on ;
-
How football contributed to a cultural shift in Saudi Arabia?
-
Leaving engineering and a scholarship for football
-
What the day to day looks like at FIFA?
-
What is Essam's proudest project to date?
-
How to get started in the football industry?
Essam's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/essam-alsuhaibani-44129422/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:08 - Life in Saudi
08:09 - 14:27 - Liverpool
14:28 - 18:21 - AFC
18:22 - 25:28 - FIFA
25:29 - 27:30 - Proudest Project?
27:31 - 29:53 - Future of Asian Football
29:54 - 32:58 - Advice
Jason Stephens is the co-founder of “Modern Football Group” and is a lecturer in International Football Business at UCFB Wembley. There are few people more qualified than Jason to speak about the global game. The long list of clubs and organisations Jason has worked for includes Charlton, Sao Paulo, Portland Timbers, San Francisco 49ers, Inter Milan, the Cook Islands and Hashtag United. Nevertheless what is it really like to work at these institutions and how did he end up there? Sit back and enjoy this deep dive as Jason pulls back the curtains on his story. We discuss;
-
How early beginnings shaped his journey
-
Innovating youth development with Charlton
-
Getting out of his comfort zone in Brazil
-
Coaching SF 49ers third choice QB
-
Bringing street football to Qatar's labour camps
-
An infamous honeymoon in the Cook Islands
-
Insights as to why the Super League is not over
-
His advice for people wishing to embark on their own football journey
Jason's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonstephens4sports/
“Modern Football Group” LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/company/modern-football-group
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:27 - Early beginnings
08:28 - 18:07 - Brazil
18:08 - 22:44 - USA
22:45 - 26:25 - Inter Milan
26:26 - 34:40 - Qatar
34:41 - 42:28 - Cook Islands
42:29 - 57:45 - Women's football
57:46 - 01:05:20 - UCFB
01:05:21 - 01:17:10 - Modern Football Group
01:17:11 - 1:23:06 - Elevator pitch
Hugo Scheckter is the founder of “The Player Care Group” who are the UK’s first consultancy group focused on Player Care, Team Operations and Player Wellbeing within sporting environments across the world. Yet what exactly is player care? Hugo joined me to reflect upon his career to date and discuss his journey which has included successful periods with Southampton and West Ham. As Hugo begins a new chapter, we sat down to discuss everything including;
-
Running a six figure budget as a student
-
Helping to build Indy Eleven from the ground up
-
How to reduce the risk of a new signing not settling?
-
Why player care is a good investment?
-
How does football compare to other sports?
-
What does it feel like to win at Old Trafford?
Hugo's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugoscheckter/
“The Player Care Group” Website; https://www.playercaregroup.co.uk/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:45 - What is player care?
03:46 - 11:03 - Indy Eleven & College in the US
11:04 - 14:39 - Southampton
14:40 - 21:01 - How is player care perceived?
21:02 - 23:05 - Onboarding process of a new signing
23:06 - 30:04 - “The Player Care Group”
30:05 - 33:53 - Staff burnout in football
33:54 - 37:02 - Legacy
37:03 - 40:09 - Elevator pitch
Eric Gottschalk is the President & CEO of United City Football Club, a Philippine football powerhouse. Last year Eric was part of the MMC Sportz Asia ownership group which acquired “Ceres Negros” a club on the brink of insolvency. Close to a year and a Philippine Championship later Eric sat down with me to discuss the ins and outs of owning and running a football club. We discussed topics such as;
-
What does the ownership process looks like from due diligence to acquisition?
-
A blueprint for building Philippine football
-
Why you cannot give assurances to fans?
-
Why some ownership groups fail?
-
Eric's advice for those wishing to enter the industry
Eric's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-gottschalk-0b774315/
United City Football Club Website; https://www.unitedcityfootballclub.com/
United City Football Club Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/unitedcityfootballclub/?hl=en
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:31 - Philippine Football
04:32 - 09:16 - Acquiring a club
09:17 - 11:44 - Ownership concerns
11:45 - 14:07 - Vision
14:08 - 20:52 - Changing the club's name
20:53 - 26:51 - The big picture
26:52 - 29:56 - The day to day
29:57 - 31:43 - Legacy
31:44 - 34:23 - Elevator pitch
CONIFA, the Confederation of Independent Football Associations, is the football federation for all associations outside FIFA. It’s a global acting non-profit organization that supports representatives of international football teams from nations, de-facto nations, regions, minority peoples and sports isolated territories. CONIFA was founded on the 7th of June 2013, and organized his first World Football Cup in June 2014 in Ostersund, Sweden. Recently I had the pleasure to sit down with Jason Heaton, global ambassador of the organization to discuss all things CONIFA and his passion for football. In a wide ranging discussion we remarked upon the following;
-
Finding your purpose through football
-
Why the strength of an organization is it's people?
-
What does a Kernow FA board meeting look like?
-
Sticking to your principles amid geopolitical pressure
-
The workload of representing a population base of 675 million
CONIFA Website; http://www.conifa.org/en/
CONIFA Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/conifaofficial/
Jason's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-heaton-6a9083106/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:36 - What is CONIFA?
04:37 - 14:00 - Passion for football
14:01 - 18:04 - Common purpose
18:05 - 23:16 - Kernow FA
23:17 - 30:31 - Heart warming stories
30:32 - 33:45 - Upcoming tournaments
33:46 - 40:16 - CONIFA future
40:17 - 44:31 - Closing thoughts
As a new MLS season approaches I sat down with Joe Lowery to preview the upcoming season. Alongside his knowledge of the MLS, Joe has a keen eye for the tactical side of the game. Throughout this episode it was interesting to learn of the strides which MLS teams have made in this area over the past few years. Furthermore we discussed the ins and outs heading into this new season and what neutrals should be looking out for including;
-
Where does the MLS rank in terms of tactical modernity?
-
How Joe Lowery FC would strategize for a playoff run?
-What to expect from Gabriel Heinze at Atlanta United?
-
Why Bob Bradley should never change
-
Predictions for the upcoming season
-
Joe's advice for those aspiring tactical analysts & writers
Joe's Twitter; https://twitter.com/joeclowery?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:54 - Tactics
03:55 - 12:21 - MLS v Modern day tactics
12:22 - 17:44 - Atlanta United
17:45 - 20:46 - Columbus Crew
20:47 - 25:42 - Philadelphia Union & the Supporter's Shield
25:43 - 27:04 - Rest of the East
27:05 - 30:55 - Seattle Sounders
30:56 - 33:53 - Portland Timbers
33:54 - 36:08 - LAFC
36:09 - 41:22 - LA Galaxy & Efrain Alvarez
41:23 - 45:04 - USMNT & Gregg Berhalter
45:05 - 49:55 - Season predictions
A lot of people think; “Wow you work in football!” but what does the reality actually look like? Recently I had the pleasure to sit down with Chris Rush as he reflected upon his 15 years working in professional football at clubs such as Middlesbrough, Manchester City and most recently Blackburn. The interview focuses on the realities working as support staff in the professional game and the circumstances surrounding his recent departure from Blackburn. We discussed topics such as;
-
Working as support staff in football
-
What did the weekly routine look like?
-
When does a passion become a profession?
-
Can universities do a better job at raising awareness among students?
-
Cultural reform
Pacey Performance Survey; https://www.strengthofscience.com/pacey-performance-academy-performance-staff-survey/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:17 - 15 years in football
03:18 - 11:30 - Reasons for leaving professional football
11:31 - 15:15 - Pacey Performance Survey
15:16 - 17:35 - Is it just football?
17:36 - 19:38 - What does a typical week look like?
19:39 - 26:36 - Can universities do better?
26:37 - 31:04 - Reforms
31:05 - 35:30 - What's next for Chris?
Interview with Valencia Academy Director; Sean Bai covering all topics on youth development including;
-
Integrating ideas from other industries into football
-
Sean's advice to growing academies
-
Behind the scenes into the organizational change at Valencia
-
Building a culture during Covid
-
Their process in identifying and developing a youth player
-
Academies as an immune system to FFP & European Super League
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:59 - Sean's role at Valencia
08:00 - 15:32 - Individual first Player second
15:33 - 23:07 - What does the support network around a player look like?
23:08 - 35:25 - Building a culture during Covid
35:26 - 42:34 - Recruitment
42:35 - 47:52 - Pathway to Pro
47:53 - 55:07 - FFP & European Super League
55:08 - 57:18 - Sean's version of success
Interview with UEFA A Candidate and Recruitment & Performance Analysis Consultant
at MRKT Insights; Chris Summersell on all things Tottenham Hotspur including;
-
Growing up with Spurs
-
The Pochettino years
-
Should we cut Mourinho some slack?
-
What tactical tweaks he would make
-
Who Spurs should be targeting in this summer's transfer window?
-
What constitutes success at Spurs?
Chris' Twitter; https://twitter.com/ChrisSummersell
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:47 - Ginola, Gascoigne & White Hart Lane
07:48 - 12:56 - Mourinho
12:57 - 19:13 - Pochettino
19:14 - 25:56 - Demands of the modern day coach
25:57 - 30:41 - Spurs 20/21
30:42 - 41:28 - Proposed changes & Transfer window
41:29 - 48:04 - With or without Mourinho?
48:05 - 53:40 - What is success for Spurs?
Interview with Ben Lyttleton, author of 'Twelve Yards: The Art & Psychology of the Perfect Penalty' & ‘Edge: What Business Can Learn from Football’ covering all topics including;
-
Football as a tool for education & self-improvement
-
How to measure success?
-
The next frontier of talent development
-
Tuchel, Deschamps & developing the individual
-
How Lionel Messi can improve at penalties?
-
Resilience going forward
Ben's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-lyttleton-053a981/
Ben's Twitter; https://twitter.com/benlyt?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Twelveyards substack; https://twelveyards.substack.com/
Football School; https://www.footballschool.co/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 08:25 - Football as a tool
08:26 - 10:10 - Next frontier of talent development
10:11 - 20:48 - Cohesion, measuring success & Tuchel
20:49 - 26:50 - Deschamps & developing the individual
26:51 - 38:18 - Red Bull, Liverpool & defining talent
38:19 - 46:31 - Penalties
46:32 - 51:10 - Football School
51:11 - 57:15 - Resilience
Interview with Andrei Angelescu of UEFA & the Romanian Football Federation on all things fan engagement and TV rights in football including;
-
The commercialisation of today's fan
-
2021 trends
-
Premier League TV Rights
-
La Liga's international growth strategy
-
European Super League
-
Challenges in staging the 2020 Euro's
Andrei's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreiangelescu/
Mihai Neşu Foundation; https://www.mihainesufoundation.com/ro/
“Rendez-vous” Newsletter; https://mailchi.mp/fffce7b7c5d8/discover-the-digital-trends-of-10066329
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:54 - Fan Engagement
07:55 - 10:07 - 2021 Trends
10:08 - 18:29 - TV Rights
18:30 - 20:40 - La Liga
20:41 - 25:20 - European Super League
25:21 - 32:46 - Mihai Neşu Foundation
32:47 - 34:27 - Euro 2020
34:28 - 39:52 - Romanian Football Federation & “Rendez-Vous”
Interview with Jasmine Baba on all things German Football including;
-
Finding a niche within the industry
-
Women in football
-
Joachim Low & German football's equivalent of musical chairs
-
Covid's effect on tactics
-
Julian Nagelsmann's next move
-
Gladbach & Arsene Wenger?!
-
Which German grounds Jasmine is most looking forward to visiting
Jasmine's Twitter; https://twitter.com/_jasminebaba?lang=en
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:00 - Influences & Finding a niche
07:01 - 11:29 - Women in Football
11:30 - 15:03 - German Football
15:04 - 18:34 - Tactical Trends
18:35 - 22:02 - Bayern Munich & Flick
22:03 - 27:17 - RB Leipzig & Nagelsmann
27:18 - 34:15 - Borussia Dortmund & Rose
34:16 - 37:35 - Gladbach & Wenger?!
37:36 - 39:36 - German national team
39:37 - 41:32 - Best of the rest
41:33 - 45:30 - German football weekends
Interview with David Mooney of the “Blue Moon Podcast” & The Athletic's “Why Always Us?” on all things including;
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The Kevin Keegan years
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Maine Road & Binliner's
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The 2008 Takeover
-
Pep Guardiola
-
That 21 game winning run
-
How do City win the Champions League?
David's Twitter; https://twitter.com/DavidMooney?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Blue Moon Podcast; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/blue-moon-podcast-a-manchester-city-https://open.spotify.com/show/3nm5sbmhmOxTD1Q0WydCHk
Why Always Us? Podcast: https://theathletic.com/podcast/159-why-always-us/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 09:07 - Maine Road & Binliner's
09:08 - 16:29 - 2008 Takeover
16:30 - 22:25 - Pep Guardiola
22:26 - 28:39 - Man City this season
28:40 - 33:59 - City's best midfield?
34:00 - 44:40 - Striker issues & Raheem Sterling
44:41 - 50:14 - Champions League woes
50:15 - 53:30 - Guardiola's dynasty
Interview with Smarterscout's Dan Altman on football data's revolution covering topics such as;
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The origins of Smarterscout
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Moving from economics to football
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What we can do v What we can implement
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Differences between roster building in the Premier League & MLS
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Insight into Wayne Rooney's move to DC United
-
Rise of US private equity firms in European football
Smarterscout Twitter; https://twitter.com/smarterscout?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Dan's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/altmandaniel/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 03:27 - Smarterscout
03:28 - 11:01 - Growth of data within football
11:02 - 14:10 - City Football Group, D.C United & Swansea City
14:11 - 17:18 - Premier League & MLS Roster Building
17:19 - 20:13 - Inside Wayne Rooney's move to DC
20:14 - 25:29 - Translating data into practice
25:30 - 28:02 - Rise of US Private Equity firms in European football
28:03 - 30:22 - Future of data within football
Interview and reflections with Lee Johnson on a coaching journey spanning four different continents covering topics such as;
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Societal differences
-
Adapting to different cultures
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“Shoulders of Giants”
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What it was like to coach Chelsea's golden generation
-
Flying 95 times in one year
-
Learning to enjoy the moment
Lee's Twitter; https://twitter.com/leejohnson80?lang=en
Lee's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-johnson-714a7b50/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:31 - Reflections over the past year
06:32 - 15:08 - Societal differences
15:09 - 19:37 - Theory v Practice
19:38 - 30:46 - Chelsea
30:47 - 34:45 - Rwanda
34:46 - 41:24 - India
41:25 - 45:21 - Enjoying the moment
45:22 - 52:34 - Coaching pathways
52:35 - 56:13 - Lee's advice for me
Interview with Oakland S.C Technical Director; Benno Nagel on all things U.S Soccer including;
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Oakland
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“Seeing is believing”
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How to establish a soccer club
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Building an authentic culture
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U.S Development Pathways
-
2026 World Cup & Legacy
Benno's Twitter; https://twitter.com/benno_nagel?lang=en
Benno's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/benno-nagel-78073b122/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 07:29 - Oakland & Development Pathways
07:30 - 11:20 - Cultivating a passion
11:21 - 21:21 - Oakland Roots
21:22 - 32:41 - Identity & Building a club from scratch
32:42 - 34:22 - Oakland S.C
34:23 - 41:24 - U.S Youth Development
41:25 - 47:32 - 2026 World Cup & Legacy
Interview with Alan Feehely on all things La Liga including;
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The Revista de La Liga years
-
Spanish football's ending dominance
-
Barcelona
-
Zidane's future
-
Andalusian football
-
Luis Enrique & the resurrection of Jesus
Alan's Twitter; https://twitter.com/azulfeehely?lang=en
Timestamps;
00:00 - 06:42 - Football journalism & Nostalgia
06:43 - 12:26 - End of Spanish football's dominance?
12:27 - 21:40 - Barcelona
21:41 - 26:34 - Athletic Bilbao & Empty Stadiums
26:35 - 29:50 - Atlético Madrid
29:51 - 35:32 - Real Madrid & Zidane's future
35:33 - 39:53 - Sevilla
39:54 - 45:08 - The Chasing Pack
45:09 - 48:27 - Relegation & Segunda
48:28 - 53:02 - Luis Enrique's Spain & the resurrection of Jesus
Interview with Casey Evans of the Stretford Paddock on all things including;
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The Sir Alex Ferguson years
-
Why he's the Darren Fletcher of the Paddock
-
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future
-
VAR, Peter Walton & Irish Dolphins
-
Ed Woodward & Technical Director's
-
Preview of Sunday's Manchester Derby
Casey's Twitter; https://twitter.com/caseyevans?lang=en
Casey's YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJXpVLFOVET7YatIMTL2Cjg
Stretford Paddock: https://www.youtube.com/user/FullTimeDevils
Timestamps;
00:00 - 11:25 - The Sir Alex Ferguson Years
11:26 - 14:39 - Death of fan culture
14:40 - 19:07 - United this season
19:08 - 29:08 - VAR, Peter Walton & Dolphins
29:09 - 33:37 - Struggles against low blocks
33:38 - 41:41 - Ed Woodward & Technical Director's
41:42 - 46:05 - Jack Grealish & Transfers
46:06 - 58:27 - Ole's future & Styles of play
58:28 - 01:06:34 - Future of football
01:06:35 - 01:13:52 - Manchester Derby & Football media
01:13:53 - 01:15:05 - Closing Credits
Interview with Holstein Kiel U-17 coach Christian Dobrick on all things including;
-
His coaching journey
-
Positional Play
-
Pep Guardiola & Man City tactics
-
German coaching's dynasty
-
Bundesliga ambitions
-
What football can learn from ultimate frisbee
Christian's Twitter; https://twitter.com/chrdob?lang=en
Christian's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-dobrick/
Timestamps;
00:00 - 05:20 - Intro
05:21 - 10:42 - Coaching Influences
10:43 - 19:57 - Positional Play
19:58 - 26:59 - Manchester City, Order & Chaos
27:00 - 31:06 - German coaching's dynasty
31:07 - 36:29 - Thomas Tuchel
36:30 - 38:46 - Bayern Munich
38:47 - 43:57 - Borussia Dortmund
43:58 - 48:39 - Outside Influences & Coaching Styles
48:40 - 53:00 - Multidisciplinary Approach
53:00 - 56:42 - Closing Credits
Interview with Liverpool's throw in coach Thomas Gronnemark on all things including;
-
His footballing journey
-
Overcoming obstacles & using failure as feedback
-
Similarities between Liverpool, Ajax & RB Leipzig
-
That phonecall from Jürgen Klopp
-
How to coach world class players
-
What a typical throw in session looks like
-
Pursuing your passion
Thomas' Website; https://thomasgronnemark.com/
Thomas' YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/user/Succeskultur
Thomas' Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/thomas_throwin/
Thomas' LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-gr%C3%B8nnemark/
Thomas' Twitter; https://twitter.com/thomasthrowin?lang=en
Timestamps;
00:00 - 04:50 - Intro & how to cultivate a passion
04:51 - 08:44 - Multi-disciplinary approach & Mental routines
08:45 - 15:05 - Overcoming obstacles & setbacks
15:06 - 19:50 - Breakthrough moment
19:51 - 22:18 - The power of environment
22:19 -26:26 - Klopp, Liverpool & Inside Melwood
26:27 - 32:33 - Player buyin & Session structure
32:34 - 34:31 - Memorable games
34:32 - 40:21 - Work outside football & pursuing your passion
40:22 - 41:34 - Closing credits
Interview with 'Wings of Change' author Karan Tejwani on all things Red Bull including;
-
Origin of Red Bull's relationship with football
-
How exactly does a multi-club model work?
-
Ralf Rangnick and his influence on German football
-
Recruitment & Succession Planning within Salzburg & Leipzig
-
Julian Nagelsmann & Jesse Marsch's futures
-
The next evolution for RB Salzburg & RB Leipzig
'Wings of Change'; https://www.amazon.ae/Wings-Change-Biggest-Manufacturer-Football/dp/1785317296
https://www.pitchpublishing.co.uk/shop/wings-change
Karan's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/karan-tejwani-45a52414a/
Karan's Twitter; https://twitter.com/karantejwani26?refsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Timestamps;
00:00 - 02:30 - Intro & why write a book on Red Bull?
02:31 - 06:04 - Multi-club models & how do they work?
06:05 - 14:26 - Ralf Rangnick & Youth Development
14:27 - 19:50 - Recruitment Model & Succession Planning
19:51 - 22:00 - Julian Nagelsmann & Jesse Marsch
22:01 -24:28 - Red Bull's footballing future
22:49 - 25:46 - Karan's future projects & closing credits
Interview with long time friend, Barcelona socio & Fuse Senior Account Executive; Albert Bosch concerning;
-
Albert's love for the club
-
Barcelona's season to date
-
preview of upcoming PSG clash
-
the upcoming presidential election
-
club finances and the future of Lionel Messi
Albert's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-bosch/