Pen pics of Crystal Palace's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff.
Pen pics of Crystal Palace's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff.
Natasha Patel is Assistant Academy Director at Southampton and one of the most experienced women working in men's professional football. In Episode #64 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Hudl, she outlined her journey in football, how analysis has evolved and her experiences on either side of the Atlantic.
RENE MARIC is one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe. At the age of 31, he is Head of Coach Development and Playing Philosophy at Bayern Munich and has worked for Red Bull Salzburg, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Monchengladbach. He told the TGG Podcast about his coaching journey and lessons.
RADHI JAIDI became the first Tunisian to play in the Premier League when he joined Sam Allardyce's Bolton in 2004 and he remains a trailblazer as one of the only black Muslim coaches in senior European football. On Episode #61 of the TGG Podcast, Jaidi told us about his journey as a player and coach.
NEW Head Coach Oliver Glasner has brought a quartet of Austrian assistants with him to Crystal Palace.
DR IMTIAZ AHMAD is leaving QPR after seven years to become Head of Sports Medicine at Crystal Palace.
DR ZAFAR IQBAL is leaving Crystal Palace after eight-and-a-half years to become Head of Sports Medicine at Arsenal.
AS manager of League One Reading, Ruben Selles has one of the toughest jobs in the Football League. On Episode #60 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Hudl, he explained what it's like to lead the crisis club.
BELGIUM'S Union Saint-Gilloise have marked themselves out as one of the smartest and most innovative clubs in Europe. In Episode #59 of the TGG Podcast, their Sporting Director, Chris O'Loughlin, gave insights into how they are managing to upset the established order.
KEVIN THELWELL has been Director of Football during a tumultuous period at Everton. In Episode #58 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Hudl, Thelwell talked about what his role involves, formulating a long-term plan for the club and what the future might hold.
JES BUSTER MADSEN is Head of Research and Development at FC Copenhagen and a world leader in the application of cognitive neuroscience in football. In Episode #57 of the TGG Podcast he explained how and why brain training will be the next big growth area in football.
FOR the last decade, Mark Leyland has been one of the foremost analysts in this country - and has gone on to become even more than that. He spoke to TGG about the evolution of his role at Liverpool and Newcastle and his current job as Head of Coaching Methodology at City Football Group.
FOR almost a decade, Sarah Rudd was Vice President of Analytics for StatDNA and Arsenal, making her one of the most senior women in the Premier League. In this episode of the TGG Podcast, she told us about her work with Arsenal, her wider career and her thoughts on the future of analytics.
LIVERPOOL'S influential assistant Pep Lijnders was our guest on Episodes #53 and #54 of the TGG Podcast, giving in-depth insights into his work at the Anfield club.
MANAGER Ian Evatt and Sporting Director Chris Markham are working in tandem to try and restore Bolton Wanderers to their former glories. They outlined their approach in Episode #52 of the TGG Podcast, in association with Hudl.
WHEN Irishman Conor Nestor got an unexpected opportunity to manage Svay Rieng in Cambodia, he grabbed it with both hands. He transformed the way they operated, including a complete revamp of their analysis and recruitment. Here he explains what he did and how it helped land the Cambodian league title.
ARSENAL have a fantastic record of producing athletic Academy graduates. In Episode #50 of the TGG Podcast Des Ryan, the club's former Head of Academy Sports Medicine and Athletic Development, explains why and how.
BENFICA are the reigning UEFA Youth League champions and have the most profitable Academy in Europe. Their Technical Director Pedro Marques was our guest on Episode #49 of the TGG Podcast in association with Hudl.
OUR guest on Episode #48 of the Training Ground Guru Podcast is Norwich City's Stuart Webber, who we've often described as the 'purest' example of a Sporting Director in this country.
A trio of coaches have been sacked by Crystal Palace along with manager Patrick Vieira. Assistant Osian Roberts, first-team coach Kristian Wilson and Development Coach Saïd Aïgoun all arrived with the Frenchman in the summer of 2021. However, all have been sacked following a run of 12 matches without a win.
IN Episode #47 of the Training Ground Guru Podcast, Tom Vernon tells us about the origins of Right to Dream, its objectives and what the rest of football can learn from the group.
PROFESSOR David Sumpter is a pioneer of the application of data science in football and has worked with leading teams including Ajax, Barcelona, Hammarby and England. In Episode #46 of the TGG Podcast he gives insights into his work and predictions for the future.
CRYSTAL PALACE first-team coach Shaun Derry has left the club after three-and-a-half years.
BRENTFORD first-team coach Justin Cochrane tells us about his coaching journey on Episode #45 of the TGG Podcast.
SALLY NEEDHAM is the Human Development and Performance Culture Lead at Sheffield United's Academy. On Episode #44 of the TGG Podcast she gives us the lowdown on her unique role.
RUI FARIA is the most successful number two in football history. Here he gives in-depth insights into his time working alongside Jose Mourinho.
BRISTOL ROVERS manager Joey Barton said that Crystal Palace’s Under-21s represent “what the problem is in the modern game” after his side’s 2-0 win over them in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.
SEAN DYCHE explains the lessons he has learned throughout his career, from being a trainee under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest to taking unfashionable Burnley into Europe for the first time in 51 years.
STEVEN REID left his role as first-team coach at Nottingham Forest earlier this summer to become a confidence, wellbeing and leadership coach. On Episode #41 of the TGG Podcast he explains the reasons why and gives insights into his two decades as a Premier League player and coach.
DAMIEN COMOLLI tells TGG about the strategies he has employed to restore Toulouse FC to the top table of French football - and how they were honed during three decades in the game.
IN April, Southampton announced that they were launching a “unique” Learning Lab that would embed a “research culture focused on modern Ecological Approaches” in their club and Academy. TGG decided to find out more by welcoming two members of the Learning Lab Board onto our podcast.
AUSTRALIA assistant Rene Meulensteen was our guest on Episode #38 of the TGG Podcast. He told us about his coaching journey from Holland to Australia via Manchester United and the lessons learned along the way in front of a live audience..
ANDREAS GEORGSON gives us insights into individual development coaching, evolving set pieces at the highest level, Malmö's youth development secrets and what it was like to work under Arteta.
THE Training Ground Guru Podcast is celebrating its third birthday. We look back on the 37 episodes we've had so far - and ahead to season four.
FOR 24 years, Francis Cagigao was one of the most important and influential figures at Arsenal. He tells TGG about his time with the North London club and about his new role, as Director of Football for Chile.
CRYSTAL PALACE Head Physio Ed Richmond has left the club after five-and-a-half years to join Leicester City.
CRYSTAL PALACE have become the first club in the country to offer a three-year aftercare programme to help scholars to cope with the “trauma” of being released.
BRENTFORD'S journey to the Premier League is a story of innovation, clever use of data and investment in people. We found out more about this from their Director of Football, Phil Giles.
CRYSTAL PALACE went from vocal critics to enthusiastic adopters of the Elite Player Performance Plan. Ryan Baldi was present for part of this journey for his book 'The Dream Factory' and explains what happened.
MARIELA NISOTAKI is the Head of Emerging Talent at Norwich City - and the only female scout on the circuit in the UK. She told us what her job involves, how she balances data with live eyes and why Norwich are an ambitious club doing things their own way.
In Episode #33 of the TGG Podcast, Chris Ramsey MBE tells us about his role at QPR, his career journey, how he develops coaches and why the game has lost a generation of black leaders.
GREGG BROUGHTON is the Academy Director at Bodø/Glimt, the small club making a big noise in European football. He was our guest on Episode #32 of the TGG Podcast.
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has opened Crystal Palace’s £20m Academy redevelopment, which the Eagles believe will have a “transformative effect on the future of the club and local community.”
ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate will formally open Crystal Palace’s redeveloped Category One Academy in Beckenham next Thursday.
OWEN EASTWOOD, who has worked with the England men's football team since 2016, shares insights about building an optimum environment for teams and athletes to thrive.
LUKE BORNN, the former Head of Analytics at AS Roma, tells us about his own journey, and that of data science in football.
DAVE ALRED MBE shares the secrets for performing under pressure that he's used with Jonny Wilkinson, Luke Donald, Francesco Molinari and even Gareth Southgate
SHAUN DERRY has been promoted from Under-23s boss to first-team coach at Crystal Palace, while there have been several other changes in the Professional Development Phase at the club.
SCOTT GUYETT, one of the longest-serving performance practitioners in the Premier League, has left Crystal Palace after almost 11 years to become assistant manager at Brisbane Roar in Australia’s A-League.
OSIAN ROBERTS has stepped down as Technical Director of the Moroccan Football Federation after two years to become assistant to Patrick Vieira at Crystal Palace.
IN just 20 months, Russell Martin has marked himself out as one of the most interesting and original English managers in the game. He told TGG more about his approach, covering topics including Buddhism, politics, playing without fear, work-life balance and the importance of sticking to Plan A.
PATRICK VIEIRA has made the first appointments to his backroom team as he looks to move Crystal Palace in a new direction.
MICHAEL BEALE gives an insight into the training ground methods that helped Rangers land their first title in a decade.
CRYSTAL PALACE first-team coach Dave Reddington has left the club after eight seasons to become assistant manager at AGF in Denmark.
RAY LEWINGTON will end a “long and distinguished association” with Crystal Palace when he departs along with manager Roy Hodgson at the end of the season.
CHELSEA WOMEN manager Emma Hayes on some of the key influences on her career and how they helped to shape her leadership philosophy.
CRYSTAL PALACE Head of Sports Medicine Dr Zaf Iqbal says a landmark mid-game break that allowed two players to break their Ramadan fast showed the 'unity of football.'
WALSALL have appointed Crystal Palace Head of Emerging Talent Jamie Fullarton as their new Technical Director.
LAURENCE STEWART, the Head of Recruitment for AS Monaco, explains the core principles of the club's transfer strategy.
CRYSTAL PALACE Recruitment Manager Omar Yabroudi, once described as the richest scout in the world, has returned home to Dubai to join the UAE Football Association.
RENOWNED coach and coach educator Brian Ashton MBE tells TGG the lessons he has learned from five decades in the profession.
AZ ALKMAAR Sport Development Director Marijn Beuker outlines how the club outperform their budget by thinking differently.
LIVERPOOL legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher tells TGG how he analyses matches and aims to take fans inside the world of the manager's post-match debrief.
UNDER-16s lead Dan Micciche outlines the key principles of Arsenal's Academy and how they go about developing 'Strong Young Gunners.'
BRIGHTON Technical Director Dan Ashworth explains what the role involves and why he believes it’s so important.
EVERTON assistant Davide Ancelotti was the guest on episode #19 of the TGG Podcast. The 31-year-old talked about growing up with a famous father, gave insights into his role, explained why Dominic Calvert-Lewin was "the best striker we could have" and opened up about his own managerial ambitions.
Eddie Jones, Tom Vernon, Dave Reddin, Lorraine O'Malley and Karen Bardsley outline what they believe will be the big developments in football in the coming months and years.
LIVERPOOL Academy Manager Alex Inglethorpe takes TGG inside the club's Kirkby training centre and explains the principles that underpin one of the most successful youth programmes in English football.
DR PIPPA GRANGE, the former Head of People and Team Development for the Football Association, tells us about the differences between winning deep and shallow.
CRYSTAL PALACE have been promoted to Category One status and are now focused on becoming “one of the country’s leading Academies” to “capitalise on the hotbed of footballing talent in south London”.
THE six clubs bidding to move up an Academy category are set to discover their fates within the next few weeks.
MANCHESTER UNITED Academy Manager Nick Cox lays out the key tenets of the club's youth programme, including the belief that there is a higher purpose than just producing professional footballers.
DAVID WEBB shares lessons from two decades in recruitment - including the story of how he discovered Wilfred Zaha for Crystal Palace.
PREMIER LEAGUE teams embarked on phase one of Project Restart today - training in small groups with social distancing and no tackling. Here's the lowdown on what that involved.
DANNY COWLEY lays out his footballing philosophy, which he described as "old-school values with new methods".
TONY STRUDWICK says building relationships is still the most important skill for any practitioner, despite the increasing influence of data and science in football.
HOW are clubs managing to train and monitor their players during the coronavirus shutdown? George Perry asked Crystal Palace's Scott Guyett, Bristol City's Patrick Orme and Callum Lester of Grimsby Town.
CRYSTAL PALACE’S plans to develop their Academy into a Category 1 site have been supported by Bromley Council’s planning committee.
GÉRARD HOULLIER is the "most underrated" Liverpool manager. according to Jamie Carragher, but he brought the club into the 21st Century and his legacy is still felt to this day,
BLACKBURN have been one of the surprise packages of the Championship season so far - and 35-year-old Stewart Downing has been their talisman. He tells TGG about the astute management of Tony Mowbray and how it's helped prolong his career.
ENGLAND rugby coach Eddie Jones shares insights gleaned from three decades in coaching, ranging from the influence of Pep Guardiola to managing mavericks to tactical periodisation.
The Football Association has decided not to bring charges against former Crystal Palace Head of Coaching David Muir, who resigned in March following allegations he made a racial comment while on a Premier League course last year.
MLADEN SORMAZ, Head of Football Analytics at Leicester City; Luke Benstead, Head of Performance Analysis and Innovation for Belgium, and Ed Sulley, Director of Customer Solutions for Hudl, discuss the current state of data science in football and where it could be headed.
PAUL BALSOM, Leicester City’s highly-experienced Head of Performance Innovation, says a rare alchemy has taken the side to heady heights in the Premier League this season.
RICHARD SHAW has left his role as Crystal Palace Under-23 boss to “pursue other opportunities”.
WYSCOUT founder Matteo Campodonico explains how he came up with the idea for the scouting and analysis platform, how clubs use it and why he believes Big Data will transform the way it is used.
LEEDS UNITED Sporting Director Victor Orta says the club’s recruitment policy is 70% human judgement and 30% data.
LES FERDINAND charts his journey from star player to Director of Football at QPR and laments the fact that bigger clubs are now “stockpiling” young talent.
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS firm Hudl has bought scouting platform Wyscout, creating “the most comprehensive football video analysis, data and recruitment platform in the industry”.
PROFESSOR BARRY DRUST says clubs and practitioners need to think more carefully about the impact that their numerous sports science interventions are having on players.
RHYS LONG, Head of Performance Analysis and Insight for the Football Association, outlines his philosophy in the Training Ground Guru Podcast.
DAVE REDDIN, the Football Association’s Head of Team Strategy and Performance, tells the TGG Podcast that sports science is creating a generation of players with “limited physical capabilities”.
CRYSTAL PALACE Head of Sports Science Scott Guyett gives an insight into pre-season, new Manchester United signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka, working with Roy Hodgson and his studies on the Master of Sport Directorship course at Manchester Metropolitan University.
WHEN players report back to their clubs for pre-season, body fat testing will reveal whether they have stuck to their diet and training plans over the summer or not. DEXA is regarded as the 'gold standard' of fat testing.
THIS month we go behind the scenes at the TGG Youth Development Conference in Manchester, with speakers Kris Van Der Haegen, Leigh Bromby and John McGuigan.
TGG gets a tour of Burnley's Academy, which is on the verge of going from Category 3 to 1 inside three years.
FORMER Birmingham, Derby and Stoke manager Gary Rowett is joined by his former Head of Performance, Dave Carolan, and Head of Analysis, Joe Carnall, for the first episode of the new Training Ground Guru podcast.
CRYSTAL PALACE confirm that Head of Coaching David Muir has resigned following allegations he made a racial comment while on a Football Association coaching course in February.
DAVE REDDINGTON has been promoted to first-team coach as Crystal Palace make a number of changes to their backroom set-up.
STEVEN REID has stepped down as first-team coach at Crystal Palace after just a year because of “personal reasons”.
BRAZILIAN performance coach Alessandro Schoenmaker has left Crystal Palace following a backroom reshuffle by the south east London club.
CRYSTAL PALACE Head Physio Chris Morgan has left the club after 16 months to pursue a “new challenge in the North”.
ROY HODGSON paid tribute to his medical and sport science teams after Crystal Palace secured their Premier League safety.
STEVEN REID says his connection with the players will be crucial as he takes up his new job as first-team coach at Crystal Palace.
SAMMY LEE, Ryland Morgans and Orlando Trustfull have left Crystal Palace following the arrival of Roy Hodgson as manager.
FOOTBALL clubs need to start using fair, transparent recruitment processes instead of relying on existing social relationships, argue Dr Dan Parnell and Dr Paul Widdop.
SAM ALLARDYCE says struggling teams like Crystal Palace do not spend enough time practising how to play without the ball.
CRYSTAL PALACE manager Frank de Boer has welcomed the appointment of Dougie Freedman as the club's Sporting Director.
WEST BROM won the Premier League fitness title in 2016/17, with the lowest number of significant injuries and days lost to injury.
ALAN PARDEW says sports science and medical staff have become ‘too protective’ and that this contributed to his sacking at Crystal Palace.
SAM ALLAYDYCE is sending his Crystal Palace players homework using an app called Pushfor - and it also allows him to track whether they’ve done it or not.