Modern Soccer Coach Podcast
The Modern Soccer Coach Podcast delivers in-depth content for soccer coaches through interviews, chats, and personal reflections on topics relevant to elite-level sport. Host Gary Curneen aims to provide valuable insights and practical advice for coaches at all levels. The podcast covers a range of subjects related to the beautiful game, with a focus on improving coaching methods and understanding the game better.
Episodes
Why America Struggles to Develop Creative Soccer Players with Benny Feilhaber
Former US Men's National Team midfielder Benny Feilhaber joins the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast for an in-depth conversation on creativity, player development, and the future of soccer in the United States.
Growing up in Brazil before moving to America, Benny offers a unique perspective on why creative players emerge in certain environments, the role of futsal and unstructured play, and whether th
Scotland's World Cup Reality: Why Haiti Could Be Their Toughest Test - John Walker's Preview
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Scotland are back on the World Cup stage, but what should coaches and fans expect from Steve Clarke's side?
In this World Cup previ
Stop separating technique from decision-making with Bas Van Baar (FC Twente Academy)
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Dutch football has long been admired for its ability to develop intelligent players, but Gary Curneen's recent conversation with FC Twente and Heracles Academy Head of Football Development Bas van Baar offered a fascinating insight into how that process actually works. Rather than focusing on patterns, formations
Why Australia Is Producing Better Players Again with Cam Jones
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen sits down with Cam Jones — former professional player, current Western Sydney Wanderers academy coach, and founder of Spark Football — to explore the current state of player development in Australia. From coming through the Australian “golden generation” era alongside names like Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka to now helping shape the n
10 Years at City: Pep Guardiola’s Legacy on Modern Coaches
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For 10 years, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City became one of the defining teams of modern football. But beyond the trophies and performances, Pep’s greatest impact may have been on the coaches watching from the sidelines.
In this MSC Breakdown, Gary Curneen looks back at Guardiola’s legacy through interviews, press con
Brazil Legend Silas on Maradona, Creativity & the World Cup
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Brazil legend Silas joins Gary Curneen for an incredible conversation on Brazilian creativity, Maradona, the pressure of wearing Brazil’s famous #10 shirt, and why modern football has changed the game forever.
Silas reflects on playing for Brazil at the 19
Game Day Coaching Behaviors with Ashley Gumbrell | Touchline Culture, Emotion & Player Development
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What impact do coaching behaviors really have on players during competition?
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Ashley Gumbrell joins us to discuss one of the most overlooked areas in coach education — game day coaching behavior.
Inside PSV: Why Dutch Development Still Leads the World with Aloys Wijnker
What does one of Europe’s most historic development clubs actually believe about player development in 2026?
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen travels to the Netherlands to sit down with PSV Academy Director Aloys Wijnker for an in-depth conversation on the philosophy, methodology, and environment behind one of football’s great talent factories.
From Ronaldo Nazári
Stop Copying Pro Environments | John Murphy on Coaching Challenges, High School & Player Development
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What happens when coaches try to copy elite professional environments without understanding the players actually in front of them?
John’s coached across multiple levels of the game, including more than a decade in Major League Soccer, over fourteen years as a collegiate head coach, and extensive work as a U.S. Soccer
Didier Chambaron: Why Coaching Courses Aren’t Enough
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Director of Coach Education at U.S. Soccer, Didier Chambaron joins Gary Curneen on Modern Soccer Coach Podcast for one of the most important conversations we’ve had around coach education, player development, and the future of coaching culture in
The Mental Side of Coaching Starts on the Grass with Dan Abrahams
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In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen sits down with Dan Abrahams to explore one of the most important — and often misunderstood — areas in coaching: performance psychology.
Dan also talks about his new book: Compete and get into into w
Aaron Danks - From FA to Bayern Munich: Success Leaves Clues
This week on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, we revisit a 2019 conversation with Aaron Danks — now an assistant coach at Bayern Munich.
This episode was recorded years ago, but when you listen back, what stands out is how early these ideas were being discussed.
We get into specialist coaching, collaboration across staff, and how top environments are designed to develop players — not just run se
Glenn Crooks - Inside Elite US Coaching & Culture: What Top Coaches Do Differently
This week on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Glenn Crooks.
A former Division 1 college coach, MLS commentator for New York City FC, and host of the Coaching Academy on SiriusXM, Glenn brings a unique perspective shaped by years inside the game. His new book, Put It on Frame, draws from conversations with some of the top coaching minds and forms the foundation for a disc
The Truth About High School Soccer in the U.S. with Jim Harte
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High school soccer is often overlooked in the U.S. development landscape — but are we getting this completely wrong?
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Jim Harte shares a powerful perspective on the role of high school soccer, why it continues to thriv
Football Is Unpredictable—But Are We Preparing Players for It? | Steven Caulker
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In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, we sit down with former Premier League defender Steven Caulker to explore the reality of player development, pressure, and what young players actually need today.
Steven shares powerful insi
Voice AI & Why Coaches Are Still Getting Player Evaluation Wrong with Sam Sackett (Impressive Play AI)
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One of the biggest challenges in coaching today isn’t effort — it’s clarity.
Most coaches are still relying on the “eye test”… trying to watch the game, track performance, and make decisions all at the same time. And the reality is, we miss things. Important things.
In this episode
Why Players Stop Improving | Saul Isaksson-Hurst on Individual Development
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This is one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast.
Saul Isaksson-Hurst joins Gary Curneen to break down the reality of individual development in today’s game—and why so many players are plateauing despite working harder than ever.
We get into the bigge
The New Era of Coach Development with Martyn Bowles
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In this episode, Martyn Bowles (Academy Manager at Walsall FC) sits down with Gary Curneen and breaks down what actually drives improvement inside elite environments. This isn’t about licenses or qualifications. It’s about self-awareness, authenticity, and building systems that truly develop people.
We dive into:
Why
Why Our Young, Elite Players Stop Improving by Joop Oosterveld
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This might be one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast.
In this episode, Gary Curneen sits down with Joop Oosterveld, transition coach at BK Häcken and former PSV coach, to break dow
Why Most Strikers Struggle… And How To Fix It with JP Owens
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Most teams say the same thing: “We just need someone to score goals.”
But what if the problem isn’t the player… it’s the understanding of the position?
In this episode, Gary Curneen sits down with JP Owens (Ireland U17 Women’s National Team Performance Analyst & Shelbourne First Team) to break down the detail behind elit
Why You Can’t Win Without Set Pieces Now with Tom Dent
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Tom Dent, First Team Assistant Coach at Vålerenga, to explore one of the biggest shifts in the modern game — the rise of set pieces.
Once seen as a secondary part of football, set plays are now a defining factor in performance. The best teams in the world are no longer just strong in open play — they dominate moments th
Inside the Bodø/Glimt Academy: Culture, Curiosity, and Player Development with Olav Øverli
In this episode, we go inside one of the most fascinating clubs in European football — Bodø/Glimt. Over the past few years, the Norwegian club has built a remarkable culture and player development environment that has helped them compete at the highest levels of the game, including the Champions League.
A big thank you to our sponsor Zone14 Coaching. Their NextGen journals help coaches and player
Matt Crocker on Why US Soccer Must Rethink Player Development
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In this week’s Modern Soccer Coach podcast, I sat down with US Soccer Sporting Director Matt Crocker for an honest conversation about the future of player development in the United States. If the goal is to become a consistent World Cup contender — not just a nation capable of a one-off run — then the biggest shift cann
The Evolution of Positional Play in Modern Football with Bernat Mosquera
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What is happening to positional play in the modern game?
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen sits down again with Bernat Mosquera to explore how football is evolving beyond rigid structures and fixed positions. We dive into the shift from “playing the game model” to playing
Modern Youth Technical Leadership: Building the Environment with Dr. Kyle Ferguson
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Development is more than coaching sessions.
It’s more than a curriculum. More than what happens for 75 minutes on a Tuesday night. And it’s definitely more than league position.
In this episode, Dr. Kyle Ferguson joins Gary Curneen to explore what youth technical leadership really
Personality of the Coach Matters More Than We Admit in Youth Soccer with Haris Memisevic
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In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary is joined by Haris Memisevic, Technical Director and Head of Coaching at Virginia Revolution, for a deep conversation on youth session design and coach development.
One of the big themes we explore is how often coaches confuse high tempo with hi
Why Clubs Still Get Psychology Wrong with Dan Abrahams
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Most clubs agree psychology matters.
The challenge is turning that belief into daily practice.
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined in person by sports psychologist Dan Abrahams, alongside coach and coach developer Kevin Leahy, to explore how psychology can be implemented properly inside f
“It’s Not About You” - The Biggest Leadership Mistake in Modern Football with Paul McVeigh
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary is joined by Paul McVeigh — former Premier League player, performance psychologist, CEO, keynote speaker, and author of the new book It’s Not About You.
Paul brings a rare perspective, having lived inside elite football dressing rooms and now working at the highest levels of leadership in the business world. Together, we explore where leade
The “Third Way”: Blending Positional Play and Relationism with Patrice Gheisar
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In this episode, Gary is joined by Patrice Gheisar for a deep, practical conversation on one of the most misunderstood debates in modern coach
The Age-Group Reset: Turning US Youth Soccer’s Biggest Disruption into an Advantage with Tom Shields
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The US Soccer age group rule change is here — and it’s creating real uncertainty across the youth soccer landscape. In this Modern Soccer Coach podcast episode, Gary Curneen is joined by STA Technical Director Tom Shields to explain exactly what’s changing (birth-year registration to a seasonal/schoo
What Should The Future of Coaching Look Like? (2025 MSC Podcast Review)
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In the final Modern Soccer Coach podcast of 2025, we step back from tactics and trends and ask a bigger question:
What will the game look like in
Is The Art of Defending Dead? Danny Collins & Ike Opara on the Center Back Position Today
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Is the art of defending dead?
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach podcast, Gary Curneen sits down with former Premier League and MLS center backs Danny Collins and Ike Opara to break down how the center back position has changed — and what might be getting lost along the way.
The conversation
Are Attacking Throw-Ins The Most Undervalued Scoring Opportunity in the Game? With Luis Swisher (MLS)
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In this episode, Gary Curneen is joined by Luis Swisher, U18/U19 coach at St. Louis City SC (MLS), to break down one of the most undervalued attacking moments in soccer: throw-ins.
Most teams get 25–45 throw-ins per match, yet very few coach them with the same detail as
Why United States Aren't Producing Enough 1v1 Players – Fred Lipka (MLS Technical Director)
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This week Gary sits down with Fred Lipka, Technical Director of Youth Development at Major League Soccer. Few people have influenced the MLS academy lands
Why Youth Players Need More Than One System to Truly Learn the Game with Ike Opara
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Are we making youth players too robotic?
Two-time MLS Defender of the Year Ike Opara joins the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast to dive deep into youth development, problem solving, growth mindset, and why young players need far more than a fixed “system” to
Per Mertesacker: How Arsenal REALLY Develops Young Players
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Per Mertesacker joins Gary for a deep dive into youth development, leadership, and the Strong Young Gunners philosophy that drives Arsenal’s world-class academy.
In this conversation, Per explains how football teaches life, why ch
Flamengo’s DNA Explained: Intensity, Identity, and Creativity with Caique Andrade
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In this episode, Gary is in Rio again to sit down with Caique Andrade from Flamengo’s U20 staff for an inside look at one of the world’s most demanding development environments. The conversation dives into the culture, expectations, and daily standards that shape young players at a club where intensity, identity, an
Principles Over Patterns | Ray Power on Rethinking the Modern Press & Coaching 'Philosophies'
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In this episode, Gary welcomes Ray Power back to the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast for his third appearance — and one of the most important discussions yet. Together, they explore why modern coaching has become overly
"Know the Detail. Deliver it Simply" - Natalie Henderson on Modern Coaching
In this episode of the MSC Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Natalie Henderson, Assistant Coach with the Canada Women’s National Team and former England and Newcastle United coach.
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Together, they explore one of the most important — and often overlooked — challenges in modern football: how to stay authentic in a world full of
Martin O’Neill Returns to Celtic: ‘Football Has Become Overcomplicated’”
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As Martin O’Neill returns to Celtic Football Club, we revisit a powerful conversation that captures everything he stands for as a coach and leader. From his early days under Brian Clough to managing Leicester, Celtic, Aston Villa, and the Republic of Ireland, O’Neill has lived through every phase of football’s evol
Street to Structure: How Brazil Builds Better Thinkers, Not Just Technicians with Eduardo Oliviera
In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary sits down in Brazil with Eduardo Oliviera, an experienced coach who has worked with Brazil youth national teams and U20 teams at Botofogo, Atletico Mineiro, and Fluminese. He is also the author of the excellent book: Brazilian Coaching Methodology: Foundation Phases (Ages 5-12).
Eduardo offers a fascinating look at what truly defines Brazil
How Good Is U.S. Player Development? A Tactical Breakdown with Alessandro Davite (Roma & Inter Milan)
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Following the USA U20 team’s impressive showing at the FIFA U20 World Cup, Gary Curneen sits down with Alessandro Davite — a UEFA A Licensed Coach and Tactical Analyst who has worked with AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Sora — to take an objective, global look at how f
Easy Is Boring — Inspiring Young Minds with Phil Phillipou
In this episode, Gary Curneen is joined by Phil Phillipou, author of Inspiring Young Minds, to explore how coaches can build youth environments that go beyond drills and technique — and actually develop people.
From the chaos of his first youth session back to the deeper psychology behind learning, Phil shares honest, experience-driven lessons for every coach working in today’s game. Together, th
Inside The Aspire Summit: Coaching Lessons from Southgate, Benitez, Nancy & Nesta
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In this episode, Gary shares reflections from the 11th Aspire Academy Global Summit in Philadelphia — a two-day event hosted in collaboration with the Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer.
With world-class speakers like Rafa Benítez, Gareth Southgate, Wi
The Fluminese Blueprint: How to Create Intelligent, Adaptable Players with Andre Medeiros
On this week’s Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary sits down in Rio de Janeiro with André Medeiros, the man who has helped shape Fluminense’s methodology for over 25 years. Recorded during Gary’s recent visit as part of the TetraBrazil Tour, this conversation dives deep into how Brazil’s most respected academies view player development, coaching, and the evolving game.
André shares incredible insig
Trails Not Rails! Inside Vasco da Gama Methodology with Gabriel Bussinger
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Gary is joined by Gabriel Bussinger (Vasco da Gama) to explore their unique approach to elite player development.
Gabriel explains the following:
✨ What it means to be player-centered vs. game-centered
✨ Balancing chaos and organization in development
✨ Why methodology should grow from practice to theory—not the other way around
Standout
Guerrilla Football and the Power of Simplicity with John Wall
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In this episode, John Wall shares insights from his time as assistant coach for the Jamaican National Team (2022–2024). He discusses how to maximize player strengths, simplify complexity, and create repeatable structures, even with l
Rethinking "Football Intelligence" with Jes Buster Madsen
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Jes is current Director of Football and Data Science at the Saudi Pro League and former Head of Research & Development at FC Copenhagen. He unpacks the science behind “football intelligence" and explains why vague terms like game IQ fall short, and how neuroscience can help coaches break intelligence down into co
Solving Football's Creativity Problem with Ian McCall
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In recent years, creativity in football has become a hot topic. Many fans, coaches, and analysts have noticed that the modern game, while faster and more tactically advanced, sometimes feels robotic. Players follow strict systems, teams recycle familiar patterns, and moments of ge
Mental Health, Emotional Intelligence Development, Leadership and Coaching with Sue Parris
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Gary is joined by Sue Parris, an emotional welfare specialist who has worked in professional football. for almost 15 years. Sue is an emotional intelligence advocate and developer, as well as Founder of The Changing Room and Simply Human and Head of Welfare and senior consultant for The Player Care Group. She sp
The Game Is Not The Teacher. The Coach Is The Teacher - Carsten Dohm
Gary is joined by Carsten Dohm, Head of Coaching San Diego FC (MLS) and Right To Dream. The San Diego FC project started last year, but Right To Dream have been impacting the football development world in a big way for over 25 years. They believe that "Everyone has the right to dream and talent deserves opportunity." Their work all over the world has launched the careers of 146 professional footba
The Tactical Chameleon: Xabi Alonso's Philosophy With Tim Stegmann
Gary is joined by author and coach Tim Stegmann to discuss his outstanding new book Xabi Campeon. Tim takes an in-depth look at Xabi's coaching journey including his personal influences, the remarkable transformation at Leverkusen and the tactical innovations
behind Alonso’s dynamic and dominant style.
What influential methodologies from Spanish football form the foundation of his philosophy? An
Football Theory and Coaching Verticality with Ilya Orlov
Gary is joined by Director of Football and Head Coach at Alliance United and University of Toronto, Ilya Orlov.
In this interview, Ilya delves into the intricate background of his innovative football ideas, providing a comprehensive overview that is deeply rooted in the principles of the Football Theory approach.
He articulates how this theoretical framework serves as a foundation for his unde
Chelsea Approach To Player Development With Adi Viveash
Gary is joined by Adi Viveash, who recently joined Middlesbrough first team coaching staff and also spent eight years at Chelsea as assistant Academy and assistant reserve team coach before being named Under-18 manager in July 2011. He was promoted to development squad manager in 2014, which saw him lead Chelsea’s Under-21s. During his time at Chelsea, among the players Adi had a key hand in devel
Preparing Tactically for Pre-Season with Jo Chubb
Gary is joined by Coastal Carolina University head coach, Jo Chubb, to discuss the progress that the team has made in recent years and where she is targeting to evolve for the upcoming fall season. Pre-season preparation is often focused around the physical side of the game, but Jo believes that the tactical and individual development areas must take center stage in order to compete at the elite l
Barca Academy Learning, Coach Development and US Player Development with Conor Walsh
Gary is joined by Academy Director and 1st team coach at Chicago City FC, Conor Walsh. They discuss Conor's experience at the Barca academy, his approach to personal development, how coach and player development align, and the north American player development model.
Listen to Conor interviewing Gary on The Lowdown Podcast below:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lowdown/id1553685531?i=1
Elite Level Back 3 Attacking Principles with Laurent Courtois
Gary is joined by Laurent Courtois to talk about the details behind his back 3 system. Laurent was most recently head coach at CF Montreal (MLS) and has also worked at Columbus Crew 2 and LA Galaxy. In this interview he talks about:
- Balancing patience with verticality
- When freedom enters attacking principles versus structure
- Player profiles of each position
- Training flow and planning
Pl
"Don't Isolate Set-Pieces in the Game Model" with Ruben Santos
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Gary is joined by Ruben Santos to discuss how to align set-piece frameworks and training into the Game Model. Ruben has worked at a number of Portuguese clubs including CD Trofense, FC Porto, and Torreesnse. His presentation for MSC is around "dividing Set-Pieces into Sub-Phases, the aim is not to remove the complexity of F
What Makes a Great First Touch? Slawomir Morawski On the Art & Science of Football Decision Making
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Gary is joined by Analyst at Bolton Wanderers Football Club and coach Slawomir Morawski to discuss the first touch in football. Slawomir argues that first touch is not just a technical action, but instead a cognitive one where decision making
A Different Approach to Data! Analytics and Flying Birds with David Sumpter
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Gary is joined by Professor, Soccermatician and co-founder of Twelve, David Sumpter. He has worked with some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Barcelona and Ajax, and his company Twelve are helping support professional clubs all around the world with data solutions. David's approach is certainly unique. He has studied and researc
Messi Live Experience, PSG Tactical Appreciation and World Club Cup with Conor Walsh
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Gary takes a trip to Atlanta to watch Lionel Messi live for the first time. He talks to Chicago City FC Academy Director and 1st team head coach, Conor Walsh about the impact of Messi, the tactical work of Luis Enrique and the player profile of Cole Palmer.
"Grassroots Game Today Is Worse Than Ever!" - Dean Austin (Coventry City Head of Recruitment)
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Gary is joined by Coventry City Head of Recruitment, Dean Austin to discuss the current landscape of player development in England. The rise of the game at the highest level is potentially impacting the youth game and Dean gives his expert opinion why. He also discusses his role as Head of Recruitment at Coventry a
2v1 Philosophy and REALLY Coaching Attacking Football with Andre Schumacher
Gary is joined by Andreas Schumacher to talk about his new book, 'Two Versus One' and the complexity of coaching attacking football. Andre has written the book alongside Bernhard Peters and is challenging coaches to get into more detail and context when coaching teams to score goals.
Andreas has a masters degree in Sports Science and has worked at a number of professional clubs including Hamburg
Lee Grant Journey: From Man Utd Goalkeeper to Forwards Coach.... To Head Coach!
Gary travels to Ipswich Town to speak with assistant coach Lee Grant (since then he's been appointed head coach at Huddersfield Town) to talk about his unique journey in the game, plus his insights to individual development. Lee was a pro goalkeeper at Manchester United and then joined Kieran McKenna's staff as a forwards coach, before recently taking the job at Huddersfield.
Player development
How to Develop Creative and Independent Elite Players with Dan Micciche
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Gary recently travelled over to England to meet Dan Micciche for a coffee and a chat about the progress they have made in the area of player development. In addition to his passion around the game, Dan has worked in some outstanding environment's (England FA, Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton
Rui Faria on Tactical Methodology, Working with Mourinho, and Current State of the Game!
Gary is joined by Rui Faria this week. Rui had seventeen years working with Jose Mourinho at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United with phenomenal success during this time. He is credited with the tactical methodology that has had a dramatic impact on the world of coaching. Here he discusses:
- What is the REAL starting point for a tactical methodology
- How did Rui and M
Creating a 'Captivating' Youth Soccer Environment with Ashley Gumbrell
Gary is joined by Ashley Gumbrell to discuss ways that coaches can create an optimal environment for young players to love and learn the game. Ashley is a Coach Developer and also a lecturer at St. Mary's University. He also discusses the role of coach education along with his work with Eamon Devlin at Minute9.
The St Mary’s University Performance Football Coaching master’s is a unique opportuni
Improving Player Engagement and Challenging Coach Behaviors at Youth Level with Jack Rolfe
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Gary is joined by Jack Rolfe, founder of The Coaching Lab, to discuss ways that coaches can improve and challenge some traditional behaviors during training session. Jack has worked extensively with coaches around the world to improve training environments and maxi
"The Current College Landscape is Terrifying!" - College Soccer Today with Jack Winter
Gary is joined by Jack Winter, who most recently worked at Stanford University as an assistant coach, to discuss the current landscape of college soccer. In this interview, Jack gives his views on the following:
- Impact on the Portal and NIL in the college game
- How high transfer rates impact team culture
- Why soccer programs should be compensated if players move to advance their careers
- The
Role of Cognitive and Neuroscience-Based Training with Dr. Konstantin Sonkin (CEO of i-BrainTech)
On the recent Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, we spoke to Dr. Konstantin Sonkin about the role of neuro training in the world of elite player development. Dr. Sonkin is a DeepTech entrepreneur with a blend of business acumen and technical expertise in Neuroscience and AI. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of i-BrainTech, a SportsTech company that is leveraging the power of applied science and neuro traini
Development Destroyer? Does the Thirds of Play Model Impact Creativity in Football Development with Jake Pickles
Coaches: You can read Jake's full article here:
https://theraumdeuter.sport.blog/2024/12/14/boxed-in-how-the-thirds-of-play-impact-creativity-in-football-development/
Gary is joined by former Premier League Academy Coach, Jake Pickles, to discuss and challenge a common approach to possession football: the thirds model. Jake believes that, rather than educating players on the tactical principles
Technique, Risk & Player Development: Inside ACF Fiorentina Youth Methodology with Mirko Mazzantini
In this episode we visit ACF Fiorentina in Italy to talk to Mirko Mazzantini (ACF Fiorentina Technical Director U8–U15) who discusses the youth methodology at the club. It's a fascinating insight into structure vs. freedom, development vs. winning, and even how coach compensation is structured within the academy.
The St Mary’s University Performance Football Coaching master’s is a unique opportun
Liverpool FC's Academy Culture & Analysis Journey To Saudi Pro League with Ray Shearwood
Gary was recently joined by former Al Ettifaq FC 1st Team Lead Analyst, Raymond Shearwood. Before his role on Steven Gerrard's staff at Al Ettifaq, Raymond spent nine years at Liverpool coaching and working from the starting age groups to the Under 21's. In this interview, Raymond shares unique insights on what made that Liverpool culture so special and how they blended football development with l
Training Intensity Has To Be Higher Than The Game! - Mark Briggs Interview
Coaches: Register for MSC Set-Piece Webinar Below:
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/442/k3g3rbgy
Gary is joined by former Sacramento Republic head coach Mark Biggs. Mark discusses the difference between the idealistic world of coaching and the realistic version. He shares insight around how he used data to drive the player profile at Sacramento, changing the culture, playing a 13 year old in
What Does a Pro Level Director of Coaching REALLY Do? With Joshua Neff
Coaches: Register for our FREE MSC Set-Piece Webinar with Michele Aragona below:
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/442/k3g3rbgy
This week, Gary is joined by Head of Coaching at Wellington Phoenix, Joshua Neff, to discuss the Director of Coaching role at youth and pro clubs. Joshua shares his experience at the New Zealand club of building out a methodology but also aligning it with a 'coaching
How 3v3 Can Change the Youth Game & Reaction to English FA's Decision with Peter Prickett
Don't miss our 4-2-3-1 Webinar on March 7th. Register Below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/msc-webinar-coaching-the-4-2-3-1-system-principles
Last week there was a huge announcement in the world of youth soccer with the English FA confirming it as a game format next calendar year. So what does that mean for development? What will the landscape look like moving forward? How are co
The Player is a Product of the Environment - Life at Chelsea U21's with Mark Robinson
Gary is joined by Mark Robinson to discuss the world of Elite Player Development and his role at Chelsea and AFC Wimbledon. Breaking into a first team at a Champions League club is no easy feat and Mark provides a unique insight into the weekly process of training and managing world class potential. He also provides ideas in coach development and discusses the innovative processes at AFC Wimbledon
What Happened to the Mavericks?! Structure vs. Freedom with Kevin Nicol
UPCOMING WEBINAR: Coaching Principles in a 4-2-3-1 System (Register Below)
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/msc-webinar-coaching-the-4-2-3-1-system-principles
Gary is joined by Head Coach at Mjøndalen (Norway and UEFA Pro Licence Coach, Kevin Nicol. Alongside his professional coaching journey, Kevin has studied the 'structure versus creativity' theme in detail and has written a res
The Soccer of Business: Leadership and Professional Development Lessons with Ciarán McArdle
If you missed the latest MSC webinar on Coaching Your Back 3, watch the replay below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/shop
In this episode Gary is joined by Ciarán McArdle, to discuss his new leadership book, Soccer of Success. As a co-founder of XL Soccer World, Ciarán has built a thriving network of sports facilities that span from Florida to Maine, welcoming over 3 million visitors annually
Understanding Football Actions, Interactions & References with Yiannis Tsala
Gary is joined by FC London head coach and Director of Methodology, Yiannis Tsala, who discusses football actions, interactions and references - alongside coaching and analysis. With more research around decision-making areas in recent years, theory and practice seem to be drifting further and further apart, making it more challenging for coaches to implement new concepts and ideas. However, in th
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