The Football Psychology Show

We've launched a new sister newsletter, bringing you the latest football psychology stories to your inbox - for free - every week. To subscribe to The Mind Room, just visit https://themindroom.substack.com/, where you can also find a back catalogue of articles and interviews. We'll be back with a new pod in the near future, but if you want to get in touch with us in the meantime, our Twitter DMs are open: https://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow.  

Former Lionesses psychologist Misia Gervis drops by for an exclusive interview, explaining how she prepared the England women's side for their last visit to a European Championship final and the lessons the current team might learn from 2009.    Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/ Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow

We welcome back Wycombe assistant manager Richard Dobson and regular guest Dr Misia Gervis for a discussion about the secrets of a successful coach-psychologist relationship. After almost a decade of working together, Richard and Misia reflect on how they formed their partnership, the key elements behind their sustained success and offer some advice for coaches and psychologists on similar journeys.   Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/ Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow  

Former Premier League psychologist Sarah Murray joins us to discuss:  The emotional impact of going on loan Adding psychologists to EPL coaching teams  What are the ingredients of successful leadership? Find out more about the show by visiting http://www.thefootballpsychologyshow Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow  

We welcome back regular guest and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis to discuss the psychology of the play-offs, whether managers' motivational stunts really pay off and the mental benefits of celebrating.    To get in touch with us of find out more: Twitter: https://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow Website: http://www.thefootballpsychologyshow.com

We look back on the life of Professor João Carvalhaes, football's first World Cup-winning psychologist. Join us for a discussion about a fascinating individual who pioneered the use of cognitive examinations in elite football, divided opinion with his analysis of Pele and Garrincha, and helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup. To watch the Sao Paolo Regional Psychology Council's video about João Carvalhaes, visit: http://www.crpsp.org.br/memoria/joao/videos.aspx To find out more about the show, please visit: http://www.thefootballpsychologyshow.com  

Wycombe coach Matt Bloomfield and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis join us to discuss:   Chelsea & Derby: how off-pitch problems really affect players' state of mind  Conte: the impact of pressurising players to return from injury Wycombe: the power of psychological support   Get in touch by visiting our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

We're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss: City v United: how do players prepare mentally for a derby? The run-in: how can teams deal with the pressure? Kepa: the science behind penalty mind games  Get in touch by visiting our website: http://www.thefootballpsychologyshow.com

We're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss: City v Spurs: the psychology behind a 'bogey ground' Rodgers, Conte and Mourinho: why managers persist with public criticism of players Christian Eriksen: the mental side of recovering from trauma Get in touch by visiting our website: http://www.thefootballpsychologyshow.com

We take a break from our regular format to bring you an interview with David Busst, the former Coventry City defender who suffered what is widely considered to be the most serious injury in the Premier League's history.  David talks to us about the psychological impact of his career-ending leg break, the mentality required to recover from long-term injury and what clubs and football bodies can do to support sidelined players. Please note that this interview was recorded in September 2021. To get in touch with us, please visit www.thefootballpsychologyshow.com.  

We're joined by Professor Marc Jones, from Manchester Metropolitan University's widely-respected psychology department, and Dr Andy Hill, Blackburn Rovers' psychologist, for a discussion about psychological support for young players, the forces which motivate elite footballers and the science behind claims that teams 'play without fear'. Get in touch by visiting our website: http://www.thefootballpsychologyshow.com

We're joined by Everton's former Director of Medical Services, Danny Donachie, and ex-England Women's Team psychologist, Dr Misia Gervis, for a discussion about the psychological techniques managers can use to address poor runs of form, dealing with the emotional impact of long-term injury and the mentality players require to sustain a career into their late thirties. Get in touch by visiting our website: http://www.thefootballpsychologyshow.com

We welcome Hearts and Southampton psychologist, Dr Jillian Harley, for a discussion about the impact of managerial changes on players' motivation, the thin line between productive devotion and unhealthy obsession and the way in which international breaks affect footballers' state of mind. Get in touch by visiting our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

We welcome back Wycombe's assistant manager, Richard Dobson, alongside the Chairboys' boss, Gareth Ainsworth, for a wide-ranging chat about the leadership and psychological support structure the duo have established at Adams Park. Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - a fast-start to the season (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson (03:07) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson (62:19)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/  

Former West Ham and Southampton player care specialist, Hugo Scheckter, joins us to talk about the social media abuse he's seen Premier League stars suffer, how he supported West Ham's first-team squad during COVID and the future of the player care profession. Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - remembering Steffen Iversen (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Hugo Scheckter (03:41) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Hugo Scheckter (58:49)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

Trabzonspor's Head of Sports Science, Malcolm Harkness, joins us to discuss his time in Turkey and the 'psychological coding' project he helped run in his previous role at Chelsea.   Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - dressing room songs, from Adele to Apache (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Malcolm Harkness (04:35) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Malcolm Harkness (51:26)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/beat_press Newsletter: https://beatthepress.net/2020/10/11/sign-up-to-the-beat-the-press-newsletter/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beatthepressfootball/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Beat-The-Press-107997247371696/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beat-the-press

Former AC Milan and Chelsea psychologist, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by for the second half of a two-part episode, looking at his time at Stamford Bridge.  Bruno talks to us about the sports science and cognitive support he provided for Carlo Ancelotti's double-winning squad.  Drawing on stories involving a host of Chelsea stars, from John Terry and Didier Drogba to Petr Cech and Frank Lampard, Bruno gives us the inside track on the most successful season in the club's history.  Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - from Clarence Seedorf to John Terry (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Dr Bruno Demichelis (04:16) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Dr Bruno Demichelis (48:23)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

AC Milan's former Scientific Coordinator, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by to discuss the 'Mind Room', Italian football's first psychology laboratory.  Bruno talks to us about the role the 'Mind Room' played in Milan's success during the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.  Drawing on stories involving a host of Milan legends, from Franco Baresi and Roberto Baggio to Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso, Bruno gives us the inside track on Milan's pioneering sports science and psychology setup.  This is the first half of a two-part episode. Part 2 - covering Bruno's spell at Chelsea, working alongside Carlo Ancelotti during the London club's 09-10 double-winning season, will be released shortly.    Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - swapping Spurs in the 90s for Paolo Rossi (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Dr Bruno Demichelis (04:50) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Dr Bruno Demichelis (68:33)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/  

Southampton's former Head of Sports Science and the man credited with introducing futsal to the UK, Simon Clifford, stops by for a fascinating discussion about the psychological characteristics of the 'perfect footballer'. Simon talks to us about the players he's worked with, including Juninho, Gareth Bale and Micah Richards, who display some of the mental attributes you might expect to find in the 'player of tomorrow'. He also explains what it was like to manage Socrates, during his spell at Garforth Town, and tells us about his latest venture, Integer Football.    Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - Socrates' spell at Garforth Town (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Simon Clifford (04:06) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Simon Clifford (48:30)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

Nick Littlehales, aka 'The Sport Sleep Coach', drops by for a discussion about the impact of sleep on players' performance.  We talk about Nick's career, spanning spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and England, discuss the role that sleep coaching can play in improving performance and look at the effect of COVID-19 on fatigue in football.   Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - sleeping through the international break (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Nick Littlehales (05:28) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Nick Littlehales (48:40)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

Renowned academic Professor Marc Jones joins us for a discussion about the impact of stress on performance, as we continue to look at how footballers, coaches and the people around them respond to pressure. We talk about Marc's work with academy players, the potentially positive role that fear of failure can play in motivating athletes, the impact of the absence of crowds on performance, how players respond to ‘in game' setbacks and psychology's evolving role within football.    Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - fever pitch in Fantasy Football (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Professor Marc Jones (03:25) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Professor Marc Jones (46:43)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

In the latest episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to Wycombe assistant manager, Richard Dobson. We discuss the club's pioneering psychology programme, established by Richard and responsible for helping to support players such as Jordan Ibe and Anthony Stewart. In Richard's first in-depth interview on the subject, he reveals the secrets behind what was described as the 'biggest psychology programme in Europe'.  He also talks to us about the club's promotion to the second tier of English football, for the first time in its 133-year history, and his hopes for 2020/21 season. Finally, you can check out the two Gareth Ainsworth stunners we mention in the episode, by taking a quick trip to Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miNDVuRjS-U Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - pub bands and a Wycombe love-in (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Richard Dobson (03:13) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Richard Dobson (31:13)  Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

In this episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to award-winning journalist and author, Mike Calvin.   Mike talks to us about leadership in sport, drawing on his experience of co-writing Gareth Thomas's and Alistair Cook's autobiographies.   He also gives us a rare glimpse of the realities of football management, recounting interviews with managers from his many years as a reporter and, latterly, an author of ‘Living On The Volcano', a book about the pressure managers face, which was shortlisted for Sports Book Of The Year.   You can pre-order a copy of Mike's latest co-written book, ‘The Hurt', Dylan Hartley's autobiography, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hurt-Dylan-Hartley/dp/0241348951   Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - La Manga and Richie Humphreys (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Mike Calvin (04:38) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on the interview with Mike Calvin (59:21)    Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/

In this episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to Dr Misia Gervis, leading sports psychologist and academic. Join us for a fascinating discussion about her time working for the England women's team and the role she has played in supporting academies at Wycombe Wanderers and QPR. We look at how clubs are supporting their players during the coronavirus outbreak and explore how isolation, and a subsequent loss of identity, can lead to players suffering from conditions such as anxiety and depression. We also discuss the impact of returning from injury without the requisite psychological support and examine how football may need to challenge long-standing issues such as confidentiality and existing perceptions of psychology. Running order: Part 1: Introduction - the right-back union and reminiscing about Euro 96 (00:14) Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Dr Misia Gervis (06:57) Part 3: Reaction - the psychological support at the heart of Athletic Bilbao's flourishing academy (52:26) Part 4: Carlos Carvalhal's analogies - from transfer targets and lobsters, to substitutions and barbecues (60:27) Get in touch: Visit our website: https://thefootballpsychologyshow.com/