Modern Soccer Coach Podcast
Our goal is to bring in-depth content to coaches with a combination of interviews, chats, and personal thoughts on the topics that really matter in the beautiful game and elite-level sport. Enjoy and thanks for listening! - Gary
Episodes
June 5, 2025 • 59 mins
Join the MSC Insider for more Exclusive Content:
https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions
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) and shares his views on the follo...
Mark as Played
May 28, 2025 • 65 mins
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 Mourinho create different styles in ...
Mark as Played
May 15, 2025 • 65 mins
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 opportunity to learn from world renowned aca...
Mark as Played
Check out Jack's Game Changer online course below -
https://thecoachinglab.org/pages/game-changer-2025-online-sports-coaching-course
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 maximize enjoyment levels of the player...
Mark as Played
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 'transactional' nature of college ...
Mark as Played
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 training to radically enhance cognitive f...
Mark as Played
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 of the game, it limits creativity a...
Mark as Played
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 opportunity to learn from world renowned ac...
Mark as Played
March 24, 2025 • 72 mins
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 leadership and life skills. Raymond'...
Mark as Played
March 17, 2025 • 51 mins
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 a pro game and the importance of t...
Mark as Played
March 10, 2025 • 52 mins
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 culture' that is built around trus...
Mark as Played
March 5, 2025 • 46 mins
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 coaches going to prepare for this? Th...
Mark as Played
February 26, 2025 • 60 mins
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, including sending youth players t...
Mark as Played
February 18, 2025 • 51 mins
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 research article on it also.
In this...
Mark as Played
February 9, 2025 • 43 mins
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. His passion for soccer has not on...
Mark as Played
February 2, 2025 • 43 mins
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 this interview, Yiannis does an outst...
Mark as Played
January 21, 2025 • 39 mins
Don't Miss Our MSC Coaching a Back 3 Webinar:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/live-webinar-coaching-a-back-3-system-effectively
Gary is joined by Union Omaha head coach Dominic Casciato, who discusses his coaching journey and gives insights on how coaches can adapt to the different challenges that may arrive along the way. Dominic also discusses the role of data, sport science and how learning changes as players pr...
Mark as Played
January 15, 2025 • 44 mins
Coaches: Please leave a rating for the Podcast if you enjoy listening to it. Also check out our 'Coaching the Back Three' Webinar on February 3rd with Bernat Mosquera below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/live-webinar-coaching-a-back-3-system-effectively
We are joined by former Queens Park academy coach, Ian McCall to discuss the Play-Practice-Play methodology. Of course, there are a number of benefits around havin...
Mark as Played
December 30, 2024 • 63 mins
MSC Special Offer Below!!
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/2025-special-offer-coach-bundle
This week, Gary talks to current professional striker Conor Washington about the position and ways to potentially improve how it is coached from youth to senior level.
With over 400 appearances at the professional level at clubs including Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, plus 40 caps at international level, Conor has exp...
Mark as Played
December 17, 2024 • 60 mins
COACHES: As it's approaching the end of the year, we would love you to take the time to leave a rating and a quick review on the Podcast. Thanks!
Todd Beane talks with Gary on whether we are making progress in coach education, the landscape in the US, and how environments can challenge coaches as well as players!
Watch FREE Todd Beane MSC Webinar Here:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/todd-beane-guest-webinar-high...
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.