Modern Soccer Coach Podcast

Tony Colbert spent 20 years working alongside Arsène Wenger at Arsenal and is now a freelance consultant (FIFA Technical Expert), helping develop players and coaches around the world. In this conversation, Tony shares his philosophy with Gary on technical development and explains why he believes modern coaching can sometimes neglect the technical foundations players need to perform at the highest level. We discuss purposeful repetition, two-footedness, scanning, first touch, playing forward, technical activation and why the opening 10–15 minutes of training can become a powerful development opportunity. Tony also takes Curneen inside the Arsenal training environment under Wenger, explaining how speed, movement, technical quality and creativity were developed every day, and why those habits helped produce some of the most fluid attacking football of that era. A fascinating conversation for coaches working at every level who want to think more deeply about how we develop technique within the modern game.

Register for our FREE Players Webinar here: https://event.webinarjam.com/vm2mo/register/2454osm0r How do elite players see the game differently — and what can coaches do to develop better decision-makers? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Tomás Pereira, Football Analysis Specialist at the Swedish FA, for a fascinating conversation on decision making, learning and how players develop a deeper understanding of the game. Tomás challenges many traditional ideas around coaching and session design, exploring why repetition alone does not guarantee learning, why football cannot simply be broken into isolated phases, and why the best players recognize relationships and patterns earlier than everyone else. Tomás explains why elite performers often appear to have more time on the ball — not because the game is slower for them, but because they understand what is happening earlier. The conversation also explores how coaches can design more representative training environments, move away from simply providing players with answers, and instead develop players capable of solving problems they have never experienced before. Topics include: • How elite players process the game • Developing decision making in training • Why recognition matters more than repetition • Mental models and player learning • The limitations of coaching football in isolated phases • Designing training for adaptability • Coaching relationships rather than predetermined solutions • Why elite players appear to have more time • The role of variation in session design • Game-day communication and coach intervention • Preparing players to solve new problems An outstanding conversation for coaches interested in player development, session design and developing intelligent, adaptable footballers.

Check out MSC World Cup Breakdowns below: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV What should success at the World Cup actually mean for US Soccer? Following the USA's impressive knockout victory over Bosnia, Gary Curneen steps back from the tactics to explore a bigger question: what kind of legacy could this World Cup leave behind? Is success simply about more kids playing the game, or should it be measured by something deeper—a stronger football culture, better coaching, improved player development, and a growing tactical identity? In this episode, Gary discusses: Why participation alone isn't enough The difference between growing the game and improving the game What has impressed him most about Mauricio Pochettino's US team Why tactical flexibility could become the defining legacy of this generation What coaches can do to build on the momentum of the World Cup Watch our full tactical breakdown of USA vs Bosnia on the Modern Soccer Coach YouTube channel and join the conversation. What do you think should be the legacy of this World Cup for US Soccer? Let us know in the comments.

Join us for bonus MSC World Cup content: https://www.youtube.com/@ModernSoccerCoachTV Are hydration breaks helping the game... or hurting it? At the 2026 World Cup, hydration breaks have become much more than player recovery. Coaches are using them to deliver tactical information, adjust game plans, and influence momentum in ways we've never seen before. In this episode, Ashley Gumbrell joins Gary Curneen to discuss: ⚽ The rise of "tactical timeouts" in football ⚽ What coaches are actually doing during hydration breaks ⚽ The balance between coaching and player autonomy ⚽ Lessons from Tuchel, Pochettino and other World Cup coaches ⚽ Whether more information is really helping players perform As coaching behaviours continue to evolve, are these interventions improving decision-making—or taking too much responsibility away from the players?

Former US Men's National Team midfielder Benny Feilhaber joins the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast for an in-depth conversation on creativity, player development, and the future of soccer in the United States. Growing up in Brazil before moving to America, Benny offers a unique perspective on why creative players emerge in certain environments, the role of futsal and unstructured play, and whether the United States can develop more technically gifted players without replicating other football cultures. We also discuss: ⚽ The creativity debate in American soccer 🇧🇷 Lessons from Brazil's player development system 🇺🇸 MLS Academies, USL, and college soccer pathways 🎓 Benny's surprising journey from UCLA walk-on to World Cup player 📈 How US player development has improved over the last 20 years 🌍 American coaches working abroad 🏆 Expectations for the US Men's National Team at the FIFA World Cup This is one of the most honest and thoughtful conversations you'll hear on where the American game is today—and where it could be headed next. 🔗 Learn more about our episode sponsor, Zone 14: https://zone14soccer.com #modernsoccercoach #garycurneen #footballideas #bennyfeilhaber #ussoccer #playerdevelopment #soccercoach #footballcoach #worldcup

Check out MSC Online Courses this summer: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/analysis Dutch football has long been admired for its ability to develop intelligent players, but Gary Curneen's recent conversation with FC Twente and Heracles Academy Head of Football Development Bas van Baar offered a fascinating insight into how that process actually works. Rather than focusing on patterns, formations, or rehearsed movements, their academy is built around developing players who can recognize situations, make decisions, and solve problems independently. It is a philosophy rooted in principles rather than prescriptions. One of the most thought-provoking ideas from the discussion was the belief that technique should never be separated from decision-making. Bas describes football as a constant cycle of taking information, making a decision, executing an action, and evaluating the outcome. As a result, much of FC Twente's training takes place through games rather than isolated drills, ensuring players are continually exposed to the realities of football. Even their youth development pathway reflects this approach, with younger players focusing on individual principles before gradually progressing towards more complex tactical understanding. The conversation also explored player development beyond the training ground, including managing late developers, individual development plans, parent education, and building an academy culture that prioritizes long-term growth. Whether you coach in a grassroots environment, high school soccer, or an elite academy, there are practical lessons throughout this discussion that challenge conventional thinking and offer a fresh perspective on developing smarter footballers.

Check out MSC Online Courses below: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/analysis For 10 years, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City became one of the defining teams of modern football. But beyond the trophies and performances, Pep’s greatest impact may have been on the coaches watching from the sidelines. In this MSC Breakdown, Gary Curneen looks back at Guardiola’s legacy through interviews, press conference moments, reflections, and soundbites from his time at Manchester City. Organized into key themes and ideas, this episode explores how Pep influenced coaching conversations around positional play, leadership, player development, intensity, creativity, and the evolution of the modern game. This is not a tactical clip breakdown. It is a reflection on the ideas, philosophy, and moments that shaped a coaching era. Topics include: Pep’s philosophy and leadership The evolution of modern coaching Building elite standards and culture Creativity, control, and positional play Pressure, intensity, and expectations Pep’s influence on a generation of coaches Subscribe for more coaching conversations, tactical analysis, and elite football content from Modern Soccer Coach.

Check Out ‘Performance Football Coaching’ at St Mary’s University below: https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/performance-football-coaching What impact do coaching behaviors really have on players during competition? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Ashley Gumbrell joins us to discuss one of the most overlooked areas in coach education — game day coaching behavior. From emotional touchlines and sideline personas to silence, instruction, referee interactions, and player development, this conversation dives deep into how coaches influence the game from the sidelines. We also discuss: Why touchline behavior becomes contagious The difference between grassroots, academy, and elite environments Emotional control and self-awareness for coaches Should coaches sit in the stands instead of the bench? How clubs are beginning to code and analyze coaching behaviors The influence of elite coaches on youth environments Ashley’s groundbreaking PhD research into in-game coaching behavior A fascinating conversation for coaches at every level of the game. Huge thanks to Ashley for joining us again on the podcast

Check out MSC online courses below: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/analysis What happens when coaches try to copy elite professional environments without understanding the players actually in front of them? John’s coached across multiple levels of the game, including more than a decade in Major League Soccer, over fourteen years as a collegiate head coach, and extensive work as a U.S. Soccer coach educator. But what makes this conversation really fascinating is the work he’s now doing away from the touchline. In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen sits down with longtime coach educator and former professional coach John Murphy for a deep discussion on modern coaching, high school soccer, player development, coach education, and the changing realities of working with today’s athletes. The conversation explores: Why coaching feels harder today The danger of copying pro environments High school soccer in America Coach education and player understanding Periodization and modern methodology Parenting culture in youth sports American vs European coaching culture The importance of context, empathy, and communication Why coaches must “coach the players they have” John Murphy also discusses his doctoral research examining modern coach education and how coaches can better support players beyond simply tactics and performance. This is one of the most honest and thought-provoking coaching conversations we’ve had on the channel.

Download MSC FREE Attacking Final 3rd PDF here: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/product-page/msc-6-final-third-attacking-exercises In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen sits down with Dan Abrahams to explore one of the most important — and often misunderstood — areas in coaching: performance psychology. Dan also talks about his new book: Compete and get into into what really drives player performance under pressure, why elite players can still struggle mentally, and how coaches can actually develop mindset within their training sessions — not in meetings, not in classrooms, but on the grass. We also dive into: – Why fear and pressure are part of elite environments – How mindset impacts decision-making and execution – The difference between performance and mentality – Practical ways to coach psychology during sessions – Why engagement is the starting point for everything This is a conversation for coaches who want to move beyond just tactics and start developing players who can truly compete.