Our guest on Episode #55 of the TGG Podcast is Mark Leyland.
Mark is one of the foremost analysts in this country and has become much more than that. He started his career in the Academy at Everton and went on to work for Burnley, Liverpool and Newcastle.
Mark is one of the few backroom staff to be name-checked by managers. Eddie Howe described him as 'integral' and said 'we love him to bits,' while Jurgen Klopp said he had played 'a big part' in Liverpool's success.
Mark was a Post-Match Analyst for Liverpool, evolved into a Coach-Analyst at Newcastle and is now Head of Coaching Methodology for City Football Group.
Simon Austin spoke to Mark in front of a live audience at Hudl's UK Football Conference at Loughborough University.
SHOW NOTES=>
02:14: Starting to work in football. Analysing games on VHS with Dave Raven. Intern with Everton. Early lessons.
09:45: Delivering feedback in a constructive way. Importance of relationships. Working with young players.
11:53: Elite players employing their own analysts.
13:17: First team football with Burnley. Working with Eddie Howe and then Sean Dyche. Help of Harrison Kingston.
18:08: Working at Liverpool. Evolution of the analyst role. Elite development group and focus on individual development.
20:46: Divock Origi embracing analysis. Has his own analyst and Wyscout account.
22:05: Working in tandem with the data science department at Liverpool. Players more used to working with data now.
25:41: Working closely with the coaches at Liverpool/ spending more time on the training pitch.
28:54: Even including the ball boys in analysis at Liverpool, leading to famous winner against Barcelona in the Champions League semis.
30:31: Joining Newcastle/ how the Coach-Analyst title came about. Will it become more prevalent in future?
37:16: Switch to City Football Group/ how it came about/ pressures of being in a first-team environment and difficulty of getting a work-life balance in football.
42:09: What does Head of Coaching Methodology involve?
44:38: Personal ambitions for the future?
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com