Modern Soccer Coach Podcast

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

September 10, 2026 44 mins
In this episode of Modern Soccer Coach, Gary is joined by former England Rugby Head Coach Brian Ashton for a fascinating conversation on coaching, player development, creativity and decision-making. Brian led England to the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final and has spent decades working across elite sport, including experiences within Premier League football. He shares the lessons that have shaped his approach to developing players and w...
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Antal Vergeer is a Learning & Development Specialist with the KNVB (Dutch Football Association), working in coach development and education. Before returning to the Netherlands, Antal spent almost seven years working within U.S. Soccer, giving him a unique perspective on two very different approaches to developing coaches and players. In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Curneen sits down with Antal Vergeer to e...
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In this episode of Modern Soccer Coach, Gary Curneen is joined by Jake Pickles for a fascinating discussion around one of the biggest questions in coach development: is there actually a right way to coach soccer? The conversation explores the different theories, methodologies and frameworks that influence modern coaching, from constraints-led approaches and tactical periodization to more traditional ideas around instruction and se...
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Register for our FREE Players Webinar here: https://event.webinarjam.com/vm2mo/register/2454osm0r How do elite players see the game differently — and what can coaches do to develop better decision-makers? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Tomás Pereira, Football Analysis Specialist at the Swedish FA, for a fascinating conversation on decision making, learning and how players deve...
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FREE MSC Players Webinar: Built to Adapt: Resilience That Survives The Season with Peter McDonnell https://event.webinarjam.com/vm2mo/register/2454osm0r In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary is joined once again by Joop Oosterveld, who recently took on the role of Head Coach with Lech Poznań II in Poland. Joop breaks down his approach to session design and explains how coaches can place individual development at...
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How do elite coaches actually teach a game model? In this episode, Gary sits down with Tyler Smaha, Assistant Coach at the University of Kansas, to explore how one of the top women's soccer programs in the country develops player understanding, decision-making, and tactical clarity. Rather than simply discussing principles of play, Tyler explains how Kansas connects its game model to every part of the learning process—from ...
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Player development starts long before players step onto the pitch. In this episode, Gary Curneen sits down with Herman Ottosson, Technical Director at Mjällby AIF Academy in Sweden, to explore one of the most innovative coach development environments in European football. Rather than relying on rigid curriculums or copied training sessions, Herman explains how Mjällby develops adaptable coaches, creates ownership with players, an...
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New MSC Training Session Resources: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/shop What does it really take to build a game model from in a new culture? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen sits down with Andy Thomson, First Team Coach at Beijing Guoan, to explore how he and Nick Montgomery have built a clear football identity in one of the most demanding environments in world football. We dive deep into: B...
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What should a national team actually stand for? Following Australia's 2026 World Cup campaign, one of the biggest debates in football resurfaced: should national teams have a clear identity, and how much responsibility do federations have in shaping the next generation of players? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Drew Taylor, Director of Football at Newington College in Australia, coac...
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Check out MSC World Cup Breakdowns below: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV What should success at the World Cup actually mean for US Soccer? Following the USA's impressive knockout victory over Bosnia, Gary Curneen steps back from the tactics to explore a bigger question: what kind of legacy could this World Cup leave behind? Is success simply about more kids playing the game, or should it be measured by something de...
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Click here for MSC New YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV You can join Bernat's 7-Day Coaching Accelerator for free here: https://modern-coach-hub.teachable.com/purchase?product_id=6638723 What separates the best teams in the world from everyone else? According to coach educator Bernat Mosquera, it might not be possession, pressing, or formations—it might be their ability to control the rhythm o...
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Join us for bonus MSC World Cup content: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV Are hydration breaks helping the game... or hurting it? At the 2026 World Cup, hydration breaks have become much more than player recovery. Coaches are using them to deliver tactical information, adjust game plans, and influence momentum in ways we've never seen before. In this episode, Ashley Gumbrell joins Gary Curneen to discuss: ⚽ The ris...
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Join our World Cup YouTube coverage on MSC TV below: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV What tactical themes are emerging from the opening week of World Cup 2026? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen shares three coaching lessons that have stood out so far from the tournament. Drawing on reports from the MSC analysis team and observations from matches across the competition, we explore why th...
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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 the United States can develop more te...
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Subscribe to MSC World Cup coverage: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV Check out John's World Cup work here: https://patreon.com/JohnWalkerFootballAnalysis?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Scotland are back on the World Cup stage, but what should coaches and fans expect from Steve Clarke's side? In this World Cup preview, Gary Curneen sits d...
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Check out MSC Online Courses this summer: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/analysis 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, or rehearsed movements, their aca...
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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 next wave of...
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Check out MSC Online Courses below: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/analysis 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 conference moments, ...
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Follow MSC World Cup coverage here: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV Check out Silas' book here: https://beyondsuccess.info/book 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 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, ...
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Check Out ‘Performance Football Coaching’ at St Mary’s University below: https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/performance-football-coaching 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. From emotio...
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