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;

- Is there a perfect way or environment to develop a player ?

- Why Philadelphia Union have such a successful track record in youth development ?

- 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/

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;

- Inside Georgia’s robust training and analysis ahead of the Euros.

- What David’s moment of the tournament was ?

- 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/

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/

YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod

Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

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

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/

YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod

Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

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;

- 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

"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/

YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod

Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

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

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/

YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod

Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

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

"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/

YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod

Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

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