Over the past couple of months, I've travelled a lot. I have visited some of the top academies around Europe to learn more about how they develop their players. I've presented at conferences and met with owners, sporting directors, and heads of recruitment to get their take on academy football. I've sat with people from FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League, and we've discussed the philosophies that underpin academy football.
Do we medicate the fish or clean the tank?
I hear a lot of discussion about culture in clubs - clubs love to find "culture carriers" for their teams, but how often do they reflect on the environments that have given rise to certain cultures?
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What happens when clubs get releases wrong?
A release is a moment in time. One point in a long process. A chance to be honest and reflect. A chance to critique feedback and re-prioritise.
Extreme Ownership
In ownership comes a level of freedom we can't accomplish without some hard work.
Trust in professional football
Trust, in aspect of elite sport, is hard to manage. But it isn't in a space away from a club. This is something I have increasingly focussed on in my work.