Youth Soccer Coaching Player Development Podcast

Thiago Macedo has coached at 3 of the biggest clubs in Brazil. He joins Saul to discuss his career and give us the insight into one of the greatest football cultures in world football. Why and how do Brazil keep producing such technically excellent players and what are the differences in approaches by the country's biggest clubs.

Angel City FC is the new Womens Soccer Team Franchise in LA. Freya Coombe is Head Coach and joins Saul to discuss her inspirational story which has led to hear securing one of the top jobs in Womens Soccer. Freya started her career in the UK working for the FA and the Reading girls programme. She then moved to the USA to work in grass roots but was quickly given the opportunity of a life time to coach the Sky Blues (now Gotham FC) which she took with both hands. Thanks to Angel City FC for use of the profile picture.

Thomas Ruesink has been a skills coach at PSV for over 3 years. Working predominantly with the 10-13s age groups. Thomas gives us insight to one of the best Academies in Holland and how his unique 'chaos games' philosophy added something new to the Academy.

Zeb Jacobs has recently begun a new role as Head of Coaching at Rangers Football Club. Zeb talks about his coaching methodology that he moulded in his time at Royal Antwerp. Built around developing players ability to outplay opponents in 1v1 and creating masters of the ball. Zeb goes into detail about what he believes is the best way to develop top pros and the challenges of implementing a new philosophy at a top european club.

Paul Gray is the Senior Foundation Phase Coach at Blackburn Rovers. He's a Foundation Phase specialist with experience working at Accrington Stanley, Blackpool, Preston North End, Bodo Glimt in Norway until he's current position at Blackburn Rovers.

David Webb has had an extraordinary career already, starting coaching in Academy football at Crystal Palace. He quickly got involved in recruitment and was the scout who spotted Zaha. He's gone on to work in recruitment at Southampton and Spurs under Pochettino and also at Bournemouth with Eddie Howe. He progressed on to be Head of Football at Östersunds FK and then Huddersfield Town.

Andy Martino has spent over 20 years coaching at Southampton's Academy. Andy shares his experiences working at one of the best Academies in the country as a Foundation Phase specialist and gives us an insight into how and why Southampton has been one of the most successful Academies in English football in recent times.

Saul is joined by Manisha Taylor MBE who discusses her role at QPR and working under the wing of Chris Ramsey. QPR have one of the best technical programmes in the country. Manisha talks about her quick rise through the ranks a the club and what makes QPR so unique and so successful in developing players

Nottingham Forest's Foundation Phase Lead Jake Henry joins Saul to talk about what goes on behind the scenes at the Academy and their recent transition to Category 1 Academy. Jake discusses his journey from part time coach including his time coaching abroad to his current role at Nottingham Forest.

Mike Dodds is Birmingham City's Academy Manager. He discusses he time at Birmingham working his way up from part time coach in the pre academy to the Foundation Phase, Youth Development Phase, Professional Development phase and now as Academy Manger. Mike knows the Academy back to front and shares the innovation and methodology that has helped Birmingham City to consistently develop players including Jude Bellingham.