From First Touch to First Team

Jan Schmidt

From First Touch to First Team is a podcast for anyone who loves the game of football and dreams of playing it at the highest level. Each episode, we sit down with current or former professional footballers to hear the real story behind their journey, from their earliest memories of the game to the moment they made it. The highs, the setbacks, the sacrifices, and the lessons that shaped them as players and people. Whether you are a young player working toward your goals, a parent supporting your child's development, or a coach shaping the next generation, this podcast gives you an honest, unfiltered look at what the professional pathway really looks like.

  1. 22h ago

    EP 13: Kealey Adamson - What It took to go from NPL 2 to the English Championship

    From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan calls London to sit down with Kealey Adamson, a right back who grew up on Sydney's North Shore, never played in an A-League Academy, and worked his way from Northern Tigers NPL 2 first grade to winning the Australia Cup with Sydney FC, his first A-League contract with MacArthur Bulls, and now Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship. Kealey talks about growing up at Linfield FC, the coaches who shaped him (including Adam Griffiths, now head coach at Perth Glory), and getting the Sydney FC email through his TD's connection with Kelly Cross. He is candid about the "delusional confidence" that convinced him he'd play for Sydney FC before there was ever a real chance, and the tibia fracture that ended his first season three games in. He opens up about winning the Australia Cup while being released simultaneously, the MacArthur Bulls offer that came through his agent while he was in a kebab shop, and how the QPR offer came in through an unexpected email. He also talks about representing Australia at the Olyroos in China, Qatar, and South Korea, and the reality of moving to London alone as a young Australian. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what the pathway from grassroots Australian football to the European game really looks like. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:53 Welcome and meet Kealey Adamson 04:15 Growing up on Sydney's North Shore and starting at Linfield FC 06:39 From Linfield to Northern Tigers and playing NPL 2 first grade at 18 09:02 The Colombian carer, Adam Griffiths, and the two-touch drill 11:45 The neighbour who inspired him to do the extras 14:17 Playing two games a weekend and jumping age groups at Tigers 17:02 First grade at Northern Tigers and the Sydney FC email through Kelly Cross 19:52 The delusional confidence that got him into Sydney FC 22:17 Why he wishes he'd said "I want to be a pro" louder as a young player 24:43 First year at Sydney FC: tibia fracture and learning off the pitch 33:32 The MacArthur Bulls offer that came in a kebab shop 36:13 Coaching kids on the North Shore between A-League matches 38:28 What coaching kids taught him about his own game 42:11 How the QPR offer came in through an email 47:31 Playing for the Olyroos in China, Qatar, and South Korea 52:08 The reality of moving to London and playing in the Championship 1:00:19 Stoppage Time Questions 1:04:39 Kealey's advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

    EP 13: Kealey Adamson - What It took to go from NPL 2 to the English Championship

  2. Aug 9

    EP 12: Claudio Fabiano - How He built a Full-Time Career in Football without playing Pro

    The professional playing career is only one path in football. This episode marks the start of a new angle on From First Touch to First Team, where we show young players and parents that the game offers far more opportunity than just becoming a player, and that a full-time life in football is possible in many different forms. Claudio Fabiano is the perfect example. Host Jan Schmidt sits down with him to trace a career that started at Sydney NPL club Pagewood Botany FC, took him to Hoffenheim in Germany at 16 and Accrington Stanley in England at 19, and pivoted after two serious injuries ended his pro playing hopes. What he built next is a full-time career in football media, most recently presenting the FIFA World Cup for SBS in front of millions of Australian viewers. Claudio is honest about the hip labrum tear at 19 and the ACL rupture at 20, the two years away from the game that followed, and how a barbershop interview with Alex Brosque turned into a full-time media career. From simulated FIFA broadcasts during COVID, to BeIn Sports, to becoming the face of Optus Sport. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone wondering what a life in football can look like beyond the pro contract. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up in an Italian migrant family and joining Pagewood Botany FC ▸ Captain of Sydney Olympic and called into Steve Corica's Sydney FC youth team ▸ The Hoffenheim trial at 16 and the Accrington Stanley trial at 19 ▸ The hip labrum tear and ACL rupture that ended his pro dream at 20 ▸ From a barbershop interview to becoming the face of Optus Sport ▸ Presenting the FIFA World Cup for SBS ▸ Why the NPL is one of the best semi-pro leagues in the world CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:02 Welcome and presenting the World Cup on SBS 05:00 Growing up in an Italian family and joining Pagewood Botany FC 08:03 The juggling story: from 12 to 1,000 in a Christmas break 10:39 Captain of Sydney Olympic and getting called into Sydney FC 13:54 Missing the Joeys and getting a Hoffenheim trial through his uncle 19:41 Inside the Hoffenheim football school at 16 26:23 Why he watched what defenders did off the ball 28:02 Hip surgery, Accrington Stanley trial, and the ACL rupture 40:16 From denied at Optus to becoming the face of Optus Sport 52:44 Joao Pedro, Kevin Prince Boateng, and the human side of pros 54:49 Why the love for football should never die 56:42 The UNSW culture that took them from NPL 4 to NPL 2 1:05:07 Why the NPL is one of the best semi-pro leagues in the world 1:10:28 Stoppage Time Questions 1:12:31 His best advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

    EP 12: Claudio Fabiano - How He built a Full-Time Career in Football without playing Pro

  3. Aug 2

    EP 11: Lloyd Owusu - Three Perspectives: Professional Player, Coach, and Football Dad

    Lloyd Owusu takes us through his professional football journey while constantly shifting perspective between how it was for him as a player and how it looks now watching his own son go through it. His story becomes a live case study for every young player and parent at any age and career stage. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Lloyd to build one of the most useful conversations we have done on this show. The format is unique. At every stage of Lloyd's career, we pause to look at the same stage through his son Ty's journey, showing what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what today's players and parents should focus on right now. We begin with Lloyd at 10 years old, joining his first team in Slough through his best mate Gary Byrne, and put that next to Ty starting football at 6. We move to Lloyd trialing at Crystal Palace at 15 and scoring four goals on his Slough Town debut at 18, and reflect on what parents should look for in their kids at those same ages today. We work through his rise to a first professional contract with Brentford at 21, the agent who nearly cost him the deal, and the mentor Danny Bailey who stepped in to save it, then look at Ty's move to Sparta Rotterdam in Holland at 14 and what it takes for a young Australian player to get to Europe today. Lloyd talks about the Brentford Division Three title-winning season in 1999, the years at Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Yeovil, and Luton, and what real professional culture looked like inside those change rooms. He closes with the extra 1% that separates young players who make it from those who don't, the change room culture Australia is missing, and his best advice for every young player chasing the dream. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation walks you through every stage of a football career from both sides at once. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Lloyd at 10 in Slough and how Ty started at 6 in Sydney ▸ Crystal Palace trials at 15 and what parents should watch for at that age ▸ Four goals on his Slough Town debut at 18 and the mentality that got him there ▸ The Danny Bailey mentor call that saved his Brentford contract ▸ Turning pro at 21 with Brentford and winning the Division Three title ▸ Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Yeovil, and Luton ▸ His A-League move to Adelaide United and playing in China ▸ Ty's move to Sparta Rotterdam and why the European pathway matters ▸ The extra 1% that separates young players today ▸ Why Australian football is missing a real change room culture ▸ His best advice for every young player chasing the dream CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:35 Welcome and meet Lloyd Owusu 06:50 Crystal Palace trials at 15 and 4 goals on his Slough Town debut 12:39 Scouts coming weekly and turning pro at 21 with Brentford 18:07 Multiple sports, Ty's development, and building an athlete 23:21 The agent who almost cost him his Brentford contract 28:54 The extra 1% that separates young players today 36:35 Ty at Sparta Rotterdam and why he backs the European pathway 44:42 Why coaches need to be honest and open with their players 50:49 The change room culture Australia is missing 56:37 What it really means to be a professional footballer 1:01:54 Stoppage Time Questions 1:04:24 His best advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

    EP 11: Lloyd Owusu - Three Perspectives: Professional Player, Coach, and Football Dad

  4. Jul 26

    EP 10: Nicholas Olsen - From the Wanderers to Kuwait and Vietnam: A Pathway beyond the A-League

    Nicholas Olsen takes us through one of the most well-travelled careers in Australian football, from starting at Sutherland Sharks at 13 to playing professionally across Kuwait, the A-League, Vietnam, and the Maldives, and returning home as NPL NSW Player of the Year. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Nicholas to trace a career that took him well beyond the standard Australian football pathway. Nicholas talks about starting his football at Sutherland Sharks in the under-13s, moving to the Western Sydney Wanderers academy in 2012 where he trained under Tony Popovic, and being released in 2015 without an A-League appearance. We move through the NPL NSW years that followed at APIA Leichhardt, Sydney United 58, and back to Sutherland Sharks, and the decision to sign for Al-Jahra SC in Kuwait rather than wait around for an A-League opportunity that might never come. Nicholas is candid about what daily life looked like as a professional in Kuwait, moving between Al-Jahra and Khaitan SC, and the honest comparison between the Kuwait Premier League and the A-League. He talks about finally landing that A-League contract with Brisbane Roar in 2021, and the move to Vietnam that followed. Signing a professional contract in a torrential downpour with Saigon FC, the wage dispute that ended it, and moving between SHB Đà Nẵng and Becamex Bình Dương in the V.League 1. He also opens up about his AFC Challenge League year in the Maldives with Maziya S&RC, and the misconception that going overseas somehow doesn't count as making it. We close with his return to NPL NSW and a career-best 2025 season at Wollongong Wolves that earned him NPL NSW Player of the Year, his return to Sutherland Sharks for 2026, and why he now believes the NPL is closer to the A-League than most people realise. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone questioning what making it really means. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Starting his football at Sutherland Sharks as an under-13 ▸ Joining the Wanderers academy and training under Tony Popovic ▸ Being released without an A-League appearance and rebuilding through NPL NSW ▸ Signing for Al-Jahra SC in Kuwait and moving to Khaitan SC ▸ Playing Kuwait Premier League and AFC Cup football ▸ The A-League contract with Brisbane Roar ▸ Signing for Saigon FC in a torrential downpour in Vietnam ▸ Moving between SHB Đà Nẵng and Becamex Bình Dương in the V.League 1 ▸ AFC Challenge League football in the Maldives with Maziya S&RC ▸ Winning NPL NSW Player of the Year with Wollongong Wolves in 2025 ▸ Returning to Sutherland Sharks and the coaching path ▸ Why the NPL is closer to the A-League than most people think 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

    EP 10: Nicholas Olsen - From the Wanderers to Kuwait and Vietnam: A Pathway beyond the A-League

  5. Jul 19

    EP 09: Zac Sapsford - From Hakoah to Western Sydney Wanderers and Dundee United

    Zac Sapsford takes us through his journey from an NPL 2 kid at Hakoah in Sydney to signing his first professional contract with Western Sydney Wanderers, and now scoring goals for Dundee United in Scotland's top division. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Zac to trace one of the most relatable pathways in Australian football. Zac talks about growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi, spending his youth years at Hakoah without ever being in an A-League academy, and the trial at Huddersfield at 16 where he came face-to-face with Liverpool and Man City academy players and realised how far the gap was. We move through the years that followed. Zac is candid about his time at Chester FC in England during COVID, being unable to play for a full year, and coming back to Australia so disillusioned that he asked Hakoah for a spot in the under 20s. He talks about the breakthrough that followed, the move to Sydney FC and then his first professional contract at Western Sydney Wanderers, and the derby goal against Sydney FC that helped land him on Dundee United's radar. He is honest about the reality of moving to Scotland alone, the mental approach that keeps him relaxed under pressure ("I don't even think about the game until I walk out"), why picking up golf changed how he handles bad games, and what it feels like to walk out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time. He closes with his advice for young players still chasing the dream, and a reminder that a coach not believing in you doesn't have to be the end of your journey. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation is essential listening for anyone in the Australian NPL system. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi in Sydney ▸ Trialing at Huddersfield at 16 and versing Liverpool and Man City academies ▸ A year at Chester where he wasn't allowed to play ▸ Coming back from COVID and breaking into Hakoah first grade ▸ The move to Sydney FC and playing NPL 1 against the best in NSW ▸ Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers ▸ The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down ▸ Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time ▸ Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out ▸ Life away from home and picking up golf as a mental reset ▸ His advice for young NPL players still chasing the dream CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:37 Welcome and meet Zac Sapsford 03:24 First touches with dad and joining Maccabi in Sydney 05:51 Trialing at Huddersfield and versing Liverpool and Man City academies 10:07 Coming back from Chester and breaking into Hakoah first grade 13:13 From Hakoah to Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers 16:35 Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers 18:28 The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down 21:09 Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time 23:15 Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out 25:04 Life away from home and picking up golf 26:46 What "professional football" really means beyond the top leagues 31:36 What comes next for him at Dundee United 35:49 Stoppage Time Questions 40:41 His advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. @firsttouchtofirstteam And remember: enjoy your football journey.

    EP 09: Zac Sapsford - From Hakoah to Western Sydney Wanderers and Dundee United

  6. Jul 12

    EP 08: Erin Nayler - Olympique Lyonnais, Bayern München and 85 Caps for New Zealand

    Erin Nayler takes us through her journey from a nine-year-old goalkeeper in New Zealand to 85 caps for the Football Ferns, Olympique Lyonnais, Bayern Munich, and ten years playing professionally across five countries. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the former New Zealand international to trace one of the most well-travelled goalkeeper careers in the women's game. Erin talks about growing up as the only girl in a boys team, being cut from youth national teams for lacking confidence, and how discovering Hope Solo on YouTube changed her mindset ahead of a U20 World Cup where she was named the starting goalkeeper on the day of the opening game. We move through the ten years that followed. Erin is candid about her first professional contract at Sky Blue in the US that lasted three weeks before she was sent home, signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 alongside Wendie Renard and Sarah Bouhaddi, and the moves that followed to Bordeaux, Reading, Umeå IK in Sweden, and Bayern Munich. She talks openly about losing her mum while playing in France, the reality of missing weddings and birthdays as a New Zealand-based player in Europe, and how her identity became tied to being a goalkeeper. We also cover her move to Sydney and UNSW FC in the NPL, her honest assessment of Australian women's football, and Your Story, the pilot program she is launching in Sweden in January 2027 to support elite athletes navigating retirement. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look at the reality of a decade in European women's football and the challenges that come after. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Starting in goal at 9 and playing on a boys team in New Zealand ▸ Being cut from youth national teams and how Hope Solo changed her mindset ▸ Getting cut after three weeks at Sky Blue in the US ▸ Signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 alongside Wendie Renard and Sarah Bouhaddi ▸ Moving through Bordeaux, Reading, and Umeå IK in Sweden ▸ Losing her mum while playing in France ▸ Two World Cups, the Rio Olympics, and 85 caps for the Football Ferns ▸ Signing for Bayern Munich after almost retiring in Sweden ▸ Facing Alex Morgan, Eugénie Le Sommer, and the US national team ▸ Moving to Sydney and signing for UNSW FC in the NPL ▸ Why the Matildas' success isn't reaching the A-League Women ▸ Your Story: her program supporting athletes after retirement CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:43 Welcome and meet Erin Nayler 03:53 Starting in goal at 9 and playing with the boys 06:39 Hope Solo, mindset shift, and going to the U20 World Cup 08:51 Cut after three weeks at Sky Blue in the US 11:18 Signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 14:08 Bordeaux, COVID, and moving to Reading 19:06 Coping with challenges and family loss 21:34 The reality of being far from home as a professional 24:13 Playing in the snow in Sweden 30:13 The best football culture: England, Sweden, or Germany 31:12 The best players she faced, from Alex Morgan to Le Sommer 32:19 Retiring at 34 and what comes next 34:11 Moving to Sydney and signing for UNSW FC in the NPL 36:52 How NPL football actually compares to Europe 40:08 The young Australian talent she thinks can play in Europe 41:46 Why the Matildas' success isn't reaching the A-League Women 44:15 Your Story: her project supporting athletes after retirement 50:16 Stoppage Time Questions 52:57 Advice for young footballers 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question.

    EP 08: Erin Nayler - Olympique Lyonnais, Bayern München and 85 Caps for New Zealand

  7. Jul 5

    EP 07: Daniel Georgievski - From Western Sydney to Dinamo Zagreb and Champions League vs Chelsea

    Daniel Georgievski takes us through his journey from Western Sydney to Dinamo Zagreb's academy, Steaua Bucharest, and Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the former professional footballer to trace one of the most unlikely paths in Australian football. Danny talks about growing up in Blacktown as a rugby league fan, wearing his dad's work socks to play at Marion FC, getting cut from Blacktown Demons at 14, and how a highlights reel his mum burned onto a CD ended up landing him a trial at Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia. We move through the eight years that followed. Danny is candid about being 18, jet-lagged, and crying outside the Dinamo Zagreb stadium after a horrible first trial, the daily grind of morning and afternoon training that became his football education, and the reality of five years as a professional with no money to his name, chewing gum so his stomach thought he was full. He talks about being captain at 21 in Croatia, breaking his leg and fighting back to play Europa League and Champions League football in the same season. He is honest about the moment the Champions League anthem hit him playing in front of 60,000 fans, what it felt like to line up against Eden Hazard, and why every Australian player thinking about Europe needs a serious reality check before they go. We close with his message for young players thinking about quitting, the honest truth about agents, and what he tells parents who dream of their kids playing overseas. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is one of the most honest conversations on this show so far. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up in Blacktown, Marconi, and being a rugby league fan first ▸ Being cut at 14 and finding his own way back into the game ▸ The highlights reel his mum burned onto a CD that led to Dinamo Zagreb ▸ Crying outside the Dinamo Zagreb stadium after his first trial at 18 ▸ Five years pro with no money to his name and chewing gum to feel full ▸ Captain at 21 in Croatia and signing for Steaua Bucharest in Romania ▸ Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax ▸ Signing for Melbourne Victory and winning three titles in one season ▸ His honest truth about agents in football ▸ The reality check every Australian player needs before Europe ▸ His message for young players thinking about quitting CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:28 Welcome and meet Daniel Georgievski 04:06 Growing up in Blacktown, Marconi, and being a rugby league fan 06:49 Pele on cassette, backyard training, and his parents' approach 12:20 The highlights reel that took him to a Dinamo Zagreb trial 15:04 What Croatia's daily training taught him about football 18:34 His first pro contract and captain at 21 in Croatia 21:45 Signing for Steaua Bucharest 23:46 Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax 25:49 Signing for Melbourne Victory and winning three titles 30:52 What he would do differently if he could go back 33:19 His hard truth about agents in football 36:35 The Champions League anthem moment he'll never forget 40:08 Retiring the day his son was born 42:27 Learning to coach Australian kids after playing in Europe 45:12 What John Toshak and his Croatian coaches taught him 49:32 The reality check every Australian player needs before Europe 57:05 "Don't give up" - his message for players thinking about quitting 59:13 Stoppage Time Questions 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember:Enjoy the journey!

    EP 07: Daniel Georgievski - From Western Sydney to Dinamo Zagreb and Champions League vs Chelsea

  8. Jun 28

    EP 06: Alexander Fuchs - 1860 München, the Bundesliga and a Masters in Psychology

    Alexander Fuchs takes us through his journey from the 1860 Munich youth academy to a Bundesliga debut with 1. FC Nürnberg, multiple hip surgeries, and what it taught him about the mental side of professional football. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the 29-year-old German professional to trace a path through one of the most competitive development environments in world football. Alex talks about growing up in Munich as a Bayern Munich fan, getting scouted by 1860 at eight after winning a tournament playing up an age group, what daily life looked like inside the academy's specialised football school, and the U17 and U19 years when serious knee injuries nearly cost him everything. We move through his rise to a first professional contract with 1. FC Nürnberg, his Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin, and the experience of playing in front of 80,000 fans at Signal Iduna Park. Alex is candid about the spiral that followed when Nürnberg started losing games, the impact of social media criticism at 21, and how it pushed him to start studying psychology while still playing professionally. He opens up about the tools that now anchor his approach to the game, including journaling, habits, controlling the controllables, and preparing the brain like a muscle. We also cover his move to Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga, the hip injuries that have shaped much of his recent career, and what kept him coming back after surgery on both hips and over a year on the sidelines. He closes with his advice for young players chasing the dream, the 1860 Munich teammates who went on to play for the German national team, and what his six-year-old self would say about the journey so far. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look at what it actually takes to survive in the German football pathway. IN THIS EPISODE: ▸ Growing up in Munich as a Bayern fan and being scouted by 1860 at eight ▸ Inside the 1860 Munich football school and a five-times-a-week training schedule ▸ Knee injuries through the U17 and U19 years and how the club waited for him ▸ Teammates Felix Uduokhai, Florian Neuhaus, and Benny Henrichs who reached the German national team ▸ Signing his first pro contract with 1. FC Nürnberg ▸ His Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin and playing at Signal Iduna Park ▸ Why he started studying psychology while still playing professionally ▸ Journaling, habits, and the tools he uses to control the controllables ▸ Moving to Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga ▸ Surgery on both hips and the long road back to the pitch CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 01:17 Welcome and meet Alex Fuchs 03:09 First touches at SV Lohhof and being a Bayern fan in Munich 06:52 The tournament that got him scouted by 1860 Munich at 8 10:40 Inside the 1860 Munich football school 19:03 What he wishes he had done differently in the youth academy 24:33 Signing his first pro contract with 1. FC Nürnberg 29:09 The coaches and parents who shaped him 31:48 His Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin 35:27 Why he started studying psychology while playing pro 38:31 Journaling and the habits that build mental toughness 42:15 Moving to Austria and signing with Austria Klagenfurt 44:21 Hip surgery on both sides and the road back 50:14 His advice for young players chasing the dream 51:06 Stoppage Time Questions 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

    EP 06: Alexander Fuchs - 1860 München, the Bundesliga and a Masters in Psychology
See All (13)

About

From First Touch to First Team is a podcast for anyone who loves the game of football and dreams of playing it at the highest level. Each episode, we sit down with current or former professional footballers to hear the real story behind their journey, from their earliest memories of the game to the moment they made it. The highs, the setbacks, the sacrifices, and the lessons that shaped them as players and people. Whether you are a young player working toward your goals, a parent supporting your child's development, or a coach shaping the next generation, this podcast gives you an honest, unfiltered look at what the professional pathway really looks like.

Information

You Might Also Like