This Football Life

Today we're joined by award-winning writer and broadcaster Daniel Storey. If you're not already familiar with Daniel, you can read his work weekly on Football365, the i Newspaper, the Irish Examiner and Optus Australia. He's also a regular contributor to the Monday edition of The Totally Football Show podcast. In this episode we'll dive into: his football adventure to Africa and Eastern Europe, his approach to writing articles and columns, his views on the football media in 2019- including the Athletic- and more. You can follow Daniel on Twitter, his twitter handle is @danielstorey85. A special thanks to Kings Place in London for hosting the episode.

Today I'm joined by Head of Analysis and Recruitment for Solihull Moors, Craig Cope. Cope has worked in analysis for several big EFL clubs, notably Notts County, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City. However, we are going focus on his role as Head of Recruitment. His club, Solihull Moors, are in the National League aka England's 5th division. So I wanted to find out, how do you recruit and identify talent in non-league football and how do you gather data when companies like Opta don't work in non-league? Cope will also answer those questions and reveal how he went from being a university student to leading a professional club's scouting department in less than 7 years. If would like to reach out to Craig and let him know what you thought of this episode, his Twitter handle is @Craig_Cope. Additionally, if you liked this episode or any of the previous ones please tell a friend, family member or colleague as it is the best way to promote the show.

Today I'm joined by tactical analyst Joe Carnall. Carnall has been a tactical analyst for more than a decade, and has worked for a number of big clubs such as Birmingham City, Sheffield United, Nottingham Forest and Derby. In this episode we track the evolution of the role of video/tactical analyst. We get into what the role really entails and dive into some of the tactical trends that are visible in the game today. I've really been looking forward to having an analyst on podcast because their role is often overlooked. And yet, they have an increasing influence on the sport and within their teams. If you want to reach out to Joe, his twitter handle is @CarnallJoe

Timeline: 11:02 Preseason in 1980s vs today 14:59 Treating hamstring injuries 19:21 Rushing a player back from injury 27:02 Eduardo injury 33:14 Head injuries in football Today I'm joined by longtime physio Gary Lewin. Lewin was a physio for Arsenal from 1986 until 2008. He was also a physio for the England national team at an astounding 5 World Cups. From 2017-2018 he was Head of Medical Services at West Ham United In this episode we chat about: hamstring injuries, Gary saving John Terry's life, head injuries and being a physio in the 1980s.

Timeline: 7:42 How EPPP changed sports science 15:50 Hamstring injuries and traffic light systems 25:02 Use of GPS 29:07 Technology and football 31:37 Nanotechnology 36:25 Is the gulf widening between big and small teams in sports science? 41:25 Do players play too much? Today I'm joined by writer James Witts. Witts is the author of the new book Training Secrets of the World's Greatest Footballers: How Science is Transforming the Modern Game which you can buy on Amazon or wherever you get your books. In this episode we'll discuss: how sports science has evolved in the UK, how nanotechnology may be the future of football, do players play too much and more. If you like sports science or performance I recommend you check out the Training Ground Guru podcast which I host and produce with Simon Austin as we also touch on those subjects. If you enjoy the show please leave a review on iTunes, or tell a friend You can also reach out to James, his Twitter handle is @james_witts.

Today's show is going to be different from our usual shows. Instead of a long-form interview with a guest, we have 20 guests answering the same question. If you're a long-time listener you'll know I've asked guests, some variation of the following: If you were the head of FIFA, how would you change the game? So in this episode you'll hear players, coaches, journalists, psychologists, an agent and even a photographer answer that very question: if you were the head of FIFA, how would you change the game? Please note, these interviews in some cases are more than a year old so these guys might have different answers today. Before we get to the episode, I'd just like to thank Ram, el Pivote, and everyone else who reached out to me last week and said such nice things about the pod. Also, I'd love your thoughts on the question, so feel free to hit me on twitter, my handle is @ThisFootballLif. We'll be back next week with a normal episode.

Timeline: 10:40 Roadtrips with Dennis Bergkamp 14:00 Away trips for a kit manager 24:00 His role as sports psychologist 29:55 Becoming the women's coach 40:50 Biggest evolution in women's football 46:10 Can women coaches manage men's teams? 53:55 Head of FIFA for a day Today I'm joined by Arsenal legend Vic Akers. For more than 30 years Vic was part of the fabric that made up Arsenal Football Club. It all started when he came to the club in 1985 as a kitman and then the next year started to run their community outreach schemes. In 1987, he founded the women's team. By the time he finished coaching the women's team in 2009 he had won 32 major trophies with the club making him the most decorated women's manager in English and international football history. But that's only half the story. When he wasn't pioneering women's football in England he was the kit manager of the Arsenal men's team. In 1996 he took over the role when Arsene Wenger was hired and it was only fitting they left together last year. So why now that it's women's world cup are we not seeing news packages and lots of stories about Akers? I suspect it's because of Vic's desire to keep a low profile and out of the limelight. As you'll hear in this interview he is extraordinarily humble. If you want to reach out to him, and you really should, his Twitter is @TheRealVicAkers If you like the show, please rate and leave a review on iTunes as it really helps us promote the show. Now, it's time to hear stories of being on the road with Dennis Bergkamp and what it was like to coach women's football in the 1980s and 90s. Enjoy my chat with Arsenal legend, Vic Akers.

Timeline: 7:40 Chance in football 12:32 The lying of league tables 14:23 'Packing' 22:55 'Packing' in the media 29:13 Data at Dortmund 36:00 Video revolution 44:29 Why clubs are so secretive 50:07 If he were FIFA president for a day Today I'm joined by German football journalist Christoph Biermann. Christoph is the author of the new book Football Hackers: The Science and Art of a Data Revolution which highlights some of the new analytical methods clubs and individuals are using around the world. You can find this book on Amazon or wherever you find your books. And in today's conversation, we'll discuss: - Data use around Europe…including in England vs Germany - 'Packing' and other interesting metrics - Analytics in the media and how 'packing' was covered in Germany - The future of data in football Longtime listeners will remember I had Chris Anderson, author of the Numbers Game, on the podcast last year. I highly recommend you listen to that to supplement this episode if you haven't already, as it describes the history of the data revolution. If you would like hear more episodes or see shownotes of these episodes, then please check out my website, www.thisfootballlife.com.

Timeline 7:11 getting scouted by Manchester United 15:12 Taking notes on his training sessions 18:25 Watching film 22:10 Positional coaches 23:00 Jaap Stam 25:43 Hanging on to the big Manchester United tag 33:16 Thierry Henry handball 38:52 Post-game dressing room against France 53:00 Most underrated defender 1:01:58 His advice to young defenders 1:04:50 Social media in football Today I'm joined by ex-Reading captain and central defender, Paul McShane. Paul is currently looking for a new club but has played for many clubs in the Premier League and Championship most notably Sunderland, Hull City, and Reading. In his 15 year career, he has made more than 400 appearances including 33 appearances for the Irish national team. One of those was that famous World Cup qualifying playoff against France which we talk about in this episode. He was actually defending Henry on that famous handball so he has a really interesting perspective. He also talks about the art of defending, video analysis habits amongst players, social media in football and players who hold onto that Manchester United tag. If you want to reach out to him and let him know what you thought of the interview his Twitter handle is @pmacca15 Finally, if you want more interviews with players, such as his ex-teammates Anssi Jaakkola or Joey Van Den Berg you can see them all on www.ThisFootballLife.com

Timeline 7:47 When he tested positive 11:23 Releasing stress for pro athletes 16:40 Advice to young players 23:37 Talking to young players about money 29:15 Playing for Jaap Stam 38:23 Getting dropped to the youth teams 44:22 If he could change football Today we're joined by Reading midfielder Joey Van Den Berg. Joey is currently on loan at NEC Nimegen in the Dutch Second division and has quite the story to tell. In his native Netherlands, he is akin to Sergio Ramos as he has the record for most red cards. He currently has 12 in his career including 2 this season. When Joey was 22 he was released by Heerenveen due to issues with alcohol and drugs and was without a club. While he was out of a game he worked in a pizzeria, he washed cars and worked in construction among his many jobs. Now, a little more than a decade later he's made more than 250 appearances and scored 25 goals in the Dutch Eredivisie and English Championship. So in this episode, we'll dive into his remarkable story and discuss how young players cope with stress, pressure and instincts to be a normal teenager. And if you find youth development interesting, on Thursday, May 2nd the next episode of the Training Ground Guru podcast is coming out. In that episode, Simon Austin and I got an all-access pass to Burnley's academy. You won't want to miss that. If you would like hear more episodes or see shownotes of these episodes, then please check out my website, www.thisfootballlife.com.

We are joined by ex-Premier League referee Mark Halsey. Halsey was a Premier League referee from 1999 to 2013 and was a FIFA listed referee from 2000 til 2006. Among some of the big games he's been involved in…he was the fourth official in the 2002 FA Cup between Arsenal and Chelsea and the head referee in the 2008 League Cup between Tottenham and Chelsea. He also writes a weekly column in The Sun newspaper. But today I really just wanted to go inside the mindset of an official: how do they handle the abuse from players, what is it like make important calls, how does it feel like to make a big mistake. If you want to reach out to Mark, his Twitter handle is @RefereeHalsey. Mark is also an ambassador for the Steve Prescott Foundation, which aims to raise money for cancer research. If you'd like to learn more about that you visit their website https://www.steveprescottfoundation.co.uk/home Also, if you're interested in more behind the scenes football content, with managers and performance coaches check out the new Training Ground Guru podcast. I produce this new monthly show and the first episode featured ex-Stoke manager Gary Rowett.

Timeline: 7:40 Comparing Bangladesh and Sierra Leone 20:15 The logistical problems in African football 26:15 Managing expectations as a coach 34:26 Leaving New York for Sierra Leone 41:58 Lessons from his football 'masters' 48:28 Running an Academy at 23 years old 56:02 Finding the African 'David Silva' 1:04:10 Coaching in a country following a civil war 1:09:30 Football is Football 1:13:32 The most unusual practice in Africa 1:19:40 How he'd change football 1:25:35 Wisdom for young coaches Today I'm joined by Sporting SAIF manager Johnny McKinstry. McKinstry has had a fascinating journey in coaching. He started his coaching career as a teenager in his home country of Northern Ireland before becoming a youth coach at New York Red Bulls. Following a few fruitful years there, he became technical director of Craig Bellamy's Foundation academy in Sierra Leone at the ripe age of 23. After a little over three years there he was appointed the National Team manager of Sierra Leone leading them into the top-50 of the FIFA rankings- he highest ever for the country. He then went on to coach the Rwanda national team, leading them to the quarter-finals in the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations. Next was a brief stint in Lithuania and last November he became the manager of Sporting SAIF which is a club in Bangladesh. He's done all that and he's only 33 years old. In this episode we'll be discuss: -why he left NY Red Bulls to work in Sierra Leone -the difficulty in managing expectations as a coach -why his team in Bangladesh practices at 7 am -the time Yaya Toure played the role of custom's official before a game If you want to reach out to Johnny, his Twitter handle is @johnnymckinstry

Timeline: 8:52 Verbal Abuse in the 1970s 19:47 Refereeing trends through the decades 24:20 Professionalizing referees 38:05 Why top referees have been leaving England 42:22 VAR 51:58 Offside rule This week we are joined by ex-referee Keith Hackett. Hackett started as a referee all the way back in 1960, although he was just doing local games in his hometown of Sheffield. It wasn't until 1976 that he became a full referee in the old First Division at the tender of 32. Five years later he would officiate the biggest match in England, the FA Cup final between Tottenham and Manchester City. He ended up refereeing in the top flight from 1976 until 1994. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) named one of the top 100 referees of all time. In 2004 the PGMOL, Professional Game Match Officials Board, appointed him their general manager, where he stayed for 6 years. In our conversation we discuss: the evolution of refereeing, comparing and contrasting verbal abuse in the 1970s versus today, why top referees are leaving England, and why the Champions League is struggling to implement VAR. If you enjoy the episode tell a friend or someone who may be interested. Also feel free to send Keith a message on Twitter, his handle is @HACKETTREF

Timeline: 5:08 Scouting Gary Medel 12:45 Scouting in Spain 21:22 How many times he sees a player before they're signed 28:05 How data has influenced scouting 31:30 Scouting department sizes 38:39 Day in the life of a scout 46:04 Networking 53:31 Defining characteristic for being a scout 59:08 Biggest challenge Our guest is ex-player and current scout Tommy Johnson. Johnson was a famous player representing Notts County, Aston Villa, Derby and Celtic in the 1990s and early 2000s. But today we will be speaking to him exclusively about his time as a scout. He got his break in scouting when he was U-23s coach at Northern Ireland. He then was a European scout at Cardiff, before becoming the Head of Player Recruitment at Blackburn. Most recently he was a senior UK scout at Watford before there was a restructuring at the club and he was let go. In this episode he'll discuss: scouting Gary Medel, how scouting differs amongst various clubs, how data has influenced scouting, the biggest challenges of the job and other insights into what the life of a scout is actually like. Due to the high demand of the work, I will now be doing episodes bi-weekly, therefore every other week. This will ensure that I can spend more time making every episode as good as it can be. I do the show by myself and as of late I feel like I haven't been able to put in as much time as is necessary. So the next episode will come out on March 12th.

Today we are joined by one of the best young English managers in the game, Darrell Clarke. Despite making nearly 500 appearances as a player Clarke is best known as a successful manager at Salisbury City and Bristol Rovers. Since taking over Salisbury City as a player-manager in 2010, Clarke has led his clubs to four different promotions. He did this twice with Salisbury City in non-league football and twice with Bristol Rovers. He has a total record of 189 wins 54 draws and 123 losses, so a very good record indeed, he's done all this before turning 42. He is currently a free agent and I'd be shocked if he doesn't land a job this summer. In our episode Clarke discusses: why he turned down a job at Leeds, his thoughts on the sporting director model, how he manages players, the psyche of a coaching during a relegation fight and what he told his team at halftime of the last game of a promotion challenge. If you enjoy the show please spread the word: text a friend, call your partner, tell a stranger, or write something on social media.

Timeline: 7:21 Are the commentators at the game? 12:53 Refereeing decisions on MOTD 21:10 The future of highlights shows 28:50 MOTD Nostalgia 37:30 Female pundits 41:49 How MOTD gets made Our guests today are Steve Wilson, Guy Mowbury and Paul Armstrong. Wilson and Mowbray are some of the finest commentators on television and regularly appear on MOTD. Armstrong was BBC Match of the Day's editor for 14 years. If you enjoy the episode and want to go deep on MOTD I recommend you buy Why Are We Always On Last? which is the autobiography of Paul Armstrong. You can buy Why Are We Always On Last? on Amazon or wherever you get your books. In the episode we discuss: the future of broadcasting & MOTD, how MOTD is made, the 3 pm blackout and a whole lot more. If you're American and wondering what Match of the Day is, it's a show based on highlights and analysis, like Sunday Night Countdown or Baseball Tonight. Except it is 90 minutes and has no commercials. It's an essential part of British football culture and tradition. And as this is the first time having 3 people I mistakenly never asked them to introduce themselves with their voice. The first person you'll hear from is Guy Mowbury. The next voice is Steve Wilson. And the other voice is Paul Armstrong.

Timeline 8:35 Camping at Bayern Munich 19:45 Coaching in Norway 24:58 On getting sacked from Oxford 29:45 Coaching set-pieces 40:50 Emerging trends in football 48:02 Developing young players Today our guest is Birmingham City assistant manager Pep Clotet. Pep is from Catalonia, Spain and has been a coach since 2001. I'll give you a quick overview of his career. He started as a youth team and reserve manager at Espanyol before moving to coach in Sweden and Norway. After that he returned to Spain to manage the reserves at Malaga. He then joined Garry Monk at Swansea and since then he has coached with him at Leeds and now at Birmingham City. In this episode we discuss: how he approaches set-pieces, key performance indicators he looks for on Birmingham City, how English football is resembling Spanish football, why football should switch to 12 players, advice for young coaches, and coaching in Norway. You can reach out to Pep on Twitter, his handle is @Pepclotet.

Timeline: 5:30 Finnish football culture in the 1990's 14:58 Moving to Italy 19:00 The mindset of a backup goalkeeper 30:26 The lesson he learnt in Prague 36:21 Italian league versus South African league 43:04 Improving goalkeeping technique 47:52 Scouting opponents Today our guest is Reading FC's starting goalkeeper, Anssi Jaakkola. He's a starter now but most of his 15 year career he was a backup. Being a goalkeeper, especially a back-up goalkeeper, is the most unique position in football in my opinion. In his career he's played in 6 different countries: Finland, Italy, Scotland, the Czech Republic, South Africa and now England. In this episode he'll discuss: the difference in mindset between backup and starter, Finnish football culture, different techniques in goalkeeping, why he almost quit football and what the term 'window' has to do with goalkeeping. This entire interview will be uploaded to the This Football Life so if you want you can check it out there. Also, please feel free to reach out to Anssi about the interview on Twitter, his Twitter handle is @anssi_jaakkola

Timeline: 9:58 Building an academy from scratch 20:21 Promoting players quickly through age groups 29:23 Character building in academy players 36:20 Building the right culture or mindset 46:07 Why having a girls academy has been so beneficial for the club Today our guest is FC Nordsjælland Academy Director, Jan Laursen. Laursen is known as employee number one at the club because he's been with them since before they were named FC Nordsjælland and were called Farum BK. He was a semi-professional player with the club then and in the last decade he has been responsible for building up the academy from scratch. In this episode we'll dive into how he built it up, how he instills the right mindset in his players, why his academy is like the worlds best restaurant and why implementing a girls academy has been such a success. If you enjoy the show please spread the word and tell a friend. And if you want to see articles or text versions of this episode and others go onto my website, www.ThisFootballLife.com

Timeline 9:10 Leaving home to join the Right to Dream Academy 16:01 Signing for Manchester City 27:16 Contract extension of move to a bigger club? 32:35 Shadowy world of outside influences in football Godsway Donyoh is a 24 year old striker who has scored 31 goals in 119 career appearances. In December he was linked with several clubs in England notably Everton, Bournemouth, and Leicester City. I think you'll see why in this interview. I was impressed with him as any guest I've had on the show which is quite remarkable considering his age and all the guests we've had on the show. In this episode he'll discuss: growing up in Ghana, the difficulty of leaving home and adjusting to being all alone as a teenager in Sweden, the importance of giving back and the selfish nature of some of those involved in African football. If you want to see text versions of this episode or others then please head to my website www.ThisFootballLife.com and if you want to give me feedback email me at joshschneiderweiler@gmail.com.

Timeline: 7:50 Landing a scouting role with Manchester United 17:45 Why European Academies fail in Africa 23:00 Ghana's culture and identity 31:25 How to develop character in a young player 43:35 European vs American approach to character development 47:00 Replicating Right-to-Dream in other countries 57:28 Finding purpose Today we are joined by Tom Vernon. Vernon is the founder of the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana and Chairman of FC Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga. According to it's website, Right to Dream's mission is, "to provide transformational life changing opportunities for the next generation of leaders, inspiring change as part of a global movement that shares remarkable stories of human endeavour." This is what makes Right to Dream unique. It has a massive commitment to character development and giving back. This is why I wanted to speak with Tom. In this episode we'll discuss how the global system is broken, how it can be fixed, the keys to developing character and so much more. The academy was started 1999 and since then 34 of their graduates have gone on to become professional footballers and 51 have studied at colleges and universities in the US and UK. In January of 2016, Right to Dream bought FC Nordsjælland to give more opportunities to their graduates. They have 5 graduates in their squad now, including Godsway Donyoh who is our guest next week. This is first interview out of 3 with people connected to Right to Dream or FC Nordsjælland. If you want to learn more about Right to Dream visit www.righttodream.com or check out their Instagram and Twitter, @right2dream For more info about this podcast visit www.ThisFootballLife.com or reach out to me on Twitter @ThisFootballLif or @SchneiderWeiler You can see video clips of the podcast on Youtube, the channel is 'This Football Life.'

Timeline 9:10 How the NFL influenced the Premier League 18:30 The difference in NFL owners to PL owners 24:20 Will the PL play a game in America? 32:55 The brilliance of Richard Scudamore 40:48 The elimination blackout games 45:11 European Super League and PL parallels 49:30 The colluding ritual of daily newspapers On February 20th, 1992 world football changed. A domestic football league became a worldwide competition. The FA Premier League was born. Ever since, money, owners, agents, players, and coaches have flocked in from around the world to get a piece of the action. Today we examine the birth of the Premier League (PL) and try to look towards the future of it. Who shaped it? Who is currently shaping it? And what will it look like in a decade's time? We are joined by Jonathan Clegg, who is an editor for the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of the new book that he wrote with Joshua Robinson, 'The Club: How the Premier League Became the Richest, Most Disruptive Business in Sport'. If you're interested in the behind the scenes dealings of the PL (as I am) then this is the book for you. In our conversation, you'll hear Jonathan and I discuss: how the NFL influenced the pioneers of the Premier League, will the Premier League play games in the US, what is the future of broadcasting and what parallels are evident between the European Super League and the formation of the Premier League. If you'd like to reach out Jonathan and discuss this interview or the book with him you can him via email jonathan.clegg@theclubbook.com This will be the last episode of 2018. We will return on January 8th with brand new interviews. In the meantime, you can catch up on old episodes or enjoy more time with your friends and family.

Timeline: 8:52 Playing at United's Academy 16:50 Going from Manchester United to Rochdale 20:57 Finding out he had cancer 30:17 How football helped him fight cancer 35:53 Re-entering football post-football 42:21 The financial reality of being a League 1 or 2 player 49:14 Demo tapes for coaches 58:35 Veganism in football 1:03:30 What cancer taught him about football I am joined by Rochdale midfielder, Joe Thompson. Thompson has made around 200 appearances in his pro career mostly for Rochdale, Carlisle and Tranmere in League One and Two. Why has he not played more? In October of 2013 at the age of 23 Joe was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form cancer. And then in 2017, he was diagnosed with cancer again. He beat cancer both times. As you would imagine it's a gripping and emotional story. He'll also talk about going from Manchester United's academy to Rochdale's, hand scan tests at United, financial insecurity for League 1 and 2 players & demo tapes on LinkedIn. This show is based around football but I never want to lose perspective. Football is a sport. But it can be more than a game. I thought with the holidays around the corner when most of us will be with families, it would be the perfect time to get some perspective and appreciate the lives we have. Hopefully, Joe can help in this regard. If you enjoy the interview and/or feel moved by Joe, please send him a message on Twitter, his handle is @JJL_Thompson or on Instagram, @JJL_Thompson. If you want to learn more about his story, read his autobiography Darkness and Light on Amazon. I can't recommend it enough. If you want to see clips of this interview then go to my youtube channel This Football Life.

Timeline: 3:35 His philosophy on retirement 9:35 Roy Hodgson 17:32 Financial Turmoil at Charlton 28:23 Taking Risks 34:52 Advice to young coaches 43:55 The role of the fourth official We are joined Newport County consultant and long-time football coach Lennie Lawrence. For those younger listeners like myself, Lennie has managed more than a thousand games and assistant managed hundreds more in his four decades of football. He's most famous for managing at Charlton in the 80s which is where he made his name. We'll discuss his time as a Charlton manager as the club was in financial disarray then as it is now. This is one of the chief reasons I wanted to speak to Lennie. I wanted to see how a coach manages a team that has off the field problems hovering over it. Lennie will also discuss why Roy Hodgson is still successful, his advice to young coaches and why he believes they need to change the role of the 4th official. If you like the show feel free to share it with a friend or write a review on iTunes.

Timeline: 7:55 Going to North Korea 15:30 His interview with Unai Emery 23:19 His career as a player and how it affected his coaching 31:09 His first game as a manager in La Liga 34:10 Unai's mentor 40:45 How he's a football romantic 47:30 Lucas Torreira and Unai Emery's approach to coaching him Today our guest is Romain Molina or Romain Molina who is a French journalist and writer. He is the author of the new book El Maestro which is a biography on Arsenal Head Coach Unai Emery. Simply put, Molina will take you further into the life and mind of Unai Emery than you'll have gone before. His mentor, his origin story, his transformation as a manager and everything in between. If you like this interview, than I suspect you will like his book. You can buy the biography, El Maestro, on Amazon or TalesFrom.com And if you like the episode share it with a friend who might be interested. Now without further adieu, enjoy my conversation with French writer Romain Molina.

Timeline 9:24 Belgium World Cup Run 13:34 Meeting Roberto Martinez for the first time 24:39 Getting his break at Bristol City 34:33 Disagreements in sports science 40:09 Volatility of the game 48:09 The evolution of football 55:54 Challenges in the Sports Science industry 1:06:55 PEDs in football? Today our guest is the Head of Fitness for the Belgium National Team, Richard Evans. For the last 20 years or so he's been a physio, sports scientist and head of performance at various clubs in England. He started at career Swansea, before following Roberto Martinez to Wigan, Everton and Belgium. And before all that he was a professional player as well so he's got quite a career journey. We talk about that journey, his relationship with Roberto, the precarious nature of his profession, disagreements in sports science and I ask his about PEDs in football. And of course, he discusses Wigan's FA Cup win and Belgium's World Cup run. If you enjoyed this, Richard will also be speaking on the Cohesive Coaching event in Manchester on November 29th. There are tickets still available for that, and to buy them go onto Training Ground Guru's website (www.trainingground.guru) and click the tab for Cohesive Coaching 2 or search Cohesive Coaching on EventBrite. I'll be there, as well as acclaimed author Damian Hughes and ex-England Rugby coach Brian Ashton. It'll be fun and very informative so if you're in the area, come on down say hello. Another reminder, I have a new Youtube channel called This Football Life with clips of these interviews and I've recorded an exclusive video with Richard on that page. So head on over there and subscribe.

Timeline: 6:42 Cesc Fabregas as a teenager 15:07 Slapping a fan 24:04 Leaving Arsenal 30:42 His decision to go to India 41:42 Playing under Edgar Davids 51:07 Coaching goalkeepers in 2018 This is a live recording from the Great Football Adventures that we had in London in September. The organizer of the event, Seth Burkett has been kind enough to allow me to air the following interview. In this episode, Owen Amos a journalist for the BBC and author of From Delhi To The Den, sits down Graham Stack. Who is Graham Stack? Stack came through Arsenal's academy as a goalkeeper in 2000 and had an 18 year career in professional football. He is now the head of goalkeeping for Watford's academy. In this conversation he'll discuss coming through Arsenal academy with Cesc Fabregas & Yaya Toure, slapping a fan in Belgium, off the field distractions as a young player, and finishing his career in India. If you live in or around London, on November 12th, Great Football Adventures is hosting another event. There's a number of great guests on for that as well. Steve Claridge who has played at every level of professional football and amassed more than 1000 appearances will be there as well as Johnny McKinstry. McKinstry has managed the Rwanda and Sierra Leone national teams and most recently he’s been working in Lithuania. Also, my old colleague and tactics expert, Alex Stewart from Tifo Football will be there. So if you want to hang with us all, talk football, have a few pints, then come on down. It's only like 40/50 people so it's really intimate and friendly. Plus tickets are only £5. It doesn't get cheaper than that. Buy tickets by going to http://www.thesocial.com/events

Timeline: 3:56 Should biomechanics be in football? 13:00 What he learned from Theo Walcott 23:47 Craig Bellamy and Two-a-days 31:35 Being vulnerable with his players 43:55 Surrendering at the Sporting Chance Clinic 53:10 And then what 1:04:40 Rooney's spiritual reawakening Drewe is aggressive in his beliefs and has led a fascinating life. We hit such a wide array of topics in this episode. We go from how physios and training departments may need a makeover to how football is not in touch with its spiritual side. Feelings, biomechanics, mental health we touch on it all. Drewe has a podcast that should be released soon called the Gift is The Curse and a book called And Then What in December. So if you want to stay up to date on all that then follow him on Twitter @drewebroughton. And before we get to the episode don't forget to check out my new Youtube channel, This Football Life. You'll get clips of these interviews as well as some exclusive content. That's This Football Life on Youtube.

Timeline: 4:45 Pranks at Leeds 17:00 Glenn Hoddle's influence on him 29:43 The trial with Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer 41:57 Captaining Stoke and Leadership 49:45 Choosing business coaching instead of football coaching Today my guest is ex-professional footballer Michael Duberry. You may remember Michael on those Chelsea teams of the mid-to-late 90s and the Leeds teams of the early 2000s. He was a big, quick centre-back who played for 8 teams during his 20-year career. He's now the founder of Made Leaders, which provides executive coaching and leadership practices to businesses around the UK. In this episode Michael discusses a court case that destroyed his close friendship with Jonathan Woodgate and that could have ruined his life. I wanted to see how that affected him and how he feels about it today. And I also wanted to discuss the different forms of leadership that you see on how football pitch and who some of the leaders he admired in his career. I really admired the way Michael opened up about very sensitive issues and I hope you respect his vulnerability in this episode. It takes a lot of courage. If you want to reach out to him you can find him on Twitter @Original_Dubes And while you're online don't forget to leave a review and a rating on iTunes as it really helps with the awareness of the show. And check out the new Youtube page we have as well. The page is called This Football Life and you'll get to see video and clips of these interviews. So subscribe to that

Timeline: 3:43 The Chaos of the 1995 Anglo-Italian Cup 10:40 Central defending drills 16:20 The most important lesson he learned from Neil Warnock 23:00 Being a 5'10" central defender 30:50 The impact his father had on him 38:40 The moment that changed his life 45:05 His coaching influences 53:55 State of Black and Minority Coaching Today our guest is ex-professional footballer and current manager of the Guyana national team Michael Johnson. In his nearly 20 year career he made more the 500 appearances for Notts County, Birmingham City and Derby County, the latter of which he now acts as an ambassador for. Following his career as a central defender he went into coaching. As he discusses in our conversation, in this area he's found opportunities much more difficult to come by. He'll also talk about the art of central defending, the lesson Neil Warnock taught him and the state of coaching for blacks and minorities. He's as an honest as he is engaging. Insightful as he is positive. Frankly, I enjoyed his spirit and personality as much as anyone I've encountered doing this podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation and want to reach out to Michael, you can find him on Twitter @jonsarno And If you want to access old episodes and see transcripts of some episodes go to my new website, www.thisfootballlife.com

Timeline: 8:45 Academy environment in the late 80s 17:18 Living in U23 Limbo 25:34 The Injury that could have paralyzed him 35:49 Handling deselection 47:20 Sports psychology in practice vs theory Today I am joined by ex-Man United footballer and current sports lecturer at UCFB, Alan Tonge. Alan was a player at Manchester United in the late 1980s, before Sir Alex Ferguson told him he wasn't good enough for United. He then moved to Exeter City and at the age of 24 his career was cut short by a brutal spine injury and he was forced to retire. He has been a sports lecturer for the last 15 years but what really interested me about Alan is his current work. He has completed a survey of more than 200 footballers for his PhD about the emotional challenges that players face in their careers. For example, this could be being de-selected by a manager. He has his own experience with these obstacles and now studies it so I thought there would be no better person to help us go behind the scenes and into the psyche of a player who is struggling to cope. If you want to contact Alan and tell him your takeaways from this interview or what you learned, his twitter handle is @Alan_Tonge. Likewise, you can contact me @schneiderweiler or @ThisFootballLif.

Timeline: 6:35 The role of sporting director 13:20 Handling rumors 20:39 Playing street football as a kid in the 70s 27:09 Keys to be a good assistant 33:28 Bringing humor to the coaching staff 39:29 His favorite player to coach 1-to-1 Today our guest is Consulting Sporting Director of the Central Coast Mariners, Mike Phelan. Phelan is most well-known for being an assistant manager and first team coach at Manchester United from 1999-2013 under Sir Alex Ferguson. While he was with the club as a coach he won every trophy you can win. However, many may not know that before he became a successful coach he was a very accomplished player as well. In his 17 year career he played right-back and midfielder for Burnley, Norwich, Manchester United and West Brom. Fun fact, he won every domestic trophy with Man United as a player and as a coach. You know how many United players have done that? None. Phelan is also the Chairman of Sensible Soccer Limited, which provides football equipment, coaching and education across grassroots clubs, private individuals, universities and academies. For more information on that visit: https://sensiblesoccer.co.uk or contact Mike on Twitter @Mike_Phelan_1 In this episode he'll talk about a wild safari experience with United, creating a good culture amongst the staff at United, the importance of humor in regards to Sir Alex, keys to being a good assistant manager and the role of sporting director now and how they approached it while he was at United.

Timeline: 3:15 His book writing process 14:57 His love of Arabic commentary 22:35 Who are the winners and losers of the globalization of football 30:05 Oligarchs in football 41:39 Falling in love with football 50:53 Going from writer to audio documentarian 59:55 His thoughts on podcasts and Game of Our Lives 1:10:45 Who/what he reads Today, I am joined by sociologist turned author turned podcaster, David Goldblatt. David is the best-selling author of the classic book, The Ball is Round which was described as the "seminal football history" by Simon Kuper. In addition to that book, he's written The Games: A Global History of the Olympics, Futebol Nation: A Footballing History of Brazil, and The Game of Our Lives: The Meaning and Making of English Football. Game of Our Lives is also the name of his podcast series which is well worth a listen. Much like his books, in that podcast he focuses on the social, political and economic factors present in the game. He's also been a sociology professor at the Open University, Bristol University and Pitzer College in the US. He's got so many accomplishments, I haven't even talked about the audio documentaries he has done for the BBC. Needless to say, he's a multitalented guy and having him on the show was a real treat. He touches on so many topics in this episode, from Ghanian textile artists to the thievery of Messi and Ronaldo. It's a tour de force on David's part, and well I didn't have to do much. I pretty much just shut up and let him talk. This was one of my favorite episodes and I hope you'll agree. If you want to reach out to David and let him know what you think of the episode his Twitter is @Davidsgoldblatt.

Timeline: 3:47 Jetsetting with Thierry Henry 9:56 The Origin of his storytelling 19:02 Would he approach social media differently if he was a player in 2018? 27:55 The golf agent who tried to sell him to Rangers 34:30 Advice to players transitioning to left-back 43:16 Trading shirts with the Spanish national team Today our guest is Heath Pearce. Heath is currently a Creative at Copa 90 and was previously a professional footballer. For those of you who don't know, COPA90 is the world’s largest independent football media business, and reaches more than 80 million fans worldwide. Essentially it focuses on Global Football Fan Culture through Youtube videos. At Copa 90 Heath is a host of the weekly show Sit Talk Football Uncut (STFU) and was previously the host of the popular series Walk Talk Football & many others. Before he was a content creator, he was a highly successful professional footballer. Between 2005-2012 he represented the USMNT 35 times at left-back and played for professional teams in Denmark, Germany and the US. In this episode he talks about that struggle and perserverance, the art of playing left-back, how he'd approach social media as a player in 2018, jetsetting with Thierry Henry and much more. You can interact with him on Twitter, @heathpearce

Timeline: 5:39 Meeting his Liverpool idols 10:09 Picking the brains of Liverpool Legend Steve Heighway 18:02 Coaching coaches and His famous Pro License Course 27:07 The most common question he gets and his answer 34:23 Remembering the 2016 Euros 41:19 How he watches coaches Today we are joined by Osian Roberts. Roberts has been coaching in Wales since 1991, becoming the Technical Director in 2007 and the Assistant Manager in 2013. He's even been called the 'most influential man in Wales Football.' However, in coaching circles he's most known for teaching one of the most highly respectedUEFA Pro License courses in Europe. He's coached countless elite managers such as Tony Pulis, Roberto Martinez, Paul Jewell, Patrick Vieira, and many others. In this episode he'll discuss what he learned from his mentor & Liverpool legend Steve Heighway, what he's added to his Pro License course in the last year, his thoughts on Thierry Henry as a manager, and how he evaluates coaches when he watches games.

Timeline: 6:05 Lessons from coaching in the US 14:48 Academy building from across the world 23:38 Becoming a Cook Islander 31:27 How to entice Mexicans to play in New Zealand 43:41 Managing expectations in young players 54:10 Coaching opportunities for British Expats in England Today our guest is coach Jess Ibrom. Ibrom has experience working all around the world at the youth level. He started his career in the US before moving back to England. After that, he was the Head of International Academy Recruitment for the Houston Dynamo of MLS and then went to go work at one of Chelsea's academies in New Zealand. He then took on the challenge of building the academy of the Wellington Phoenix of the Australian A-League and finally his most recent position was the Technical Director of The Cook Islands. You'll also here Jess talk about how to build an academy from the ground up, how he recruited young Mexicans and Koreans to play in New Zealand, why most academies fail and managing expectations in young players and their parents.

Timeline: 4:13 Covering a surf contest in Da Nang Vietnam 14:03 On the craft of writing 21:51 Taking a sabbatical to set up English Institute of Sport 29:01 The story of Jeff Astle & head injuries in football 39:41 The future of football, a pan-global league? Today we are joined by writer extraordinairre and award winning author, Michael Calvin. Calvin is the author of 6 books and his newest book, 'State of Play' just came out last week. It's a compilation of stories and topics from all around the sport and this podcast aims to do what he accomplishes in the book. From mental health, to women's football, the globalization of the game, he covers it all. Calvin is also the regular host of the BT Sport Football Writers podcast and truly is a living legend in the game. In this episode we discuss the craft of sportswriting, the politics of sport, the 'hidden heroine of football', his thoughts on a pan-global league and much much more.

Timeline: 4:40 Impact of Mo Marley on her 10:40 Day in the life of a female footballer 10 years ago 19:07 The Eni Aluko situation 26:42 Pregnancy 34:32 Contract issues 40:45 The future of women's football 46:03 Why she quit the game Today my guest is ex-women's football player Alexandra Culvin. In her career as a full-back, Culvin played for 5 teams, Leeds, Everton, AZ Alkmaar, Bristol Academy and Liverpool. She is now finishing her PhD dissertation on the realities facing professional women footballers in England. In this interview she'll discuss her playing days, pregnancies and how it relates to women's football, contract issues in the game and what the future is like for the women's game. She also talks about the Eni Aluko/Mark Sampson situation as she played for Sampson and was teammates with Eni in the past. Culvin has interviewed dozens of women's footballers and what she shares in this episode is truly groundbreaking research.

Timeline: 8:25 European adventures 15:05 Heysel memories 21:36 The origin of You'll Never Walk Alone 32:50 The chaotic Wales World Cup Qualifier in 1998 36:35 Stadium experience in 1970s vs 2010s 44:40 The best game at Anfield that no one remembers 52:22 Stadium experiences around the country Today we are joined by Anfield's stadium announcer, George Sephton. Sephton has been the Voice of Anfield since August 14th, 1971. In his time, he's witnessed scores of classic games and crazy incidents many of which we discuss. I also wanted to have George on for a number of other reasons. First, to talk about how the stadium experience has changed over the last 70 years. Second, I was curious what it was like for someone like him to be a part of a club, the voice of a stadium, and reach so many fans on a weekly basis yet still be a fan and still be an outsider at the club in many ways. Third, because I have a soft spot for his role. Quick aside, I grew up in New York and my favorite baseball team, the Yankees, which many of you listening have heard of, had a famous stadium announcer. His name was Bob Sheppard, and he was also the organist. Shepard was there for almost sixty years and when you went to the stadium for a game he was part of the experience. His distinctive voice and how he used to introduce the players was part of the ritual. For many of you listening there is a stadium announcer where you live who holds a special place in your heart. This is the main reason I wanted to do this episode. I'll think you enjoy some of his stories and hopefully gain an appreciation for the man behind the mic in your home stadium, especially now that the season has started.

Timeline 5:00 Should we really call them agents? 14:15 Most difficult aspect of closing a deal 19:51 The culture that needs to change 28:58 Agents of clubs 37:30 Adam Lallana as a teenager 43:58 Tapping up between agents 45:55 His FA suspension 53:57 English youth players going to Germany 1:02:00 The player that haunts him We are joined by long-time agent co-founder of Sidekick Management, Matt Kleinman. Kleinman has been an agent for almost 20 years and in his time he's represented a number of top footballers such as Adam Lallana, Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish and Dean Furman. Kleinman is also the author of the book, Show Me The Mon£y! –which is an insider’s guide to becoming a top level professional footballer and is meant for parents and aspiring young professional footballers. In this episode we discuss: tripartite deals, the difference between the winter and summer windows from the perspective of an agent, agents poaching agents, Adam Lallana as a teenager and why players don't want to pay for anything & why that's an issue. Also, he talks about his brush with the FA and the megastar that got away.

Timeline: 5:45 Comparing triathlons to football matches 13:04 "Getting lost" in the 1998 Playoff-final 22:52 Reflecting on his "dream move" to Leeds 34:20 Getting into the 2002 World Cup squad 42:37 PEDs in football 48:57 Painkilling injections in football Today we are joined by ex-England international Danny Mills. In his 14-year career Mills played for 7 different clubs but is most famous for being the right back on those great Leeds teams of the early 2000s. Following his retirement in 2008 due to injuries, he has become a very successful businessman and investor. In this episode discuss: playing with those Leeds teams in Champions League semi-finals, the penalty that changed his career, playing in the 2002 World Cup including the quarter-final against Brazil and then finally PEDs and painkilling injections in football. That last segment is quite revealing as he talks about getting injections for 6 months in a row. I should note that this was recorded in May so it was before England's historic World Cup run. Danny is talking on behalf of The Coaching Manual, an online resource for football coaches around the world, where you can watch training sessions or create your own with their new session builder at www.thecoachingmanual.com

My guest this episode is technical director of Shanghai SIPG FC Mads Davidsen. Before being the technical director at Shanghai SIPG, Davidsen was the team's reserve and U23 team coach and head of Recruitment. Previously he was an assistant under  legendary coach Sven Goran Ericksson at Guangzhou R&F Football Club. He also coached the U-19 team at Brondby IF, one of the biggest clubs in Denmark. And this past year he co-authored the book "When talent committed" which came out in May, however it is only in Danish for now. In our interview, Davidsen talks about the importance of cultural intelligence, why he sends his youth players to train abroad, what he learned from working with Sven Goran Ericksson, and his keys to motivating players. Sit back, relax and enjoy the episode. Timeline: 3:30 Talks about his childhood and playing career 13:55 His approach to developing players 19:35 The importance of cultural intelligence 24:55 What he learned from Sven Goran Ericksson 33:05 What he looks for when scouting players 36:30 Why he sends his youth players to play abroad 44:50 How he motivated Emil Hojberg 53:51 Advice he'd give young coaches

We are joined by Northern Ireland U-21 manager, Ian Baraclough. Baraclough had a long career as a player making more than 600 appearances in 20 years for many teams. He then went into the world of coaching and has since managed Scunthorpe, Sligo Rovers in Ireland, Motherwell, and Oldham before his current job with Northern Ireland. In this episode we'll get into the precarious nature of being a manager- he was fired weeks after winning a trophy-, football in Northern Ireland, the art of scouting and we'll, of course, have some entertaining stories with the likes of Vinnie Jones and Brendan Rodgers. Timeline: 6:20 The nature of being an international manager 12:40 The art of scouting 18:39 Finding players with Northern Irish Heritage 28:25 U-23 vs Reserves 35:25 Favorite Vinnie Jones story 41:10 His coaching influences 47:30 Getting fired despite winning 3 trophies 54:30 A Unexpected Brendan Rodgers Phone Call

Extra Time Radio Podcast host and longtime friend Dave Gass joins me to talk about our World Cup Adventures. Then (11:16)former World Cup play-by-play commentator Ian Darke joins me. PLEASE NOTE: This was recorded in the summer of 2017. Darke is currently a play-by-play announcer for BT Sport. Darke has been calling sports for over 40 years. He's called every season of the Premier League and before he worked for BT, he worked as a commentator for Sky Sports where he also called boxing. He's called every World Cup since 1982, and has voiced some of the game's biggest goals. He called the Landon Donovan winner over Algeria in the 2010 World Cup and Sergio Aguero's last minute goal to win Manchester City the title in 2012 just to name a few. In the interview he talks about: where he was during England's World Cup win in 1966, his early broadcasting career struggles, his special pre-game preparations, a recurring dream he has, his most hated commentating cliché and he even does a bit of announcing during the interview.

On today's show, I speak with ex-US Men's National Team Coach Bruce Arena. Arena has coached football for more than 40 years in the United States. He's most famous for coaching the US twice, from 1998-2006, leading the team to their best finish in a World Cup Finals, when the US went to the quarterfinals in the 2002 tournament and also most recently in 2016, when he took over from Jurgen Klinsmann and was unable to lead the US to qualification for this year's tournament. It was the first time the US didn't make the World Cup in 30 years and we'll get into why Arena believes we didn't make and where the national team program should go from there. Arena has won 5 Major League Soccer titles and has been named MLS Coach of the Year 3 times. We'll delve into how he almost ended up coaching a completely different sport and how he became the most successful American coach despite this recent failure. You'll also hear aspects of his career that have been rarely discussed in public. His new book, What's Wrong with US?: A Coach’s Blunt Take on the State of American Soccer After a Lifetime on the Touchline, is out in bookstores across the United States and goes on sale in the UK on June 19. Timeline: 5:18 Why he changed from lacrosse to football 12:50 A huge problem facing US football 18:56 Promotion and Relegation in US football 27:38 The lead-up to the Trinidad and Tobago game 33:55 The pressure on Christian Pulisic 43:48 Friedel vs Keller in 2002

Today our guest is sports psychologist Geir Jordet. Jordet is currently a sports psychology professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, specialising in psychology applied to football. He is also the Director of Psychology at the Norwegian Centre of Excellence (owned by the Norwegian Premier League), where he advises clubs in the top two professional leagues, as well as Norway’s national teams, on all topics related to psychology. Over the past 15 years, he has consulted professional football teams and players in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, England, Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. He is also the co-founder of Be Your Best™ cognitive training and testing tool for football players, which is a virtual reality-based company. Today he'll discuss the psychology behind penalty kicks ahead of the world cup, how sports psychology has evolved in last 20 years, virtual reality and football psychology and how football psychology is approached in different countries around Europe such as Spain, Portugal, Germany, and England. I'll tell you what I told Geir, I don't think I've learned more about a subject in an interview than in this one. Also, I recently started a separate podcast called the Football Book Club. So if you like football books, go check out that podcast. Every week I will speak with a new author and explore an interesting topic. Timeline: 8:10 How to prepare for penalty shoot-outs 15:13 Why coaches should choose penalty takers 21:23 Preventing big major errors 33:15 How sports psychology has evolved in last 20 years 40:05 Sports Scientists vs Sports Psychologists 43:29 Virtual Reality 48:47 Psychology around Europe

Today our guest is Sergei Baltacha. Baltacha is the U-18s coach at Charlton where he's been since 2012. Before being a youth coach Sergei was a decorated player at Dynamo Kyiv. He played there from 1976-1988, winning the Soviet League 4 times, the Soviet Cup 3 times and the 1986 Cup Winners Cup. After Dynamo Kiev, he finished his career in England and Scotland. He played 45 times for the Soviet Union and represented them at the 1982 World Cup. He was part of the USSR team that won the inaugural U-20 World Cup in 1977. In this episode, we'll discuss his journey from youth player under legendary coach Valeriy Lobanovsky to shaping Charlton's future players. According to Training Ground Guru, Charlton is the 8th best academy in producing professional footballers, ahead of the likes of Liverpool and Man City. I've also interviewed Charlton's Academy Manager Steve Avory, so check that out if you haven't already. Also, I have an announcement. I will no longer be doing the show for Tifo Football after this episode. Going forward the show will be exactly the same but it just won't be on the Tifo website or for the Tifo platforms. It'll still be on the same podcast feed and have the same Soundcloud page. I'd just like to say a big thank you to all the guys at Tifo who have helped grow the show. Special thanks to Philippe for the great artwork, Sam for handling all the logistics, Alex for overseeing it all and Joe who was the first one to take an interest in the show and to whom I will be eternally grateful for giving me the chance. I'll continue to be a fan of Tifo and it's content, I can't wait to see the World Cup previews coming up. I hope you guys continue to support them as well. Timeline: 6:24 Youth Academy in the USSR 13:40 Similarities between Charlton vs. USSR academies 17:23 Being recruited by Valeriy Lobanovsky 24:40 How Lobanovsky was the best coach and progressive 28:12 1982 World Cup memories 32:19 Leaving the USSR for England 39:48 Power of 10,000 hours 45:00 Why he was so successful as a youth player

Today we are joined by Mohamed Sissoko, also known as Momo Sissoko. Sissoko has played for the biggest teams in the world: Valencia, Liverpool, Juventus and PSG. He's won La Liga, the UEFA Cup, the FA Cup, the UEFA Supercup and Ligue 1. However, we mostly focus on his time at Valencia and Liverpool in this episode. As most of you will know the Champions League final featuring Liverpool is this Saturday so we'll be revisiting Sissoko's experience in a Champions League final, which is also the last time Liverpool were in the final, in 2007 against AC Milan. He'll also talk about the eye injury that almost ended his career, how Rafa Benitez guided him through some difficult times, what it was like to be a Muslim player in Western Europe and why he chose to play for Mali over France. You can follow him on Twitter @sissokomomo or on Instagram @momosissokoofficiel Don't forget to help out the show and leave a review on iTunes. Timeline: 5:46 Post-playing aspirations 8:38 2007 Champions League run-in 13:38 The week before the 2007 final 17:10 2006 FA Cup Final 21:30 Growing up with 15 siblings 26:35 Choosing to play for Mali over France 31:57 How Rafa Benitez helped him 39:32 Being a Muslim football player 42:18 The eye injury that almost ended his career 46:54 Playing in Indonesia 49:54 A conversation with his mom that changed his life

Today we are joined by Liverpool FC Head of Coaching for the Foundation phase, Michael Beale. Beale has worked at every level of youth coaching from the Under 5's all the way to the U-23s. He's worked at two of the biggest clubs in England, Chelsea and Liverpool. He worked at Chelsea with Brendan Rodgers and then followed him to Liverpool. Starting in 2012 he spent 5 seasons there working with the U-21 and U-23 players, coaching the likes of Jordon Ibe, Raheem Sterling and more. He then went to be an assistant at Sao Paolo for one season before coming back to Liverpool. In this episode, we go deep on youth coaching and youth players in this episode and Michael discusses his journey from coaching in Churches in South London to coaching superstars in Liverpool and Sao Paolo. You have probably noticed that this is quite a long interview. I've been working recently to do a better job editing down these episodes. I listened to this one more times than I normally do to try to trim it down but Michael just had too many interesting thoughts. This episode is just loaded. You can follow Michael on Twitter @MichaelBeale Timeline: 6:51 teaching/guiding 5-11 year olds 14:44 Coaches as teachers? 21:56 Playfulness in development 31:36 Formative coaching experiences 35:16 Growing up in South London 42:21 Failing as a player 48:31 His time at Chelsea 52:52 Going from Chelsea to Liverpool 1:01:46 What makes Liverpool unique 1:05:46 Why he went to Sao Paolo 1:16:36 Learning Portuguese 1:23:48 The power of living abroad 1:33:31 Important conversations that helped his career 1:40:26 Best advice to players and coaches

Today we are joined by German writer extraordinaire Raphael Honigstein. Honigstein is a regular contributor to ESPNFC and you can hear him every week on BBC 5 Live's Euro Leagues Football Show. He's also a regular guest on The Totally Football Show and writes for Unibet. He's written 4 books, most famously Das Reboot and Klopp: Bring the Noise. His most recent book is Per Mertesacker's autobiography which comes out on May 11th. Well you have to speak German for that one. I wanted to speak to Rafa about the media and its coverage of football. So topics like, how does England's compare to Germany? What's the future of broadcast in the UK? You can follow him on Twitter @honigstein Timeline: 4:20 The German show Konference and could it come to the UK 6:20 Differences between football coverage in UK vs Germany 10:18 The addiction of the second screen 20:46 Saying 'I don't know' as a journalist 21:25 Going to Bayern Munich games in the 80's 27:56 Jose Mourinho in goal 33:20 Lawyer almost… 40:18 Embarrassing on-air moment/Ultimate joke gone wrong 45:55 What he'd change about football

Today our guest is Indian National Team Manager Stephen Constantine. Stephen is a bit of a football nomad having coached in every corner of the world. He's coached 5 different national teams: Nepal, Malawi, Sudan, Rwanda and India twice. He's coached plenty of clubs as well: in the US, numerous teams in Cyprus, Greece, Bournemouth and Millwall. He also holds a UEFA Pro License. In the this episode, we get into some of his adventures from globetrotting around the world, including a story about intense Sudanese club rivalry and dive into what it's really like to be a manager in a developing football country. He also discusses the difficulties of breaking into club football in the UK as an outsider which I found particularly interesting as its quite a hot button issue here in the UK. Stephen, as you'd imagine, has a million stories and we couldn't hit them all. So if you want more football adventures, read his autobiography From Delhi to the Den which you can buy on Amazon. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Delhi-Story-FootballS-Travelled-Coach/dp/190924547X Timeline: 6:05 Running away from home as a 16-year-old 12:15 The huge lesson he learned watching Inter Milan 20:30 Why he doesn't get coaching jobs in England 25:05 Becoming the Nepal Manager 38:23 Indian football in 2002 47:16 The future of Indian football 57:10 The rivalry fiercer than Celtic v Rangers 1:04:05 Coaching in North Korea 1:13:43 The item he can't travel without