Modern Soccer Coach Podcast

Gary Curneen
  • 4.8 (272)
  • Sports
  • Updated Biweekly

Our goal is to bring in-depth content to coaches with a combination of interviews, chats, and personal thoughts on the topics that really matter in the beautiful game and elite-level sport. Enjoy and thanks for listening! - Gary

  1. 5d ago

    Inside Dutch Football: How the Netherlands Develops Coaches & Players | Antal Vergeer

    Antal Vergeer is a Learning & Development Specialist with the KNVB (Dutch Football Association), working in coach development and education. Before returning to the Netherlands, Antal spent almost seven years working within U.S. Soccer, giving him a unique perspective on two very different approaches to developing coaches and players. In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Curneen sits down with Antal Vergeer to explore the ideas, culture and thinking behind Dutch coach and player development. Antal shares fascinating insight with Gary into the Dutch approach to the game — from the traditional desire to play attacking, dominant football to why coaches must ultimately adapt their philosophy to the players and environment in front of them. The conversation also dives into developing creativity and decision-making in young players, why coaches can become too controlling, creating better learning environments, innovation within academies, and why investing in coach development is essential if clubs want to produce better players. Antal also challenges some traditional approaches to coach education and explains why coaches should be held accountable for their own development in exactly the same way we expect players to be. A brilliant conversation for coaches, coach developers and technical leaders interested in Dutch football, player development and creating environments where both players and coaches can thrive.

    Inside Dutch Football: How the Netherlands Develops Coaches & Players | Antal Vergeer

  2. Aug 26

    Is There a Right Coaching Model to Develop Players? | Jake Pickles

    In this episode of Modern Soccer Coach, Gary Curneen is joined by Jake Pickles for a fascinating discussion around one of the biggest questions in coach development: is there actually a right way to coach soccer? The conversation explores the different theories, methodologies and frameworks that influence modern coaching, from constraints-led approaches and tactical periodization to more traditional ideas around instruction and session design. Jake challenges the idea that coaches should be searching for one perfect methodology, arguing instead for greater adaptability, context and an understanding of how players actually experience the game. They also discuss the balance between structure and freedom, whether coaching environments can become too controlled, the relationship between efficiency and creativity, and why coaches must be careful that their own game model does not limit the solutions available to players. A thought-provoking conversation for coaches interested in player development, session design, decision-making and the continued evolution of coaching methodology.

    Is There a Right Coaching Model to Develop Players? | Jake Pickles

  3. Aug 17

    How Elite Players See the Game Differently with Tomás Pereira

    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.

    How Elite Players See the Game Differently with Tomás Pereira

  4. Aug 10

    Individual Development Without Individual Training | Joop Oosterveld

    FREE MSC Players Webinar: Built to Adapt: Resilience That Survives The Season with Peter McDonnell https://event.webinarjam.com/vm2mo/register/2454osm0r In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary is joined once again by Joop Oosterveld, who recently took on the role of Head Coach with Lech Poznań II in Poland. Joop breaks down his approach to session design and explains how coaches can place individual development at the center of the training process while still working within a team environment. The conversation explores how IDPs can live inside game-based training, why Joop believes 85% of a session should include attacking, defending and transition moments, and how coaches can manipulate numbers, spaces, rules and constraints to challenge different individuals within the same exercise. Joop also discusses intensity, physical development, competitiveness, keeping session design simple and creating problems that allow players to find their own solutions. A fascinating conversation for coaches looking to connect individual player development with the realities of team training.

    Individual Development Without Individual Training | Joop Oosterveld

  5. Aug 5

    How Elite Coaches Teach a Game Model - Inside Kansas Soccer with Tyler Smaha

    How do elite coaches actually teach a game model? In this episode, Gary sits down with Tyler Smaha, Assistant Coach at the University of Kansas, to explore how one of the top women's soccer programs in the country develops player understanding, decision-making, and tactical clarity. Rather than simply discussing principles of play, Tyler explains how Kansas connects its game model to every part of the learning process—from video analysis and positional blueprints to training design and individual development. We discuss: ⚽ How to build a game model from observation, not imitation ⚽ Teaching decision-making instead of memorizing movements ⚽ Creating clarity without restricting creativity ⚽ Connecting video analysis directly to training ⚽ Developing positional blueprints for every position ⚽ Using evidence and data to reinforce coaching ideas ⚽ Individual development within a collective game model ⚽ Lessons from the German UEFA coaching pathway Whether you're coaching youth players, working in the college game, or developing your own coaching philosophy, this conversation is packed with practical ideas you can immediately apply to your environment. If you enjoyed the episode, please Like, Subscribe, and leave a comment with your biggest takeaway. #soccercoach #footballcoach #gamemodel #coacheducation #playerdevelopment #decisionmaking #soccertraining #footballtraining #modernsoccercoach

    How Elite Coaches Teach a Game Model - Inside Kansas Soccer with Tyler Smaha

  6. Jul 27

    Inside Mjällby - Sweden's Most Innovative Academy with Herman Ottosson

    Player development starts long before players step onto the pitch. In this episode, Gary Curneen sits down with Herman Ottosson, Technical Director at Mjällby AIF Academy in Sweden, to explore one of the most innovative coach development environments in European football. Rather than relying on rigid curriculums or copied training sessions, Herman explains how Mjällby develops adaptable coaches, creates ownership with players, and builds an academy culture centered around reflection, accountability, and continuous improvement. Topics include: Why coaches should design sessions around their own players—not YouTube drills. Building development environments instead of chasing results. Relative freedom versus fixed curriculums. The Ballon d'Or Project and player ownership. Video feedback for coaches and players. Creating honest conversations through IDPs. Coach education systems that actually change behavior. Why the best academies develop coaches first. Whether you're a technical director, academy coach, or club leader, this episode is packed with practical ideas that can transform your environment.

    Inside Mjällby - Sweden's Most Innovative Academy with Herman Ottosson

  7. Jul 20

    How To Build a Game Model in a New Football Culture with Andy Thomson

    New MSC Training Session Resources: https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/shop What does it really take to build a game model from in a new culture? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen sits down with Andy Thomson, First Team Coach at Beijing Guoan, to explore how he and Nick Montgomery have built a clear football identity in one of the most demanding environments in world football. We dive deep into: Building a game model in a completely new culture Creating simple, repeatable playing principles Why coach behaviour shapes team identity High pressing and possession without overcomplicating the game Session design that reinforces your playing philosophy Why "the best fitness coach is the football coach" Balancing tactics, physical preparation and player development The importance of brilliant basics over coaching jargon Advice for coaches looking to reach the professional game This is a practical conversation for coaches at every level who want to build a team with a clear identity and understand how elite coaches turn ideas into performances. 👍 If you'd like Andy to return and break down one of his training sessions, make sure to LIKE this video and leave a comment below. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with the world's leading football coaches and performance experts.

    How To Build a Game Model in a New Football Culture with Andy Thomson

  8. Jul 14

    The Player Development vs National Identity Debate in Football | Drew Taylor

    What should a national team actually stand for? Following Australia's 2026 World Cup campaign, one of the biggest debates in football resurfaced: should national teams have a clear identity, and how much responsibility do federations have in shaping the next generation of players? In this episode of the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Drew Taylor, Director of Football at Newington College in Australia, coach educator, and one of the country's leading voices in player development. Together they explore: ⚽ Why "golden generations" are the wrong way to measure success ⚽ Whether national playing philosophies help or hinder player development ⚽ How Australia can develop more elite players ⚽ The balance between team identity and individual creativity ⚽ Why youth football often rewards systems over exceptional players ⚽ The role of coaches, parents and football culture in long-term development This isn't just a conversation about Australia. It's a discussion every coach, academy, club and federation can learn from as they try to develop players capable of competing at the highest level. If you enjoyed this conversation, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share it with your coaching community. 📚 Coaching Resources: 👉 https://www.modernsoccercoach.com/shop 🎓 Free Coaching Content: 👉 https://www.modernsoccercoach.com 🎙️ Listen to the Modern Soccer Coach Podcast for more conversations with leading coaches, technical directors and player development experts from around the world. #FootballCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #YouthFootball #CoachEducation #ModernSoccerCoach #SoccerCoaching #WorldCup #Australia #FootballDevelopment #DrewTaylor

    The Player Development vs National Identity Debate in Football | Drew Taylor
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4.8
out of 5
272 Ratings

About

Our goal is to bring in-depth content to coaches with a combination of interviews, chats, and personal thoughts on the topics that really matter in the beautiful game and elite-level sport. Enjoy and thanks for listening! - Gary

Information

  • Creator
    Gary Curneen
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    388
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Modern Soccer Coach Podcast

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