Modern Soccer Coach Podcast
Gary Curneen
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
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 24, 2020 • 42min
Rulani Mokwena: Philosophy, Values, and Tactical Analysis
Gary is joined by former Orlando Pirates and new Chippa United coach, Rulani Mokwena. He discusses:
- How his values and coaching philosophy are integrated
- Importance of reflecting before communicating
- Role of an assistant coach - challenging and supporting
- Love of video and tactical analysis in daily life
And much more!!
This podcast is sponsored by Total Football Analysis. A monthly magazine, with 120+ pieces of analysis per month, along with a website which has an all-access subscription, allowing you get back access to all the magazines plus every piece of content on the site!
Discount code: MSC20 - gets people 20% off anything on the site up until end of April.
totalfootballanalysis.com/

Mar 21, 2020 • 38min
Gavin Levey: Development in Isolation
Gary is joined by Head of Academy Coaching at Aberdeen FC, Gavin Levey. Gavin discusses the role of coaches under these difficult circumstances currently including:
- How are technical workouts distributed at Aberdeen FC?
- Are there other areas that they are looking to improve players?
- How are they communicating to parents?
- What role do coaches have during this time?
- How can a coach inspire a young player to do individual workout, rather than just instructing them?
This podcast is brought to you again by SportsLab360, an outstanding platform designed to empower youth players to increase their Soccer IQ and allow coaches to guide player development outside of training. Please check out their work at www.SportsLab360.com

Mar 16, 2020 • 44min
Thomas Gronnemark: Liverpool Throw-Ins and Forward Thinking Coaches
Gary is joined by throw-in coach, Thomas Gronnemark. He talks about his work at Liverpool, Ajax, FC Midtjylland, and addresses the following:
- Why Jurgen Klopp asked him to start right away
- How he achieves buy-in from players
- How his work must compliment playing philosophy
- How he deals with Steve Nicol and Andy Gray criticism
- Advice to young coaches who want to be specialists
And much more!!!
This podcast is brought to you again by SportsLab360, an outstanding platform designed to empower youth players to increase their Soccer IQ and allow coaches to guide player development outside of training. Please check out their work at www.SportsLab360.com

Mar 11, 2020 • 47min
Keir Wenham-Flatt: Can a Coaching Philosophy Hold You Back?
Gary is joined by Keir Wenham-Flatt, a strength and conditioning coach based in the USA, who has worked with elite level rugby players all over the globe in places like the UK, China, Australia, Argentina and Japan.
Kier discusses:
- How a philosophy can also restrict a coach
- How coaches can give themselves too much credit
- Why soccer injury counts are not effect
- What we must do to create more robust soccer players
- Improving relationships with S&C Coaches
And much more!!
This podcast is brought to you by Bounce Athletics. If you are running a summer camp Bounce Athletics offers fully customized micro-stitched textured premium camp balls for under $9/ball. To receive free shipping, with delivery in May, order by February 15th. These are same camp balls that are used by major DI programs like Wake Forest, Creighton, Texas Tech, Michigan State, Florida State, and Clemson to name just a few. Modern Soccer Coach listeners can get a $50 discount on their first order of custom balls or training vests by mentioning the podcast when they email info@BounceAthletics.com to begin the order process.

Mar 6, 2020 • 55min
Tim Sparv - Data, Development & Inside FC Midtjylland
Gary is joined by Finland national team captain and FC Midtjylland midfielder Tim Sparv. He takes an inside look into his journey as a professional, views on coaching, and life inside his current club.
- What did he learn most at Southampton academy?
- Differences between Dutch and English football culture?
- Environment at FC Midtjylland
- How can training set pieces become enjoyable?
- How does a player view the role of data?
- What can coaches learn about feedback to elite players?
And much more!
This podcast is sponsored by Total Football Analysis. A monthly magazine, with 120+ pieces of analysis per month, along with a website which has an all-access subscription, allowing you get back access to all the magazines plus every piece of content on the site!
Discount code: MSC20 - gets people 20% off anything on the site up until end of April.
https://totalfootballanalysis.com/

Mar 3, 2020 • 56min
Dr. Joe Machnik - VAR, Ancelotti and Refereeing Decisions
Gary is joined by former FIFA, World Cup referee, and Rules Analyst for Fox TV, Dr. Joe Machnik. He discusses the both the controversy in the modern game in terms of officiating and gives clarity on issues in the college and pro side of the game, including:
- Why are the Premier League having so many problems with VAR?
- Is it completely out of bounds for a ref to have a joke with an opposing player?
- Should a coach be allowed to confront a ref after a game?
- How have offside decisions improved so much?
- Should refs do post-game interviews?
And much more!!
This podcast is brought to you by Bounce Athletics. If you are running a summer camp Bounce Athletics offers fully customized micro-stitched textured premium camp balls for under $9/ball. To receive free shipping, with delivery in May, order by February 15th. These are same camp balls that are used by major DI programs like Wake Forest, Creighton, Texas Tech, Michigan State, Florida State, and Clemson to name just a few. Modern Soccer Coach listeners can get a $50 discount on their first order of custom balls or training vests by mentioning the podcast when they email info@BounceAthletics.com to begin the order process.

Feb 28, 2020 • 51min
Judah Davies - What Makes a Great Game Model?
Coach and tactical analyst Judah Davies discusses game models and their impact on soccer teams, including differentiation, youth vs. pro objectives, Man City's failures, creativity restrictions, session creation, and more. The episode also explores strategic adjustments, tactical training, bringing fresh ideas, future goals, Twitter's impact, and the evolution of game models and coaching strategies.

Feb 24, 2020 • 47min
Roy Carroll - Goalkeeping, Coaching & Elite Environments
Gary is joined by former Manchester United, Olympiacos, West Ham and Northern Ireland goalkeeper and now GK coach, Roy Carroll. A Premier League winner and playing experience in Greece, England, Denmark and Northern Ireland, Roy discusses the following:
- What did he learn from head coaches at different clubs?
- What can a GK coach do to help nerves on game day?
- How can a coach help a back-up goalkeeper?
- How does a young goalkeeper get help on the mental side of the game?
- What was special about the Manchester United environment?
And much more!
This podcast is brought to you by Nemesis Goalkeeping. They are a goalkeeper business based out of Des Moines, Iowa, who run group, individual sessions and also have camps during summer and winter months. Nemesis also travels to host clubs and provide training for the clubs. In addition to training keepers they are goalie glove distributor for No Goals Against who is based out of Canada. NGA offers top notch Goalie Gloves at affordable prices. Visits them at www.nemesisgoalkeeping.com

Feb 16, 2020 • 49min
Lesle Gallimore - Managing the Evolution of Team Culture
Gary talks with Lesle Gallimore, who has just completed 26 season as head coach at University of Washington, and achieved phenomenal success with 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, 270 wins, and numerous Coach of the Year awards at national level.
Lesle discusses the following:
- Are cultures more difficult to manage when you experience success?
- How do you judge character of players in the recruitment process?
- Why are humor and fun critical aspects of team environments?
- Ways to manage different types of personalities?
- Can you coach with "tough love" today?
- How do you avoid burnout?
- Why are relationships with peers so important?
And much more!
This podcast is brought to you by Bounce Athletics. Raise your club's profile in your local community, and give them a professional look this season, with NFHS and FIFA approved custom textured training balls and training vests from Bounce Athletics. Fully customized with your logo and color scheme, and produced in the same factories as the global-brand balls you are already using, Bounce Athletics training balls feature a textured PU outer with hybrid seamless construction so they look, feel, and play like match balls. They also feature premium butyl bladders that hold their air all season so you can spend your time setting your sessions and not pumping balls. With only 25 ball minimums, a quick four-week turnaround, and a 2-year warranty, Bounce Athletics can still get you a custom look in time for the spring. Modern Soccer Coach listeners can get a $50 discount on their first order of custom balls or training vests by mentioning the podcast when they email info@BounceAthletics.com to begin the order process.

Feb 10, 2020 • 52min
Russell Earnshaw: Breaking the Rules of Coaching
Gary is joined by former rugby professional, coach, and coach educator Russell Earnshaw. He has consulted with and delivered for Google, The English FA, Great Britain Hockey, British Triathlon, the Rugby Football League and British Swimming to name a few. He has also delivered to soccer coaches recently both in the UK and in the US at the Mass Youth Soccer Workshop.
Rusty discusses a number:
- What does a great environment look like?
- How can we make learning more enjoyable for young players?
- How can we challenge ourselves as coaches to be more creative?
- What are some cultural differences in how coaches from UK view coaching to those in US
- Should coach intelligence be a higher priority than player intelligence?
- How do we challenge and disrupt thinking without being labelled as negative or someone who is continually finding faults?
And much, much more!!
This podcast is brought to you again by SportsLab360, an outstanding platform designed to empower youth players to increase their Soccer IQ and allow coaches to guide player development outside of training. We have some exciting news at the break on how MSC have teamed up with them and how you can claim a special offer for February. Please check out their work at www.SportsLab360.com


