THE LOWDOWN

Today I am re-releasing one of my most popular recordings to date with Raymond Verheijen the owner of Football Coach Evolution.“The aim of Football Coach Evolution is not to change the world but to develop coaches based on more objective & reliable information”.Having served as an assistant in four World Cups & Euros alongside being mentored by the likes of Louis Van Gaal & Guus Hiddink there are few better equipped to guide the next generation. Utilizing evolutionary knowledge to explain tactical principles & methodology, Raymond has created a universal football language to better equip coaches for the challenges ahead. Yet knowledge is only the starting point and we gain insight as to the challenges faced when we begin to apply this objective knowledge in our respective environments. Listen to find out more including;- Raymond's coaching origin story.- How Raymond turned his biggest disappointment into his biggest opportunity?- Why has there been a “pollution of football language & methodology?”- Top down control v Top down guidance.- Guus Hiddink's mastery in change management.- How to ensure your tactical principles are built on solid foundations?- Can we change the conversation at boardroom level?Timestamps;00:00 - 04:30 - Intro04:31 - 14:51 - Universal Football Language14:52 - 25:37 - Application25:38 - 32:47 - Change Management32:48 - 45:38 - Clarity of Role45:39 - 1:00:22 - Knowledge or Experience?1:00:23 - 1:14:32 - Intelligence or Consciousness?1:14:33 - 1:24:30 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Adam Mooi is the Technical Director of Newfoundland & Labrador Soccer.As a young leader Adam has been responsible for designing and implementing game models, coaching education, building out games programmes, elevating current programmes, formalising player development processes amongst so much more.A journey which has took Adam across his homeland working in a vast array of different markets, here he shares with us his thoughts and processes on the multi-faceted nature of his job whilst unpacking so much more. For any young coach on the path or transitioning to a leadership position this is a must listen.Listen to find out more including;- Developing the coaching bug at an early age.- Finding people as curious & as passionate.- Navigating the balance of making programmes accessible amongst the competitive landscape.- Change management as a young leader.- Embracing culture & Adam's process for meeting people where they are at.Timestamps;00:00 - 05:18 - Intro05:19 - 10:38 - Coaching10:39 - 23:04- Management23:05 - 32:24 - Leadership32:25 - 35:08 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"To be quick but don't hurry"Famous words spoken by legendary basketball coach John Wooden yet a quote which today's guest Matt Jordan lives by. Having connected with Matt at January's ASD summit in Chicago I was compelled to invite him on the podcast. Making the transition from playing to front office is becoming a more widely popular route for many footballers nowadays. Matt was one of the earliest pioneers years ago retiring from his playing duties at CF Montreal to becoming it's Technical Director. The following conversation provides remarkable insight into his current role as Vice President of Global Football at Trivela Group who's portfolio includes clubs such as Drogheda United, Walsall, Silkeborg alongside clubs in Africa. Learn more about many of the considerations which go into the management of this portfolio, how Matt builds synergies across different clubs, what good due diligence looks like and the reasons behind Trivela's decade long approach to investment. Listen to find out more including;- Making the transition between playing and front office.- The influence of working in a range of markets on Matt's leadership approach.- Which skillsets Matt would have focused on in hindsight during his transition to leadership roles?- How Trivela implement centralised processes and individuate to each market?- Matt's advice for career planning in modern football.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:00 - Intro04:01 - 09:22 - Front Office09:23 - 15:52- Houston15:53 - 31:21 - Trivela31:22 - 33:45 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

David Clancy is the CEO & Co-Founder of Nxt Level Group.Creating a vision, discovering one's purpose, intentional reflection, planning for the future - all important right? Yet how often do we create the space and time to unpack and discover? At Nxt Level where their clients are the teams behind the team they help individuals position themselves not only for success right now but also in the future. A career steeped in curiosity & purpose David unpacks practical insights from mentors and experts alike whilst also drawing upon anecdotes from his own career to provide us with an episode full of gold. Listen to find out more including;- How to be both intentional and open minded as to what is next ?- Insights from recording 200 episodes of a podcast exploring David's interests ?- David's take on the generalist v specialist debate?- Why everyone needs a "Mount Rushmore"?- The big questions everyone need to ask to navigate the unknown?Timestamps;00:00 - 05:10 - Curiosity05:11 - 11:42 - Career Planning11:43 - 17:56- Nxt Level17:57 - 24:45 - Identity24:46 - 31:03 - AdviceThe Essential Skills Book; https://www.eu.elsevierhealth.com/essential-skills-for-physiotherapists-9780443111280.html?nosto=nosto-page-search1Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

In this episode, I am joined by Paul Balsom, Head of Fitness Advisory for UEFA and Tigres UANL, who shares his incredible journey in the world of football fitness. From his humble beginnings growing up in Torquay to advising top football organizations, Paul reflects on the values, mindset, and experiences that have shaped his successful career. He dives into the importance of hard work, curiosity, and reflection—keys that have allowed him to excel in his field and push the boundaries of sports performance.Listen to find out more including;- Continuous reflection as a tool to aid your performance.- How to optimize for your leadership approach ?- Recruiting a multi-disciplinary team; specialists or generalists?- What values aid Paul in his decision making?- Why everything begins with the depth of connection you have with one another?Timestamps;00:00 - 05:21 - Intro05:22 - 11:20 - Reflection11:21 - 18:01- Leadership18:02 - 21:58 - UEFA21:59 - 33:34 - Sam Allardyce33:35 - 42:09 - Recruitment42:10 - 49:04 - Leadership49:05 - 53:12 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Peter McDonnell is the U17 head coach of Philadelphia Union. A true student of the game and committed developer, Peter has strived to ensure he has passed on the many fruits of a path shaped by football.Coaching in Ireland, at Seacoast United and Minnesota all preceded a move to Philadelphia Union in the last year. Winning this years U17 GA Cup proved to be one of many highlights Peter has had since joining the Union.With an illustrious history of bringing through home talent Peter's mission is to continue this trend. Inspired by what's possible the Killala man has to tap deep into his philosophy of limitless development to get the most out of his talented squad. A true storyteller this episode is to be sat back to and enjoyed. Listen to find out more including;- Is there a perfect way or environment to develop a player ?- Why Philadelphia Union have such a successful track record in youth development ?- How to challenge & support amid raising expectations?- Building a team culture in the era of the individual.- What's the most difficult part of coaching?- How jiu jitsu has helped shape Peter as a person, coach & leader?Timestamps;00:00 - 06:26 - Intro06:27 - 16:43 - Vocation16:44 - 33:58- Philadelphia Union33:59 - 39:38 - Evolution39:39 - 49:18 - Jiu Jitsu49:19 - 52:12 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

“In your building, if the level of conversation is good the level of conversation goes out on to the pitch.”Michael Beale is well known to many for his work as first team coach. However it is his track record in youth development which initially caught the eye. 15 years of an apprenticeship at Charlton, Chelsea and Liverpool working alongside some future Premier League managers helped shaped some of Michael's strongest views of the game. From South London to São Paulo Michael speaks here with a fervent passion as to what's possible when development is intentionally tailored towards the individual. Declan Rice, Mason Mount, Trent Alexander Arnold are just few of tens of names which Michael has played a key role in their development. Reflecting on recent jobs at QPR, Rangers and Sunderland have only hardened Michael's desire to place development at the forefront.Listen to find out more including;- How early did Michael realise coaching would be his vocation? - Why tactics are overrated?- Getting the balance right between play and structure.- The three fundamentals essential to building any footballers hard drive ?- The transition to management from coaching.- Why the game always comes back to relationships and feelings ?Timestamps;00:00 - 04:13 - Futsal04:14 - 13:26 - Development13:27 - 21:13- Chelsea & Liverpool21:14 - 29:50 - Sao Paulo29:51 - 35:15 - Gerrard35:16 - 49:10 - QPR & Rangers49:11 - 56:04 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Sonny Cobbs is the Founder & CEO of Precision Football. It sits as the flagship Football Tech Centre of the Middle East at less than a few years old. With 25 staff and 3,000 people coming through the doors each week it is a paradise for anyone in love with the sport. Even more remarkable than the very idea of its existence have been the milestones the organisation have hit in such a short space of time. This “overnight success” is not a surprise to many who know it's founder Sonny Cobbs. Faced with the many trials and tribulations blighting many a young entrepreneur Sonny shares the story of how he lost everything only to bounce back and do it even better. Winning 10 out of their last 11, with a run embodying the very grit the club was built on Precision recently achieved promotion in their maiden season. Speaking to Sonny we learn about how Precision has set a new standard for the Dubai region, how they plan to cement their place as a key stakeholder in the tech boom storming football, plans for international expansion and so much more. Listen to find out more including;- Sonny's journey to Dubai.- Amongst a mix of factors how did one trip to America inspire the design behind Precision?- Foundations and thought process behind the use of Precision's advanced football technology.- Balancing the passion of a dream with the realities of being a young entrepreneur?- The story as to how Precision achieved promotion in their first season.- Plans to expand internationally and what role will Precision play in this latest tech boom?Timestamps;00:00 - 06:46 - Intro06:47 - 16:05 - Dubai16:06 - 26:07- Precision26:08 - 31:08 - First Team31:09 - 41:13 - The Main Thing41:14 - 42:32 - AdviceWebsite; https://www.precisionfootball.com/Instagram; https://www.instagram.com/precisionftbl/?hl=enGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Scott McLachlan is the Global Head of Football for Global Football Holdings.After listening to Scott it is hard not to be infused with wonder and awe for the beautiful game. An expert storyteller Scott's anecdotes about the 1978 World Cup in Argentina and 2021 Champions League Final are just two wonderful milestones amid a formidable love affair with the game. Retaining this child like affinity for the game alongside his continuous dedication to the craft of coaching has ensured Scott to be an invaluable asset to each organisation he has representedIn his own words "2 ears, 1 mouth" coupled with an insatiable work ethic have dismembered all roadblocks on a relentless learning journey. Join us as Scott takes us inside his journey from early coaching days at Wimbledon to managing a group of scouts at Chelsea to the present overseeing a portfolio of clubs at GFH.Ensure you have your notebook at the ready for this one. Listen to find out more including;- How Covid reignited a passion for coaching.- Growing the competency framework of scouts.- How Scott strategically navigates the mile markers on his career map?- Quality control and managing the workflow of clubs within an MCO.- In which ways has Scott's communication had to evolve as a leader?- What professionalising scouting looked like at Chelsea?- Fostering a learning environment, turning learning into a behaviour and how to supercharge the knowledge share in your organisation.Timestamps;00:00 - 07:35 - Intro07:36 - 16:54 - Coaching16:55 - 24:30- Global Football Holdings24:31 - 30:24 - Communication30:25 - 43:22 - Learning Environment43:23 - 53:03 - Leadership53:04 - 56:02 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Todays guest James O'Connor is a man who has seen it all in football. The Louisville City President amassed over 500 appearances in first team football before beginning his coaching career in America. Seeking the pull of making an impact at a higher level James jumped at the chance to become Club President.Overseeing the building of a $50m training complex, $75m stadium and the expansion of the women's team it is hard to underestimate his impact on the club and city. An insightful episode taking us through the foundations of building a leading USL club.Listen to find out more including;- How to build a community presence as a new club?- Leveraging the blue-collar mentality permeating throughout the city as a competitive advantage.- In what ways did James mentality shift after retiring as player?- What systems and processes James uses for managing his staff?- The mindset which keeps James one step ahead and enables him to continue to grow and develop.Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Todays guest Alex Clapham is a Tactical Advisor with 777 Partners and founder of Cano Football.As a young coach Alex repeatedly sought to challenge his worldview taking influences from the outside. It wasn't enough for Alex to only read and watch from afar, he was soon pulled to embody and live that experience.That set in motion a journey of discovery forging a coaching career in Mexico and Spain. Promotion campaigns with Vasco de Gama and Genoa reinforced Alex's belief that football always comes back to feelings and emotions.A career full of rich experiences, what ensued here was a fascinating conversation as to the future of profile profiles, the battle for control in top flight football and principles for being effective as a set piece coach.Listen to find out more including;- The sacrifices early on Alex made to forge a coaching career in Spain.- Stretching your comfort zone and why you can't develop without this.- How significant are the linguistics of football on development?- Where Alex sits on the positionism v relationism continuum?- Inside the turbulence and excitement of two promotion pushes in one season.- How Brazil completely changed Alex's approach working with players.- The power of integrating data into your coaching practice.Timestamps;00:00 - 11:42 - Spain11:43 - 17:37- Experiential learning17:38 - 22:51 - Relationism22:52 - 32:11 - Perception32:12 - 38:54 - Vasco de Gama38:55 - 44:09 - Set Pieces44:10 - 49:50 - Genoa49:51 - 1:00:39 - Control1:00:40- 1:06:45 - AdviceCano Football; https://www.canofootball.com/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"Winning takes talent, to repeat it takes character..."James Kerr is best known for his book; "Legacy - What the All Blacks can teach us about the business of life". Here James goes deep into the heart of the All Blacks distilling 15 practical lessons for leadership and business.Working with the All Blacks at a time where they reframed winning, "Legacy" best encapsulates the arc of a team who would go down in history. Champions do extra, they sweep the sheds, they keep a blue head, they are good ancestors. "He who has the best story wins" and in that fashion we learn of the prominent role storytelling has in building a culture and how you too can similarly utilise this. Where cultures either stagnate or regenerate, character is a requisite for continuing to play the game of life. Fuelled by positive emotion we learn all of this becomes very achievable once we shift our attention from what is this in service of to who.Listen to find out more including;- Why is storytelling important?- How the All Blacks regenerated their culture?- The All Blacks use of mantras in times of high pressure.- What tools do leaders need in order to grow a culture?- In today's digital age how ought training and development be used to accelerate growth in teams?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:38 - The End in Mind03:39 - 10:25 - Stories10:26 - 22:53 - Culture22:54 - 32:04 - Character32:05 - 36:56 - Ownership36:57 - 46:08 - Pressure46:09 - 54:25 - Whakapapa54:26 - 1:02:38 - EthosLegacy Book; https://www.amazon.com/Legacy-James-Kerr/dp/147210353XGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Nice have earned plaudits aplenty this season for their bold, courageous and unrelenting style of football. Led by Francisco Farioli they have a staff who live and breathe these core values on and off the pitch.Today I was joined by the very special; Jarkko Tuomisto, their goalkeeping coach. The following conversation with Jarkko lends to some fascinating insight as how he ascended to the top of his profession. In his own words, on the road to "climbing the second mountain" Jarkko juggled multiple jobs as a barman, youth worker and musician upon deciding to go all in on his passion.Applying lessons from all these roles, living on the edge of his craft, success soon became a byproduct. Many people speak of the transformational impact Jarkko has had on players and colleagues alike in Finland, Italy, Qatar, Ecuador and now France. What you got you here won't necessarily get you there and it is within that frame we explore Jarkko's inspirational tale. An episode for the ages.Listen to find out more including;- Building coaching stamina and how to fail forward quicker?- The leap of faith moving to Italy with a backpack.- How Jarkko's experience as a youth worker helps him break down walls with players?- Why does "creativity needs boundaries"?- How Jarkko relates building out from the back to values?- Why the future goalkeeper needs to be ready for any action?Timestamps;00:00 - 06:55 - Intro06:56 - 13:14 - Coaching Stamina13:15 - 24:28 - Leap of Faith24:29 - 37:11 - Ecuador37:12 - 43:28 - Soft Skills43:29 - 52:42 - Qatar52:43 - 1:00:00 - Awareness1;00:01 - 1:08:12 - Buildup1:08:13 - 1:14:32 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Today's guest Jon MacKenzie is the face and voice of TIFO Football.He has been regarded as one of the finest minds on football tactics in recent years. It was fascinating to spend an hour in Jon's company going in depth on his topic of choice.Here we cover everything from hybrid pressing, Jon's fascination for the out of possession phase, Liverpool's evolution, Michel's new age football at Girona, what makes Xabi Alonso fascinating to study and TIFO's plans going forward.Listen to find out more including;- How his studies of philosophy shaped his views on football?- How Jon's consumption of the game varies from fan to analyst?- When did Jon start following coaches as opposed to teams?- Why Relationism v Positionism is not a question of either or? - An argument for viewing football as one phase.- Who is leading the tactical evolution and why these evolutions happen in a dialectical manner?Timestamps;00:00 - 09:24 - Intro09:25 - 19:29 - Relationism19:30 - 30:19 - Analyst v Fan30:20 - 42:09 - Out of Possession42:10 - 46:28 - Rest Defence46:29 - 51:29 - Girona51:30 - 53:33 - Xabi Alonso53:34 - 1:00:59 - Evolution1:01:00 - 1:03:00 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Currently the allure of investing in Premier League football is as strong as ever. This has coincided with a rise of American investment into English football with 50% of Premier League clubs having some form of American investment. To understand this growing trend who better a guest to invite on than one of the leaders responsible for attracting the best talent into the boardrooms and also Head of Capital Investment for the UK government in North America; Richard Albert.Working to support the deployment of strategic capital to a variety of industries stemming from tech to social sciences and sport Richard's role is encompassing and certainly not for the faint hearted. The nature of private capital investment, the battle for streaming rights and impact of MCO's are all noteworthy topics and part of a rapidly changing investment climate.Listen to find out more including;- The multitude of experiences and roles which help shaped Richard's trajectory?- What foreign investors commonly overlook when investing in UK sport?- How US investors best generate unrealised value in UK football?- The fine balance between regulating investment in football and remaining attractive investment wise.- How investors are factoring the potential creation of a European Super League into their decision making ?- What changes in investment dynamics Richard is excited to see in the forthcoming years?Timestamps;00:00 - 08:57 - Intro08:58 - 20:02 - The Role20:03 - 28:30 - Investor's Leverage28:31 - 37:52 - Decision Making37:53 - 50:19 - Governance50:20 - 56:07 - Investment Trends56:08 - 1:00:27 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"Football needs to go back to the creative players, football is entertainment, if you cannot entertain the spectators what do you got?"Today's guest is Al-Wasl Head of Youth Development; Michel Mommertz. Meeting Michel time aplenty in Dubai over coffee I thought it was just time to host him and share his wonderful story to date.Michel doesn't do half measures, the youngest professional footballer still in Dutch history with a fervent love for the game had his playing days curtailed short by injury. Yet this did not stop Michel in his tracks, meeting the infamous Wiel Coerver pre-empted a 20 year relationship of working with one of the most famous developers to grace the sport.Armed by lessons and experience aplenty Michel joined me on the show to discuss all things coaching, creativity and keeping the joy in development.Listen to find out more including;- Meeting Wiel Coerver and the direction in which that shaped Michel's journey.- What is the "right way" to develop?- Creativity in coaching and breaking past copy to create.- Why cultivating the personality is one of the most important parts of development?- What the future of youth development looks like in Dubai and the Middle East?Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Today's episode is an enlightening conversation with world respected football journalist Ben Jacobs.In today's age of bottomless content and ITK's galore it can be often tough to identify the signal amongst the noise. However we have no such problem with today's guest. With a punditry career spanning 15+ years Ben takes us through many of the principles which have fuelled his ascent and enabled him to build reciprocal relationships in the game.With the added scrutiny of a large social media following, Ben's world can be an often a precarious place at times. So how does he deal with this?Learn as to how "the work in a transfer window is done before the transfer window", how Ben recovers from setbacks and how his preparation remains his separation.Listen to find out more including;- Behind the scenes of a journalist's life in a transfer window.- Developing genuine relationships within the industry.- Being an early adopter of the digital age and the advantages which ensued.- How to be adaptable without sacrificing the end goal?- Getting the story out versus getting it right.- Having a solid foundation and maintaining it even during running transfer sagas such as Messi and Mbappe?Ben Jacobs website; https://www.ben-jacobs.com/Ben Jacobs X; https://twitter.com/JacobsBen?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"Put yourself on the path to the career you always wanted"In today's episode I am joined by Daniel Geey who here details his rise from car parts lawyer to one of the most respected and trusted lawyers in the game. An inspiration to many with his book "Done Deal", he has followed it up with his latest book; "Build the Invisible".At the top of the iceberg people see only the deals and success. Here we focus on what lays below the water. In his own words Daniel's sheer stubbornness and obsessiveness kept encouraging him to lay the foundations of his football career brick by career necessitating doing the thing nobody else could see, without expecting anything back.Creating that roadmap and doing that work can be quite a daunting experience. Luckily for us Daniel has reflected and distilled many of the core principles which helped him and you too can follow him on his journey of turning your side hustle into a main job.Listen to find out more including;- Principles for sustaining a career in sport.- How to create the cascading effect in of endless opportunities? - How to build knowledge and relationships coincidingly?- Why consistency is the biggest barrier to entry in the sporting industry?- How identity based outcomes elevated Daniel's habits?- The power of surrounding yourself with different motivational climatesTimestamps;00:00 - 03:51 - US v UK03:52 - 07:39 - Side Hustle07:40 - 16:10 - Cascading Effect16:11 - 20:05 - Identity Based20:06 - 25:13 - Long Term Games25:14 - 30:01 - Inspiration30:02 - 33:20 - What's Next?33:21 - 35:57 - AdviceDaniel;s book; https://www.danielgeey.com/build-the-invisibleGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"If you do the work, know yourself, know your team, then you can grow your team."Orlando SC have undergone quite the transformation over these past few years and have become known as a perennial title contender in the MLS.Today's guest David Cosgrave has played a huge part in redefining service excellence for the Florida outfit in their quest to build a top class culture. "Find a Way" has become the motto of the "The Lions". You don't build community by chance and with social cohesion at the heart of the squad with players and staff empowered alike, Orlando earned plaudits this season for achieving a near perfect availability rate of 97%.The following episode is a superb case study of how one leader leverages "culture as a competitive advantage."Furthermore learn as to how winning deep begins with happy staff, how HR can be cross pollinated with sporting performance, how you can test your culture today with a "stinky fish" and so much more.Listen to find out more including;- The transformative impact which a trophy win can have on a community?- The influence of Pippa Grange on building out the culture framework in Orlando.- Why real culture happens underneath the iceberg?- How David and the club win the "the war for talent"?- Identifying areas of hidden potential and creating structures for opportunity within it.- What goes into David's sense making work to reflect on the past season and to plan ahead?- What brings David joy from the game itself?Timestamps;00:00 - 02:01 - Miami02:02 - 08:17 - Road Warriors08:18 - 18:52 - Culture18:53 - 22:58 - Copenhagen22:59 - 30:44 - "Brain Trust"30:45 - 43:20 - Winning Deep43:21 - 52:36 - Self Reflection52:37 - 57:30 - Mental Models57:31 - 59:13 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Just over one month ago Bolton had won 7-0 at home in front of 25,000 people continuing their promotion push to the Championship. It is a far cry to a club just over a few years prior who had just come out of administration, straggled at the bottom of League 2. When a situation is as ground zero where do you even begin?For the new Sporting Director; Chris Markham it was quite the remit however fear not Wanderers had found a professional very equipped from his time at Huddersfield Town and the FA. A few years later and with an expansive playing style, aligned leadership and savvy recruitment Bolton have rightly earned plaudits on their way to being "a league of one".I was fortunate Chris joined me today to share more about the old school values and modern methods propelling Bolton up the EFL.Listen to find out more including;- The masters on the grass at Huddersfield Town which kickstarted Chris' career?- What an analysis culture looks like and lessons from heading up the game insights department at the FA?- The meticulous planning and detail which goes into placing Bolton in a position to thrive and not just survive.- How Chris and Bolton encourage risk taking not only in players but staff?- The use of the loan market in Bolton's squad building.- How has his leadership style had to evolve between managing a department to managing a club?Timestamps;00:00 - 09:27 - Huddersfield Town09:28 - 14:43 - The FA14:44 - 21:58 - Bolton21:59 - 24:37 - Innovation24:38 - 28:46 - Sporting Director28:47 - 36:49 - Squad Building36:50 - 43:52 - Leadership43:53 - 46:00 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

The year John Stones had the most amount of successful dribbles in a Champions League Final since Lionel Messi, 2023 was a year for the ages.From Gateshead to Nice the universal search for control took on a new level and has appeared in many shapes and forms.Box midfields, hybrid pressing are on the menu today as we go through some of the tactical innovations and setups which have caught our eye.Liam Tharme joins me to dissect the past year and cast an eye as to what maybe on the horizon for 2024.Listen to find out more including;- Roberto De Zerbi and the principles of play in his Brighton side.- The many different iterations of the box midfield.- Manchester City's evolution out of possession on their way to a historic treble.- Hybrid pressing and why it is more important than ever?- Girona, Nice, Leverkusen - the year of the underdog?- What to keep an eye out for in 2024?Timestamps;00:00 - 05:49 - Brighton05:50 - 12:46 - Box Midfield12:47 - 16:51 - Clash of Styles16:52 - 21:59 - Man City22:00 - 28:56 - Hybrid Pressing28:57 - 35:05 - Nice35:06 - 37:11 - Leverkusen37:12 - 44:07 - 2024Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Meeting Frazer pitch side in Philadelphia last summer it was clear that he has been on a special journey with an upward trajectory evidenced further since which is showing no signs of slowing down.Going through the ages and stages of development, Frazer has left no stone unturned in his quest to better himself as an individual. Luckily for us some of those lessons cascaded into coaching and today he joins us to reflect and share anecdotes regarding some of the key experiences from his journey to date.From an all encompassing apprenticeship in Scotland to becoming the First Team Coach of a top European side it has been some ride for the Scotsman. Some special experiences at Right to Dream in Ghana and Philadelphia Union in the USA have only served to reinforce Frazer's faith in the long term development process. Listen to find out more including;- The importance of working every age group throughout your coaching journey.- How soft skills may not get you in but certainly ensure you stay there?- Why joining Right to Dream was the best decision he has ever made?- The invisible benefits of residential academies?- Knowing the person before developing the player.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:45 - Intro04:46 - 07:54 - Ages & Stages07:55 - 10:46 - Attributes10:47 - 22:17 - Right to Dream22:18 - 27:01 - Philadelphia Union27:02 - 31:22 - Standard Liege31:23 - 34:18 - Pathways34:19 - 36:40 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"The future of football is going faster and faster, scanning becomes so important..."For those who are curious, life often serves the best returns. What was a deficiency in Karl Aksum's playing career became a topic of fascination for the newly turned coach in his early days.Studying thousands of game situations Karl soon became inspired to put pen to paper on some groundbreaking research on visual perception in elite football.Collaborating with clubs such as Ajax and Southampton, organisations such as UEFA and under the mentorship of Arsene Wenger Karl was soon able to translate into actionable tangible insights serving not only his coaching but the wider football community.As someone who is not against departing from popular convention this is an insightful and inspiring listen on what the future of football could look like.Listen to find out more including;- The difference between looking and seeing when it comes to scanning?- How visiting Arsenal and Arsene Wenger helped Karl iterate upon his studies in scanning ?- What huge differences Karl noticed between the U17 and U19 age groups in his studies?- The everyday impact on Karl's training from his research.- How colours and movements change how Karl trains?- Why coaches need to fall out of love with rondos ?Timestamps;00:00 - 01:47 - Intro01:48 - 07:24 - Scanning07:25 - 12:49 - Training Methodology12:50 - 20:18 - PhD20:19 - 33:40 - Results33:41 - 39:35 - Rondos39:36 - 44:49 - Relationism44:50 - 48:53 - Evolution48:54 - 51:25 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"The football we want, the football we need." This Tuesday December 12th and Wednesday December 13th World Football Summit (WFS) will run their annual Asian event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. WFS see themselves as "a community of leaders who share knowledge and ideas to drive the evolution of the industry both business and values". At the heart of this is co-founder Jan Alessie who alongside Marian Otamendi have ran events all over the world since 2016. What begun as a think tank is now one of the largest yearly football exhibitions, Nonetheless with fewer industries containing a bigger voice than football there is an acknowledgement that "with a strong voice comes a strong responsibility."Listen to find out more including;- The advantages of not coming from a football background.- Internationalising WFS and the challenges which ensued.- Why the demand for long form content in football outstrips the supply?- WFS' growth strategy and how Jan foresees future events evolving.- What can people look forward to in Jeddah?Timestamps;00:00 - 04:42 - Intro04:43 - 07:39 - Origins07:40 - 13:14 - Long Form Content13:15 - 19:17 - Win-win Partnerships19:18 - 23:21 - Jeddah23:22 - 24:47 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town". - Leonard TolstoyToday's guest is one of football's expert storytellers. Throughout time Guillem Balague has shared the stories of many of football's greats, expertly sharing insights and humanizing the person behind the performer.So it was about time I figured to turn the tables on Guillem and ask him to share his story.What was originally meant to be a conversation about Lionel Messi turned into an intimate story about Guillem's move to Liverpool as a young student, the early days of Revista De La Liga, the emotions which sustain his love for the game and so much more.The first of five big episodes recorded in Miami and one which is not to be missed.Listen to find out more including;- The inspiration behind taking over at Biggleswade? - The story as to how Revista De La Liga came to life?- His relationship with David Beckham alongside unique insight into the early days at Real Madrid.- How Guillem broke the news of Messi moving to Inter Miami.- Behind the scenes of Argentina's World Cup Win and how Messi evolved as a leader in Qatar.- Who does Messi turn to in his lowest moments?- How breaking the Fernando Torres move to Chelsea changed Guillem's relationship with social media forever?Timestamps;00:00 - 09:00 - UK Early Days09:01 - 14:07 - Emotion14:08 - 19:48 - Biggleswade19:49 - 30:48 - Revista De La Liga30:49 - 36:42 - Beckham36:43 - 1:01:30 - Messi1:01:31 - 1:06:30 - Social Media1:06:31 - 1:08:21 - AdviceGuillem's Book; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Messi-must-read-biography-champion-Balagues/dp/1399619136/ref=asc_df_1399619136/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=658789276035&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=4549027146112015269&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006524&hvtargid=pla-2197207796556&psc=1&mcid=68ef9cc52c083a86941091bee9d2d85a&th=1&psc=1Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"Football is conquering the world at an unstoppable speed and at the moment there is a dysfunction between the audience and practice in some countries." - Arsene Wenger.The man who's role it is to minimize that gap is today's guest; Matthew Clement who is also the FIFA Training Centre Manager. From the conceptualisation of a new football language to overseeing the development of FIFA's new competency framework it has been an eventful time in charge for Matthew. A combination of the most ardent fan's passion and the curiosity and drive of a top coach, Matthew strikes me as the perfect fit to "oversee the strategic development of technology and content for FIFA's global education".Reminiscing about the last male and female World Cup's in the last year, modern trends with respect to playing styles, unique age profiles and how youth development is being challenged to evolve, it is clearly an exciting time to be playing a part in the development of the World's game.Listen to find out more including;- Moving from the path of specialist to the generalist and why it proved to be the fitting apprenticeship?- Taking the call from Arsene Wenger to join FIFA.- What a healthy relationship looks like between technology and coaching?- Where Arsene Wenger thinks the future of football is going to develop?- Understanding how coaches can make better decisions and FIFA's plans to enhance the psychological development of coaches.- Excitement internally over the impending Club World Cup and a potential matchup between Diniz' Fluminense and Guardiola's Man City.Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"Football is not just about a result, it is a way of living."On December 2nd Juan Roman Riquelme will run against Andres Ibarra for the Boca Juniors presidency. Today's guest Gustav Salvestrini is a Boca Socio and member also of Ibarra's party. Ibarra's campaign push centres around the need to commercialise Boca, modernise revenue structures and return Boca to one of the top 5 clubs in World Football.Listen to find out more including;- The cultural significance of Boca Juniors within the community.- What distinguishes Argentine football from the rest of world football?- How club elections are ran in Argentina?- "Passion y Gestion" and plans to revolutionalise Boca from a new stadium to it's internationalisation.- How the recent appointment of Javier Milei as President may potentially impact the Boca elections?Timestamps;00:00 - 02:17 - Intro02:18 - 07:07 - Boca Juniors07:08 - 11:19 - Elections11:20 - 17:15 - "Passion y Gestion"17:16 - 22:51 - Milei Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

“You want to be a builder...”Mark Cartwright is the Sporting Director of Huddersfield Town. Mapping out his pathway from player to agent and now the current day, he joined us to distill some of his most pertinent learnings to date.Navigating change, working across every facet of the organisation Mark has learned to adapt and evolve quickly across his time at Stoke City, USL and now Huddersfield. Learn as how to Mark built out his own pathway, how he continually humbles himself, principles for winning in the boardroom and how he envisages his field changing.Listen to find out more including; - How comparable are the skillsets of Agent & Sporting Director?- Embarking upon a career path that did not even exist.- "You don't have to be an expert in every field but you have to have knowledge."- Modernising Stoke City's recruitment process and what "Premier League ready" looks like?- Mark's process for identifying and navigating bottlenecks.- Influencing thought process at the USL with 40+ clubs to manage.- How will the modern Sporting Director have to evolve their skillset?Timestamps;00:00 - 02:54 - Intro 02:55 - 07:07 - Agent 07:08 - 10:20 - Gaining an edge 10:21 - 14:20 - Stoke City 14:21 - 19:36 - Evaluate & Adapt19:37 - 32:28 - USL32:29 - 35:31 - Huddersfield Town35:32 - 38:00 - Evolution38:01 - 40:39 - Advice Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

David Garcia is the founder of "It's Just a Sport".One's coaching journey will pull and drag you a thousand different ways. In many a different direction and amid a war of attention what football stands out most to you? Furthermore how do you create a methodology and bring this to life? After a while searching down the path less trodden David Garcia has alchemised plenty of lessons inspiring thousands of coaches. In his current work as an "experience architect" David is passionate about how we as coaches can gather tools to be our best selves in front of players.Via a period of studying positional play in Spain and a few other adventures in between we learn here about the moment where it all clicked for David along his coaching journey. Furthermore we unpack as how David came to be so passionate about coach development, the broader tangible impact a game model has, how technology and youth development can work hand in hand and so much more.Listen to find out more including;- Why he created "It's just a sport"?  - Authenticity of self in light of the growing "homogenisation" of football.- Why the new wave of rule breaking coaches will emerge from those who delve deeper into enhancing connections between players and game model? - Play as a form of transcending oneself.- Coach burnout and how to stave off it's threat?- Integrating technology which enhances the game experience of young players.Timestamps;00:00 - 03:18 - Intro03:19 - 06:23 - Coaching06:24 - 10:38 - Community & Curiosity10:39 - 17:36 - Positional Play17:37 - 25:47 - Game Model25:48 - 30:50 - Authenticity 30:51 - 37:07 - Character Development37:08 - 43:07 - Coach Wellbeing43:08 - 51:57 - Evolution51:58 - 54:53 - AdviceDavid's LinkedIn; https://twitter.com/IJaSport?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorIt's Just a Sport; https://www.itsjustasport.com/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"Take care of the game and the business will take care of itself."I for one cannot wait to attend this year's SoccerEx in Miami. To preview this year's offering, CEO Patrick McCreanor joined the show. From it's debut event in Wembley right through to a landmark 50th convention in it's adopted city of Miami SoccerEx has cemented itself as the world's largest football business event. As over 600 clubs from all around the world embark on the Magic City we chart through the rise of one of football's most prestigious brands.Listen to find out more including;- The origins of SoccerEx.- What makes Miami the full package as a host city?- Post 2026 what does football in North America look and feel like?- The efforts taken to grow the brand and modernise it's existing offering.- Who is on the agenda for 2023? And what panels and discussions can we look forward to?Timestamps;00:00 - 01:32 - Intro01:33 - 03:43 - Origins03:44 - 05:20 - Miami05:21 - 10:28 - Legacy10:29 - 15:38 - Evolution15:39 - 18:41 - The Agenda18:42 - 19:42 - AdviceSoccerEx; https://soccerex.com/Patrick's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-mccreanor-24a16058/Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"The objective is to win but at what cost...."Jonathon O'Neill is the co-founder of HeadCoach.Turning potential into performance HeadCoach is an app which allows you to master your mental, emotional and social skillsets. At a time where coaches and players bandwith have never been as stretched the app seeks to optimize and enhance your ability to reflect, realign and refocus.A tool which we must constantly develop, there is no arrival point or time at which we master EQ. Integrating the game of sport within the game of life indeed there is no separation between performance and wellbeing. Through a range of features varying from a habit tracker to a wellness journal the app seeks to minimize that gap.Learn more as to why coaches should be concerned with EQ, the distinction between confidence and competence, the flipside of the Dunning-Kruger effect, why coach burnout is on the rise and so much more.Listen to find out more including;- What does scalability look for coaches who are already overloaded?- Managing competition and cooperation within sport.- Distinguishing between "d needs" and "b needs" and understanding how this impacts your EQ strategy.- The intersection between the "Dunning-Kruger effect" and Imposter Syndrome.- What does a healthy relationship with technology look and feel like?- Coach development sitting at the top of the ultimate self-actualisation.Timestamps;00:00 - 05:54 - HeadCoach05:55 - 10:23 - Chimp Empire10:24 - 19:04 - Cooperation19:05 - 30:25 - Team Development30:26 - 45:59 - Confidence v Competence46:00 - 53:47 - Wellbeing53:48 - 57:35 - Coaching57:36 - 1:03:26 - Evolution1:03:27 - 1:07:42 - Technology1:07:43 - 1:15:01 - AdviceHeadCoach App; https://www.headcoach.app/Jonathon's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathon-o-neill-3b0a95b9/Transcend book; https://www.amazon.com/Transcend-Self-Actualization-Scott-Barry-Kaufman/dp/0143131206Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"There is always a next step..." Darren Powell's mantra for player development is too something which he holds close to his heart. Now the Director of Player Development for Inter Miami Darren is responsible for overseeing the transition of players from their MLS Next side into the professional game. Understandably and not entirely an exact science, Darren and Inter Miami have received plaudits galore for their shrewd judgment in the ascent of as many as 6 homegrowns to the pro ranks recently. Listen to find out more including; - College soccer as a character building experience. - Creating a player's IPP through understanding their motivational trigger points. - How Darren envisages the composition of MLS squads will evolve? - Understanding the not so exacts science as to when to accelerate a player's pathway? - What Darren learned by studying how the greats get to top in their chosen field? Timestamps; 00:00 - 04:44 - Intro 04:45 - 11:06 - USA 11:07 - 18:01 - Inter Miami 18:02 - 26:43 - Modern Player 26:44 - 28:27 -Advice

"Adapt or else...." Yiannis Tsalatsidis is the Technical Director & First Team Coach of FC London. In this specially recorded podcast Yiannis takes us on quite the football journey through his lens over the course of 2 hours. Empowered by a duty to develop beyond the regular realm Yiannis' work can best be described as player centred. Armed by this mission, it is with this very unique and compelling picture of the future we frame Yiannis' journey and explore the evolution of the future game. Firmly embedded in the development of tomorrow's player what trends in the modern game does Yiannis observe which will have monumental impacts in shaping the game going forward? Learn as to how this has been influenced from wide ranging references such as Zidane to rhythm in music and his study of complex adaptive systems. However before one goes forward one must return to the roots. Listen to find out more including; - What influences the type of football Yiannis likes? - Character development, embedded in talent identification and it's foundation in developing players. - Creating a culture of curiosity and aligning a player development model across a whole club from mini's to adults. - Seeing situations as energy and how that influences interactions with players. - How top managers are working to implement micro adaptations into their model? - IPP work beyond the field in raising self and situational awareness. - The critical performance window in which we are missing in talent development? - Solving the accessibility issue of football and the wide ranging impacts this will have on the growth of the game worldwide. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1... Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=en YouTube; / @thelowdownpod Email: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Ravi Ramineni is the co-founder and CEO of src | ftbl. He has also been at the forefront of the football analytics boom over the last decade.A former employee of Bing and Microsoft Ravi played a huge role in the success of the Seattle Sounders organisation rapidly ascending from analyst to VP in the organisation.In his own words the journey has been “a steep learning curve” and here Ravi reflects on what brought him here to the present day. From leaving building data pipelines out of a Starbucks or leading a multi million dollar sporting department Ravi has taken the long road. With football at the source and Ravi is still adamant that we are still at the infancy of the football analytics boom.Here there are insights galore for everyone.Listen to find out more including;- Ray Hudson, dial ins and the early days forging a career in football- Building data pipelines and early days working on GPS data at Starbucks.- Understanding what skill sets are “low supply & high demand”.- Founding SRC FTBL and what he believes the knock on impact this will have for the worldwide analytics culture?- The ideal coach - analyst relationship.- Quantifying your game model and the significance this has throughout the organisation.Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"High Performance comes from the mindset of it cannot be done alone."Today's guest is Max Lankheit, Head of Performance & Innovation at the Philadelphia Union. Working across the Bundesliga, MLS with a stint in MLB, Max has over a decade's worth experience in sporting performance.Finding his true passion in building and leading teams, Max joins us on the show today to share some principles guiding his style of leadership and as to how to effect change in organisations across a variety of realms.A timely and inspirational listen, there are lessons in Max' message for everyone. Listen to find out more including;- Principles for change management when already successful?- High Performance as a collective mindset not an individual action.- The difference between leadership and management?- Creating an environment where innovation thrives.- Reflecting as a leader day in, day out to stay on the right path.Timestamps;00:00 - 06:54 - Intro06:55 - 11:01 - High Performance11:02 - 19:15 - St Pauli19:16 - 27:56 - Leadership27:57 - 42:34 - Philadelphia Union42:35 - 50:50 - Evolution50:51 - 54:22 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

In 1995 Bruno Costa was a budding 15 year old intern departing home with the aim of working in professional football.What ensued has been a story of movie like proportions taking us from the Amazon rainforest to Silicon Valley featuring a supporting cast of Brazilian legends.Amid political turmoil and public scrutiny in his early years as a leader Bruno has succeeded in helping proliferate the Brazilian of young talent and spearhead several projects to International, Olympic, Continental and Domestic success.Now in his role as Director of Scouting & Recruitment at the San Jose Earthquakes he joins us to open up candidly about his story.Listen to find out more including;- The trials and tribulations working as Chief Scout for the Brazilian federation.- Learning to lead as a 26 year old Technical Director at Fluminense.- Recouping $100m+ in sales over a 3 year period at Fluminense.- Building the 4 year project which ended in Brazilian gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics.- How San Jose Earthquakes protect player & coach pathways through fit & alignment?- Altering identification practices in the MLS to acquire undervalued talent.Timestamps;00:00 - 12:39 - The Journey12:40 - 17:00 - Mentors17:01 - 33:23 - Leadership33:24 - 41:07 - Fit & Alignment41:08 - 1:05:09 - Pathways1:05:10 - 1:08:15 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"There is no point in being a creative when you are fearful."Today I am joined by the magical Pat Nevin. The former Scottish international who amassed 850+ appearances playing for the likes of Chelsea, Everton and Tranmere.Known widely today for his work in broadcasting Pat was a player beyond his time and an influential figure in his playing days.His latest book "Football & How to Survive it" is a memoir regarding the second half of his playing career and into the boardroom. From the boardroom at Motherwell to dealing with Cantona's kung-fu kick as PFA Chairman.This game will try to change and test you however Pat continued to preserve the true essence of"loving it for the purity of the art". An inspirational and equally timely listen.Listen to find out more including;- Feeling an outsider in professional environments and surviving it.- How college nearly scuppered a move to Chelsea in the 1980's?- Pat's novel idea for dealing with fame?- Would such longevity be possible without a strong sense of identity beyond the white lines?- Keeping your self worth as a player intact amid a never ending turnover of managers.- Dealing with Eric Canton'a kung-fu kick as PFA Chairman.Timestamps;00:00 - 05:57 - Intro05:58 - 09:57 - Childhood09:58 - 15:34 - Overcoming Fear15:35 - 26:17 - Chelsea26:18 - 32:45 - Longevity32:46 - 49:16 - Boardroom49:17 - 52:01 - Broadcasting52:02 - 1:04:14 - Football & How to survive itGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Over 25 years ago Marc Nicholls arrived in the US from the UK with a suitcase and aspiration to coach in football full time. All these years later he is held in high regard as one of the most esteemed player and coach developers on the North American continent. Wearing many different hats he soon became aquainted with the North American game and his work was recognised being named U.S. Soccer Academy Coach of the Year twice preceding his move to the Seattle Sounders to become their Academy Director.As he climbed the leadership ranks at Seattle Sounders and Charlotte he always retained the belief in providing talent with a pathway. Now located in the "spiritual home" of US Soccer he serves as Technical Director for the Columbus Crew leading their "One Club" project.Here we dive into everything from the MLS' continued rise, how to best maximise returns on academy prospects, the work that goes into protecting player pathways and so much more.Listen to find out more including;- Creating a culture of development at the Seattle Sounders.- Protecting player pathways as the league grows into becoming "a league of choice".- Altering strategy to remain competitive with the best of the league.- How to be strategic and maximise your return on academy prospects?- How his leadership style has had to evolve between clubs?- Columbus Crew "One Club Project" and inside the club's recent evolution.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:00 - Intro04:01 - 09:05 - USA09:06 - 15:00 - Seattle Sounders15:01 - 24:54 - Strategic Gap24:55 - 32:23 - Columbus Crew32:24 - 41:40 - Leadership41:41 - 44:06 - MLS Future44:07 - 46:09 - Advice Get in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"I believe we can teach people anything but we cannot teach them culture".Sharona Friedman is the President of the Global Institute of Sport (GIS).Now partnered with UCFB, Sharona was part of the team that launched the world's first football university. In the space of 11 years it has grown from 53 - 3,000 students with multiple campuses in the UK such as Wembley and the Etihad. Furthermore it has staged summits worldwide including the likes of New York, Toronto and Melbourne. Sharona and her team have been relentless in their efforts turning GIS into a global leading educational institution.On the back of their recent Melbourne summit it was apt time to interview Sharona and learn more about the secrets behind GIS continued success. In a changing world how have they managed to stay on top and more so continue to innovate? What started as solving an initial supply and demand problem has transformed into an entire eco-system dedicated towards bettering the education of sporting professionals worldwide.Listen to find out more including;- The reasons behind UCFB's early success?- Solving the accessibility issue of third level education.- Navigating change and GIS' plans to "remain ahead of the puck"?- The legacy of the recent Women's World Cup?- Authenticity and building long term relationships and partnerships. - How students can future proof their careers in the game?Timestamps;00:00 - 04:30 - Intro04:31 - 12:49 - UCFB12:50 - 16:12 - Culture16:13 - 21:38 - Accessibility21:39 - 30:01 - Evolution30:02 - 42:50 - Women's World Cup42:51 - 47:14 - Partnerships47:15 - 53:26 - AdviceSharona's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonafriedman/GIS; https://gis.sport/

"Stop listening, start talking"IMG Academy is one of the world's most prestigious sports, performance and educational institutions located in Bradenton, Florida. A unique campus allowing students to continue their studies alongside pursuing mastery in their chosen sport has already allowed many student athletes to fulfill their dreams of attaining a sports scholarship at university.And who better to take us inside it's doors than Director of Personal Development; Dr. Duncan Simpson. Previously Head of Mental Conditioning on campus, Dr.Duncan is responsible for creating the best conditions possible for the person behind the athlete to flourish. Here he shares his thoughts on topics such as mental toughness, the buy-in process regarding mental skills training, and the importance of training focus at the high school level.A fantastic episode steeped in gold, learn more as to how Dr.Duncan and his department continue to set their students up for the best possible success in and outside of sport. Listen to find out more including;- Dr.Duncan's view on "the game of life"?- How a high challenge, high support environment is not enough and teaching students the art of asking good questions.- Where athletes most commonly become stuck?- Teaching teenagers that they are part of a broader community and that they are not isolated individuals.- The five skills most crucial for prime mental performance?-How to train focus on an individual and team level?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:46 - Intro03:47 - 10:06 - Lifelong Success10:07 - 17:52 - Athletic Department17:53 - 22:10 - Inner Voice22:11 - 32:17 - Mental Performance32:18 - 36:27 - Self-Talk36:28 - 44:38 - Self-Growth44:39 - 46:55 - AdviceDr.Duncan's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-simpson-ph-d-cmpc-76244b1a/

How does someone find their way into football via studying consciousness, dopamine systems and magic mushrooms? Today's guest is Jes Buster Madsen, Head of Research & Development at FC Copenhagen.One of the most innovative and productive academies in world football constantly striving for percentages in understanding and shaping the next frontier of youth development. What begun as a passion to explore the finer edges of how reality is experienced has evolved to a commitment to understanding "the pandora's box of football". One of the most inspirational podcasts recorded to date painting a very optimistic picture as to how youth development will evolve. Without question it cements the view of how sports can be used as a tool for understanding the big questions in life.Listen to find out more including;- A broader view of game intelligence.- The prerequisites for making decisions on a football field.- Building a cognitive model which is football specific.- Which cognitive functions are correlated with future success in football?- What are the future implications on technology resulting from Jes' latest research?- Moving towards a future where academia and elite sport can co-exist.Timestamps;00:00 - 09:51 - Neuroscience09:52 - 15:16 - Intelligence v Consciousness15:17 - 28:16 - Cognitive Potential28:17 - 37:47 - Testing37:48 - 48:52 - Evolution48:53 - 51:42 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Dominic Casciato is the Head Coach of Union Omaha. His continual upward trajectory has been no surprise given his journey to date. Taking calculated risks with an unquivering thirst to learn he is a shining example of a coach who has made successful transition from academy to first team.Thinking outside the box, integrating outside knowledge, learning a second language, coaching all age groups, Dominic has skipped no steps on his journey to first team coach. An inspirational listen and undoubtedly full of gold for coaches to implement in their own environments.Listen to find out more including;- How to be intentional with filling in your development gaps as a coach?- Why wearing many different hats as a coach may come to the deprivation of building your methodology. - How coaching in a second language improved Dom's ability as a communicator?- Building a culture of development at El Paso through an innovative cross border games programme.- How to surround yourself with good role models who cure blindspots?- Nadirs in a season and navigating them in your first managerial post.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:50 - Intro04:51 - 11:48 - Development11:49 - 18:10 - Espanyol18:11 - 23:46 - New York23:47 - 35:51 - El Paso35:52 - 45:06 - Union Omaha45:07 - 46:07 - Advice

Andoni Bombin is the Academy Manager at Independiente de Valle in Ecuador.Formerly the Head of Methodology and long time academy coach at Athletic Club de Bilbao, Andoni underwent a significant apprenticeship at home demonstrating how the values required for a successful career on field were equally transferable to a successful career away from it. Armed with this knowledge and it's proof in a never ending lineage of academy graduates Andoni used these learnings as a platform travelling worldwide to spread the Bilbao gospel. The apprentice has now become the master and Andoni all these years later has proven astute adapting to different contexts, managing expectations and in turn facilitating a knowledge exchange in the likes of China and Ecuador. Listen to find out more including;- Inside the unique culture for development at Bilbao.- The importance of providing players with autonomy in their own development.- How the phases of development align to ensure a constant conveyor belt of talent from academy to first team.- Why a coach cannot begin their journey without the clarity a direction brings. - The huge social purpose driving development at Independiente de Valle.- How IDV facilitate knowledge exchange amongst players and coaches in Ecuador?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:30 - Intro03:31 - 08:05 - Bilbao08:06 - 14:15 - Phases of Development14:16 - 24:53 - Learning24:54 - 29:56 - Pathway Progression29:57 - 36:37 - China36:38 - 48:13 - Ecuador48:14 - 54:14 - Holistic Development54:15 - 1:00:14 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

"It took 1 hour to plan but 9 years to consistently implement it".Des Ryan is the Director of Coaching & Performance at Setanta College. Furthermore he was also the Head of Sports Medicine & Athletic Development from 2013-2021.Des is a leading practitioner in the field and is widely regarded for his body of work at Arsenal's academy. With the help of Arsene Wenger, Liam Brady and Colin Lewin, Des helped to build an athletic framework in line with the club's overarching football philosophy.Playing the infinite game of development, Des and his former colleagues still see the fruits of this labour to this very day with a significant proportion of academy graduates moving into first team football in Europe's top 5 leagues.This is truly a great listen as to the impact which an interdisciplinary team can achieve with the right vision, mission and values.Listen to find out more including;- How the football philosophy lives & breathes at Arsenal?- Implementation of the athletic development framework at Arsenal?- Distributing skin in the game to make the philosophy sticky.- How vision and mission align decision making from top down in an academy setting?- Des' tips for innovation and effecting change with limited resources. - Inside the physical development of Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah.Timestamps;00:00 - 04:30 - Intro04:31 - 08:58 - Athletic Framework08:59 - 14:54 - "Strong Young Gunners"14:55 - 23:55 - Change23:56 - 32:44 - Culture of Growth32:45 - 48:08 - Inside the Programme48:09 - 52:23 - AdviceArsenal Research Paper; SCJ_Developing-world-class-players_2017.pdf (setantacollege.com)GAA Sports Science Paper; Launch of new Sports Science framework for Gaelic Games (gaa.ie)

Dave Clarke has been head coach of Quinnipiac college soccer for over 20 years.His journey to this point has been wholly encompassing and one in which he has left no stone unturned. Retaining that childhood passion for the game blended with a hunger for growth has ensured his longevity in the game on American shores.On his pathway to becoming a leading coach educator with US Soccer he has gained profound insight as to why he coaches and as to his own unique method of leadership. Advocating a life skills approach, Dave likens his overarching role within college to that of "surrogate parent" with no student athlete left behind. I was very fortunate to spend time in Dave's company hearing raw insight regarding his profession.Listen to find out more including;- Inside college soccer culture- How wholly encompassing is the life of a college soccer coach?- Leading as a player v leading as a coach.- How Dave guides players and staff through complexity and change?- What is of the utmost importance to get right in college recruitment?- Remaining curious as a coach educator and what his work is currently teaching him about himself?Timestamps;00:00 - 02:12 - Intro02:13 - 08:45 - US08:46 - 20:03 - College Soccer20:04 - 30:56 - Recruitment30:57 - 38:22 - US Soccer38:23 - 43:08 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Adam Lawrence is the head of player development for U13-U16 at Manchester United. Ever passionate and proactive, there has not been a single step skipped in his coaching journey.Hailing from south London Adam has gained recognition going above and beyond coaching across all age bands at clubs such as Millwall, Charlton and now Manchester United. Always in service of the player Adam offers us his lens as to what good coach education looks like, the pastoral care afforded by Manchester United and the preconditions required for success.Much like his own journey, shaped by tradition yet constantly looking to evolve, Adam takes us right inside the beating heart of one of the world's leaders in talent development.Listen to find out more including;- How does the environment of South London support the development of players?- The profound impact of a study trip to South America?- How Charlton leveraged Talent ID as a competitive advantage?- What separates the best coach developers?- Inside the unique culture for talent development at Man United.- Integrating Man United first team players into the youth development process.Timestamps;00:00 - 03:12 - Intro03:13 - 12:21 - Getting Reps12:22 - 21:46 - Talent ID21:47 - 27:12 - Head of Coaching27:13 - 39:32 - Man United39:33 - 44:28 - AdviceGet in touch;Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/Twitter: https://twitter.com/cwalsh95?lang=enYouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPodEmail: cwalsh95@outlook.ie

Matt Rizzetta is the Chairman of North Sixth Group, a family office operating company with investments in marketing, media, technology, sports and entertainment. A diversified portfolio yet there was not much one could prepare them for the purchase of Campobasso. 8 days out from their season start and no coach, players and a pitch covered in mushrooms. Yet in spite of this they achieved promotion in a season framed as "fame di rivincita".Part of a portfolio which also includes Ascoli FC and newly founded pro team in Brooklyn, Matt speaks about ultimately how passion and purpose fuels their investing pursuits. Listen to find out more including;- Motive to invest in football?- How they got Campobasso up and running operationally off the pitch and technically on it?- Their plans to diversify revenue streams in a bid to remain competitive.- Why bring professional soccer to the "underdog" borough of Brooklyn?-MCO's and how North Sixth Group's portfolio will evolve?Timestamps;00:00 - 05:41 - Intro05:42 - 19:21 - Campobasso19:22 - 26:56 - Brooklyn26:57 - 30:46 - MCO'sWebsite; https://northsixthgroup.com/

“Who you become as a result of the chase is the most important thing”One of the most transformational podcasts I have recorded to date. It was a pleasure to speak with Dr.Jim Loehr about his new book "Wise Decisions" and his brilliant work in the Sport Psychology sphere over the past 30 years!Utilising sport as a tool to impact others, "you get a life by giving it away." This purpose driven lens has flavoured Dr.Jim's work for the past 30 years. As one begins that journey of "coming home" they must learn best as to how to navigate that path.With the brain responsible for making 35,000 decisions a day, how can you harness this to coach you forward? It is after all the most important asset one can have. Furthermore why with every decision we take we either are getting closer or further to home?For all of those involved in Sports indeed what is presented to us here is an extraordinary opportunity and in an extraordinary time. Listen to find out more including;-What does it mean to repurpose sport to build character?- How does one begin the journey of "coming home"?- How does the brain makes decisions- What does Y.O.D.A stand for?- Having a dsyfunctional private voice and still being successful.- What is the best coach you could ever have?- How has this research impacted Dr.Jim's own life?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:04 - Intro03:05 - 16:10 - The End in Mind16:11 - 23:24 - Youth Performance23:25 - 34:25 - Wise Decisions34:26 - 40:49 - Inner Voice40:50 - 49:28 - Impact of research on him?49:29 - 52:40 - AdviceDr. Jim's Website; https://www.jim-loehr.com/Dr. Jim's Book; https://www.amazon.com/Wise-Decisions-Science-Based-Approach-Choices/dp/1119931401

Today I am joined by the Founding Partner of Elite Performance Partners; David Slemen. EPP help organisations and individuals within sport reach their potential. They have helped with the support and building of high performance teams at organisations such as The FA, Right to Dream, LTA and Leicester Tigers. For anyone interested in building the team behind the team this one is for you. Learn here as to how to unpick bias in the recruitment process, why experience can be overrated, how there is no "path" and how sustainable success ought to be at the forefront.Listen to find out more including;- Why football is sometimes slow to innovate?- How to balance long term planning and short term success?- The differences between the hiring process at Amazon and Lego?- What skillsets does the modern day technical director have?- The role of the "specialist generalist"?Timestamps;00:00 - 03:53 - Intro03:54 - 06:38 - Innovation06:39 - 12:46 - "Cultural Fit"12:47 - 22:10 - Unpicking Bias22:11 - 27:27 - Technical Director27:28 - 34:01 - Evolution34:02 - 36:06 - AdviceWebsite; https://eppglobal.com/TGG Article; https://trainingground.guru/articles/five-key-roles-for-high-performing-teams