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
October 22, 2025 • 18 mins
Read Alessandro's article FREE below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/inside-the-tactical-evolution-of-usa-s-u20-world-cup-team
Following the USA U20 team’s impressive showing at the FIFA U20 World Cup, Gary Curneen sits down with Alessandro Davite — a UEFA A Licensed Coach and Tactical Analyst who has worked with AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Sora — to take an objective, global look at how far U.S. player development has come...
Mark as Played
October 16, 2025 • 48 mins
In this episode, Gary Curneen is joined by Phil Phillipou, author of Inspiring Young Minds, to explore how coaches can build youth environments that go beyond drills and technique — and actually develop people.
From the chaos of his first youth session back to the deeper psychology behind learning, Phil shares honest, experience-driven lessons for every coach working in today’s game. Together, they discuss:
Why modern players str...
Mark as Played
October 14, 2025 • 20 mins
Get FREE notes here:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/inside-the-aspire-summit-coaching-lessons-from-southgate-benitez-nancy-nesta
In this episode, Gary shares reflections from the 11th Aspire Academy Global Summit in Philadelphia — a two-day event hosted in collaboration with the Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer.
With world-class speakers like Rafa Benítez, Gareth Southgate, Wilfried Nancy, and Alessandro Nesta,...
Mark as Played
October 9, 2025 • 55 mins
On this week’s Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary sits down in Rio de Janeiro with André Medeiros, the man who has helped shape Fluminense’s methodology for over 25 years. Recorded during Gary’s recent visit as part of the TetraBrazil Tour, this conversation dives deep into how Brazil’s most respected academies view player development, coaching, and the evolving game.
André shares incredible insights on:
Why respect sits at the ve...
Mark as Played
October 2, 2025 • 61 mins
Check out TetraBrazil below:
https://www.tetrabrazil.com/
Gary is joined by Gabriel Bussinger (Vasco da Gama) to explore their unique approach to elite player development.
Gabriel explains the following:
✨ What it means to be player-centered vs. game-centered
✨ Balancing chaos and organization in development
✨ Why methodology should grow from practice to theory—not the other way around
Standout quotes:
👉 “Rails confine talent. ...
Mark as Played
September 25, 2025 • 48 mins
Watch John's full presentation FREE below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/purpose-planning-and-people-insight-into-jamaica-s-blueprint-with-john-wall
In this episode, John Wall shares insights from his time as assistant coach for the Jamaican National Team (2022–2024). He discusses how to maximize player strengths, simplify complexity, and create repeatable structures, even with limited resources. Topics include tr...
Mark as Played
September 18, 2025 • 67 mins
Join MSC Insider Below:
https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions
Jes is current Director of Football and Data Science at the Saudi Pro League and former Head of Research & Development at FC Copenhagen. He unpacks the science behind “football intelligence" and explains why vague terms like game IQ fall short, and how neuroscience can help coaches break intelligence down into concrete, trainable skills like atten...
Mark as Played
September 11, 2025 • 38 mins
Join MSC Insider and access Ian's full presentation below:
https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions
In recent years, creativity in football has become a hot topic. Many fans, coaches, and analysts have noticed that the modern game, while faster and more tactically advanced, sometimes feels robotic. Players follow strict systems, teams recycle familiar patterns, and moments of genuine spontaneity feel rare.
Ian M...
Mark as Played
September 4, 2025 • 64 mins
Join MSC Insider Below:
https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions
Gary is joined by Sue Parris, an emotional welfare specialist who has worked in professional football. for almost 15 years. Sue is an emotional intelligence advocate and developer, as well as Founder of The Changing Room and Simply Human and Head of Welfare and senior consultant for The Player Care Group. She spent eight years at Brighton and Hov...
Mark as Played
August 28, 2025 • 67 mins
Gary is joined by Carsten Dohm, Head of Coaching San Diego FC (MLS) and Right To Dream. The San Diego FC project started last year, but Right To Dream have been impacting the football development world in a big way for over 25 years. They believe that "Everyone has the right to dream and talent deserves opportunity." Their work all over the world has launched the careers of 146 professional football players, equipped hundreds of ou...
Mark as Played
August 21, 2025 • 54 mins
Gary is joined by author and coach Tim Stegmann to discuss his outstanding new book Xabi Campeon. Tim takes an in-depth look at Xabi's coaching journey including his personal influences, the remarkable transformation at Leverkusen and the tactical innovations
behind Alonso’s dynamic and dominant style.
What influential methodologies from Spanish football form the foundation of his philosophy? And why do coaches from the Basque Co...
Mark as Played
August 14, 2025 • 61 mins
Gary is joined by Director of Football and Head Coach at Alliance United and University of Toronto, Ilya Orlov.
In this interview, Ilya delves into the intricate background of his innovative football ideas, providing a comprehensive overview that is deeply rooted in the principles of the Football Theory approach.
He articulates how this theoretical framework serves as a foundation for his understanding of the game, emphasizing ...
Mark as Played
August 12, 2025 • 52 mins
Gary is joined by Adi Viveash, who recently joined Middlesbrough first team coaching staff and also spent eight years at Chelsea as assistant Academy and assistant reserve team coach before being named Under-18 manager in July 2011. He was promoted to development squad manager in 2014, which saw him lead Chelsea’s Under-21s. During his time at Chelsea, among the players Adi had a key hand in developing were Marc Guehi, Conor Gallag...
Mark as Played
August 7, 2025 • 61 mins
Gary is joined by Coastal Carolina University head coach, Jo Chubb, to discuss the progress that the team has made in recent years and where she is targeting to evolve for the upcoming fall season. Pre-season preparation is often focused around the physical side of the game, but Jo believes that the tactical and individual development areas must take center stage in order to compete at the elite level of college soccer. Jo also dis...
Mark as Played
August 2, 2025 • 51 mins
Gary is joined by Academy Director and 1st team coach at Chicago City FC, Conor Walsh. They discuss Conor's experience at the Barca academy, his approach to personal development, how coach and player development align, and the north American player development model.
Listen to Conor interviewing Gary on The Lowdown Podcast below:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lowdown/id1553685531?i=1000718893788
Mark as Played
July 24, 2025 • 54 mins
Gary is joined by Laurent Courtois to talk about the details behind his back 3 system. Laurent was most recently head coach at CF Montreal (MLS) and has also worked at Columbus Crew 2 and LA Galaxy. In this interview he talks about:
- Balancing patience with verticality
- When freedom enters attacking principles versus structure
- Player profiles of each position
- Training flow and planning
Please check out SportsLab360 below: ...
Mark as Played
July 17, 2025 • 46 mins
Join MSC Insider Here:
modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions
Gary is joined by Ruben Santos to discuss how to align set-piece frameworks and training into the Game Model. Ruben has worked at a number of Portuguese clubs including CD Trofense, FC Porto, and Torreesnse. His presentation for MSC is around "dividing Set-Pieces into Sub-Phases, the aim is not to remove the complexity of Football but to create a Conceptual ...
Mark as Played
Read Slawomir Morawski's Article FREE Below:
https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/guest-article-the-art-of-first-touch-collecting-information-in-football
Gary is joined by Analyst at Bolton Wanderers Football Club and coach Slawomir Morawski to discuss the first touch in football. Slawomir argues that first touch is not just a technical action, but instead a cognitive one where decision making dictates so much. He discusses the...
Mark as Played
July 2, 2025 • 58 mins
Check Out Sportslab360 Below:
https://sportslab360.com/
Gary is joined by Professor, Soccermatician and co-founder of Twelve, David Sumpter. He has worked with some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Barcelona and Ajax, and his company Twelve are helping support professional clubs all around the world with data solutions. David's approach is certainly unique. He has studied and researched the behavior of birds and fish ...
Mark as Played
June 30, 2025 • 38 mins
Join MSC Insider For Exclusive Content:
https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions
Gary takes a trip to Atlanta to watch Lionel Messi live for the first time. He talks to Chicago City FC Academy Director and 1st team head coach, Conor Walsh about the impact of Messi, the tactical work of Luis Enrique and the player profile of Cole Palmer.
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.
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
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.