Modern Soccer Coach Podcast

In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary sits down in Brazil with Eduardo Oliviera, an experienced coach who has worked with Brazil youth national teams and U20 teams at Botofogo, Atletico Mineiro, and Fluminese. He is also the author of the excellent book: Brazilian Coaching Methodology: Foundation Phases (Ages 5-12). Eduardo offers a fascinating look at what truly defines Brazilian football — a culture that values joy, creativity, and learning through play, while still evolving within a modern, organized framework. 🔑 Key Topics Discussed The Foundation Phase in Brazil: How 5–12-year-olds learn through games, not constant instruction. Street Soccer & Futsal: Why “the game is the teacher” and how variety of surfaces, ages, and formats builds creativity. Pedagogical Progression: Moving from street → futsal → 6v6 → 11v11 as a logical learning journey. The Role of the Coach: When and how to intervene — and why observation can sometimes teach more than feedback. Balancing Structure & Freedom: “Be organized, but not too organized” — the secret to keeping Brazilian football’s soul alive. Parent & Cultural Challenges: Managing pressure, pay-to-play systems, and helping families understand long-term development. Education & the Player Pathway: Why Brazil’s “tripod” of school, club, and family must align for success. Relationism & Coaching Identity: How labels can limit understanding, and why context is everything. Developing Coaches as Learners: Treating coaches as your “players” and building IDPs to raise standards across an organization.

Read Alessandro's article FREE below: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/inside-the-tactical-evolution-of-usa-s-u20-world-cup-team Following the USA U20 team’s impressive showing at the FIFA U20 World Cup, Gary Curneen sits down with Alessandro Davite — a UEFA A Licensed Coach and Tactical Analyst who has worked with AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Sora — to take an objective, global look at how far U.S. player development has come. Alessandro recently wrote a full tactical report on Marko Mitrović’s U20 side for Modern Soccer Coach, analyzing the team’s build-up play, attacking structures, and use of “artificial transitions.” In this conversation, he expands on those ideas and discusses what makes the next generation of American players unique. ⚽ Discussion Highlights Why the USA U20 team displayed modern attacking dynamics and adaptability How the concept of “artificial transitions” creates a more fluid attacking model The balance between positional structure and player connections What European coaches really think about American players How the U.S. can continue to evolve tactically ahead of the 2026 World Cup

In this episode, Gary Curneen is joined by Phil Phillipou, author of Inspiring Young Minds, to explore how coaches can build youth environments that go beyond drills and technique — and actually develop people. From the chaos of his first youth session back to the deeper psychology behind learning, Phil shares honest, experience-driven lessons for every coach working in today’s game. Together, they discuss: Why modern players struggle with verbal communication and social connection How to use football to teach respect, resilience, and teamwork The importance of structured chaos and why easy is boring Managing behavior through clear, fair hierarchy rather than punishment Tackling the social media and phone addiction challenge head-on How gratitude, persistence, and storytelling can transform player mindset Phil’s refreshing blend of humility and honesty makes this one of the most relevant coaching conversations of the year. If you’re passionate about creating meaningful environments for young players — not just compliant ones — this episode is a must-listen. 📚 Book: Inspiring Young Minds (available now on Amazon) 📲 Follow Phil: Instagram @mindsight_sports | LinkedIn: Phil Phillipou 🎙️ Hosted by Gary Curneen — Modern Soccer Coach

Get FREE notes here: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/post/inside-the-aspire-summit-coaching-lessons-from-southgate-benitez-nancy-nesta In this episode, Gary shares reflections from the 11th Aspire Academy Global Summit in Philadelphia — a two-day event hosted in collaboration with the Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer. With world-class speakers like Rafa Benítez, Gareth Southgate, Wilfried Nancy, and Alessandro Nesta, the conference tackled football’s biggest coaching questions — from tactical evolution to leadership, communication, and the mindset needed to keep learning in an ever-changing game. Gary breaks down his biggest takeaways and how coaches at every level can apply them in their own environments.

Andre Medeiros has been shaping Fluminense's player development methodology for over 25 years, emphasizing respect as the cornerstone of their culture. He discusses the critical shift from building players to developing adaptable, intelligent individuals. Topics include the future of football with fluid roles, the integration of psychology in coaching, and prioritizing decision-making over rigid formations. Andre passionately highlights the importance of education and character, aiming to produce not just skilled athletes, but well-rounded human beings.

Check out TetraBrazil below: https://www.tetrabrazil.com/ Gary is joined by Gabriel Bussinger (Vasco da Gama) to explore their unique approach to elite player development. Gabriel explains the following: ✨ What it means to be player-centered vs. game-centered ✨ Balancing chaos and organization in development ✨ Why methodology should grow from practice to theory—not the other way around Standout quotes: 👉 “Rails confine talent. Trails give direction but leave freedom for creativity.” 👉 “Coaching is not the man inside the office. Coaching is walking with players, talking with them at breakfast, learning their culture, and caring for them as people.” 👉 “A Vasco player is technical, but above all, he is brave. He plays not only for the game, but for his family, his community, and to overcome the challenges of favela life.”

John Wall, an experienced coach and former assistant for the Jamaica men's national team, shares powerful insights on coaching with simplicity. He emphasizes maximizing player strengths while minimizing complexity. Wall discusses the importance of transitions, defensive organization, and effective set pieces, focusing on creating predictable training sessions even with limited resources. He highlights the concept of 'guerrilla football,' adapting tactics and resources cleverly and fostering player ownership to empower performance. A true advocate for pragmatic coaching!

Join MSC Insider Below: https://modernsoccercoach.mimentorportal.com/subscriptions Jes is current Director of Football and Data Science at the Saudi Pro League and former Head of Research & Development at FC Copenhagen. He unpacks the science behind “football intelligence" and explains why vague terms like game IQ fall short, and how neuroscience can help coaches break intelligence down into concrete, trainable skills like attention, scanning, pattern recognition, and decision-making. Jes shares practical insights from his work in elite football, showing how cognitive science can reshape analysis, training, and player development.

Ian McCall, a football creativity expert, dives into the pressing issue of creativity in the sport. He explores whether the modern game has sacrificed spontaneity for efficiency and how data-driven approaches may hinder artistic play. McCall highlights the importance of differentiated types of creativity—individual, collaborative, collective—and the role of coaches in creating safe spaces for risk-taking. He also touches on the cultural influences in football, particularly from Argentina, and the legacy of Johan Cruyff in fostering creative coaching.

Join emotional welfare specialist Sue Parris, who has dedicated nearly 15 years to enhancing mental health in football. In this engaging discussion, she clarifies that mental health is an ongoing journey, not just tied to illness. Sue reveals the complexity of football environments, emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and authentic communication. She also warns against common mistakes coaches make. Discover how creating safe spaces and fostering emotional intelligence can transform coaching and player well-being in sports.