The Lowdown

Today we celebrate the 200th episode of The Lowdown with a special World Cup episode with David Garcia & Bernat Mosquera. With 106 games down and fresh from watching Brazil v Japan we review the action thus far, Listen to find out more including; - Has the move to a 48 team competition made for a better watch? - Why we all see Colombia as potential dark horses? - The mid block and attacking tr...

In this episode, we sit down with Oliver Denhardt to explore his journey from the early days of performance analysis and scouting to helping shape the future of football intelligence. Having worked within leading environments including AFC Ajax and FC Copenhagen, Oliver shares the lessons he learned from talent identification, recruitment processes, and understanding what separates elite decision-...

The countdown is almost over as the biggest FIFA World Cup in history arrives across the United States, Canada and Mexico. With 48 teams, three host nations and an expanded format, the 2026 tournament promises to be unlike anything football has seen before. Liam Tharme and I discuss whether the scale of the event will elevate the spectacle, the challenges presented by travel, climate and schedulin...

In this episode, we sit down with Tomasz Cybulski, co-founder of ProTrainUp , to explore the evolution of sports technology, performance analysis, and building a startup within elite sport. Tomasz reflects on the early stages of ProTrainUp, where the company began, and how the original vision has evolved through years of working directly with clubs, coaches, and federations across different countr...

In this episode, Carsten Dohm shares lessons from over 30 years in coaching, from his earliest football memories to building a philosophy centered on developing the person before the player. He explores what it takes to produce “A+ players,” while emphasizing the importance of long-term development over early performance outcomes. His approach focuses on creating environments for accelerated learn...

"Is football becoming less of a spectacle?" On his return to the show Paul McGuinness explores whether modern football is losing its creative edge, drawing on his experience developing elite players at Manchester United and working across the Premier League. The conversation examines the effects early specialization, results-driven environments and increasingly structured tactical systems are havi...

In this episode, we sit down with coach developer Russell Earnshaw, whose work spans elite environments including Liverpool FC, England Rugby, the Premier League, and New Zealand Sevens. This conversation explores what it really means to optimize for impact in coaching—moving beyond busy work to focus on the moments that truly matter. Russell shares how coaches can better plan their weeks around e...

John O’Rourke, President of the North American Irish Coaches Association, joins the show to discuss the growing influence of Irish coaches across the United States and Canada. The association’s mission is to serve, connect, and elevate Irish coaches throughout North America. Having arrived in the U.S. 33 years ago, John has worked at every level of the game and has witnessed the sport’s growth in...

"Today is the slowest day of technological change we have experienced in our lives." In this episode, Gareth Quinn shares his journey from working in nightlife and politics into the business world, and how those experiences helped shape the foundations of Kairos. He reflects on the early growth of the startup, the challenge of overcoming confirmation bias in football, and the push to introduce mor...

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Paul Murray from the Irish Football Association (IFA) for a deep dive into the evolution of coach education, leadership, and the power of intentional learning design. Sean shares his journey from his earliest memories in football to shaping coach development structures that prioritize people over PowerPoints. This conversation explores what great environments...

In this episode, we sit down with Cristina Fink, former Olympic athlete and performance psychologist, to explore what it really takes to perform at a high level — not just in sport, but in life. Drawing from her experience competing on the world’s biggest stage in Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 and working with elite performers, Cristina shares how mindset, resilience, and identity shape sustainabl...

In this episode, we sit down with Martin Foyston whose journey into football leadership didn’t start on the pitch—but in film studies. From early days using analysis as a competitive edge, to learning under elite mentors like Roy Hodgson, to taking bold career risks that led to over a decade as a head coach in Scandinavia, this conversation explores the human side of modern coaching. We dive into...

What's it like to be the youngest Director of Performance in the Top 5 leagues in Europe? Furthermore what is it also like when your role also entails being the Assistant Coach readying your players for weekly Bundesliga games? Today we are joined by Hamburg's Director of Performance & Assistant Coach; Basil More-Chevalier. He discusses the influences that sparked his curiosity to merge neuros...

In this episode, we sit down with Jonas Munkvold; First Team Recruitment Analyst with Bournemouth & Analyst with the IFA whose coaching journey offers a window into how football minds are shaped. He explains how writing and deep reflection on the game helped him clarify his ideas, sharpen his thinking, and develop a more considered approach to coaching and analysis. The conversation explores t...

Next summer Haiti and Gabriel Calderon will compete in the 2026 World Cup. It is the latest chapter in the Calderon's family relationship with the trophy. As a four year old inspired by watching his father in the 1990 World Cup Final Gabriel had his mind set on etching his own mark on the game. A childhood spent across France, Spain and the Middle East has shaped Gabriel's worldview, leadership st...

It was not long into Simone Lewis' sporting career where she first realised that developing people skills were as if not more important than developing one's craft knowledge. Through her work at the Premier League, Right to Dream and elsewhere she has cultivated a reputation for developing transformational change amongst leaders with purpose, performance and wellbeing all equally important as anot...

“We don’t just want consumers; we want people who think deeply about who they are and what kind of coach they want to be.” Today we are joined by the Technical Director of Player Development for MLS; Fred Lipka. In this episode, we dive deep into coach development, pedagogy, and the evolution of youth football from France to the United States. Fred shares a journey that spans Le Havre’s world-reno...

In this episode, we sit down with Kasper Thornton, the Group Director of Human Performance at Right to Dream. From the academies of Ghana to world-class facilities in Europe and the U.S., Right to Dream is more than a football program — it’s a philosophy about opportunity, character, and purpose. Kasper shares his personal journey through the world of sport, what drew him to Right to Dream’s missi...

In this episode, we sit down with Gareth Henderby, Director of International Football at Blue Crow Sports Group, and formerly a cornerstone figure at Right to Dream and FC Nordsjælland. From being Employee #1 at Right to Dream in Ghana to shaping academies across continents, Gareth shares a remarkable 25-year journey dedicated to developing people through football — not just producing players, but...

In this episode, we sit down with Juan Cale, one of football’s most respected agents, to explore what really goes on behind the scenes in the world of player representation. From negotiating contracts and managing careers to balancing player ambitions with club realities, Juan shares a candid look at the business side of the beautiful game. He opens up about how he broke into the industry, the big...

Episode 180 is a repeat of one of our most downloaded episodes to date, a conversation with Owen Eastwood. Renowned for his work with NATO, Gareth Southgate's England, South African Cricket and most recently Europe's Ryder Cup winning team. He has carved out a reputation in elite sport for creating the optimal environment for teams to succeed. Here he brings us on a journey reflecting on his caree...

It’s not every day that your book earns acclaim from Hansi Flick, Julian Nagelsmann, and Jürgen Klinsmann — but that’s exactly what Andreas Schumacher can attest to with his new book Two Versus One, co-authored with Bernhard Peters. Having worked in the youth setups of clubs such as Stuttgart and Hamburg, Schumacher has seen first-hand how alignment between academies, first teams, and leadership c...

From playing over 180 times for Canada during a golden era of women’s football to becoming a NWSL championship-winning coach, Rhian Wilkinson has had quite the journey from the backline to the touchline. In this episode, she reflects on her journey from player to coach, how her experiences on the pitch shaped her philosophy, the importance of building trust in new environments, and what the future...

Craig Dalrymple has built a career defined by resilience, adaptability, and an obsession with player development. From early adversity that fueled his drive, to over a decade at Vancouver where he oversaw the progression of more than 80 academy players into the first team — including global stars like Alphonso Davies — Craig has consistently found ways to turn potential into performance. Now as He...

Renowned for her pioneering work as a group dynamics analyst, Manon Eluere has spent years exploring how teams function beneath the surface. With a PhD focused on the strengths and challenges of multicultural squads, her research has provided coaches and managers with practical insights into cohesion, leadership, and performance in high-pressure environments. Manon offers a rare perspective at the...