The Lowdown

"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...

"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...

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...

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, D...

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 ne...

"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 Lew...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

"The world is not lacking in expertise and knowledge, it's lacking in the imagination in what to do with it." - Kevin KellyKirk Vallis is the Global Head of Creative Capability Development at Google. For years Kirk has worked in various different environments unlocking people's potential. However it was at Google where he faced a novel challenge where in their own words; "brilliant at being the sm...

Neil Banfield is currently the Rangers first team assistant coach. Like many of the players he has coached over 30+ years in the game he has undergone quite a journey himself. A widely respected expert in player development and migration Neil's views of the game were largely molded by the 20+ years he spent at Arsenal. Alongside the likes of Arsene Wenger and Liam Brady, Neil was part of the coach...

Growing up with an unbridled joy for the game, climbing through the ranks of professional coaching staffs at a young age, Alessandro Davite has soon become one of the names to know in Italian analysis circles. Being able to adapt to different contexts, Alessandro has propelled himself forward in a career where there is nothing given. A student of the game, his observations and insights have been a...

Spielverlagerung is a world renowned tactical analysis platform. One of the key protagonists behind it's rapid ascent has been Martin Rafelt. What started out as a mere hobby soon became a passion with their work attracting the gaze of Thomas Tuchel among others. Obtaining experience coaching soon flavoured Martin's work in analysis, constantly building his football network. Years later the succes...

"Being talented is no longer enough. The game now demands more of players and they need to be intelligent to understand the game. Teams with more intelligent players are harder to play against because they're far less predictable," - Javier Mascherano. Slawek Morawski better known as "Mindfootballness" to his audience is an avid student of the game. With the game being the best teacher there is no...

"There is no universal truth, only one's own path"Adrien Tarascon is a name many will be familiar with in French football and beyond. Renowned for his work in individual development Adrien holds a unique role balancing the bigger picture for player development in the midst of the unquenchable taste for short term success in elite European football. Creating a competency model per position stacked...

Playing the long game, investing in it's youth, breaking down barriers citywide it is fair to say today's guest Nick Mulvaney and Chicago City soccer club have not skipped any steps in transitioning between academy to first team level. Competing with the Chicago sports scene, City have had to be different and it is in community in which they have found their competitive advantage. Through alignmen...

Recently it was a pleasure to spend time in the company of one of the game's most renowned youth developers in Paul McGuinness. With 20+ years at Manchester United Paul oversaw 90 academy prospects making their first team United debut with 20+ playing international football. A childhood impacted by the spin of the ball, Paul seeks to speak to the child in coaches and players with his approach to i...

"Football is the vehicle but what we are doing is helping people to triumph in life."Mental skills are often an undervalued part of elite sport. The harsh lessons from a short career in the game informed today's guest's journey through the sport. Dr. Ceri Bowley is the former Head of Methodology at City Football Group and ex Rangers First Team Coach. Fresh from finishing up at Rangers Dr. Ceri joi...

The best Technical Directors in Football need to be solution minded. With a "360 Skillset" complimented by a buffet of experiences across various corners of the world Mads Davidsen is well renowned in football circles for his strategizing and execution behind the scenes. Seeking a position not just contingent on Saturday's results? Found it. Searching for the book he wanted to read on Football str...

As the 2023 Mina Cup gets underway this weekend I was delighted to sit down with it's founder; Chris Brown for a wide ranging chat on it's inception and place within Dubai football. Chris is someone who has had a front row seat at the heart of Dubai's growth and it's footballing industry over the past 19 years. In our 40 minute chat learn more about the origins of the Mina Cup, what the UAE can do...

"It is in destabilization and movement and not stability and fixedness that reality finds opportunities to develop in interesting and unpredictable ways". Argentina's recent World Cup success represented a shift in the eco system of World Football. Football after all is a cultural expression however lately the local forces in which the game emerged have been usurped by global idealism as to how th...

Four Nations Football Consulting are a Barcelona-based international consulting company founded by experienced professionals, who hail from Europe, Middle East and Africa. Coming from different nations and cultures and through their network of contacts, collaborators and partners, they provide a wealth of international business experience and football knowledge. Today I had the pleasure to be join...

"I don't want to know everything of one thing, I want to know one thing of everything." Jeroen Peters is today's guest on "The Lowdown". As someone who is responsible for overseeing the high performance department at FC Utrecht the job is becoming increasingly more and more cross disciplinary. As the game evolves continuously through innovation and technology there has been sometimes a disregard f...