Modern Soccer Coach

Too often, passing warm-ups exist in isolation. Players move the ball, complete the pattern, and then immediately transition into a completely different session. The warm-up becomes an activity rather than the first step in the learning process. Instead, every passing exercise should introduce the movements, relationships and pictures that players will encounter once opposition ...

What separates a successful academy from one that consistently develops players for the first team? In this latest Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Herman Ottosson takes us inside the philosophy driving Mjällby AIF's impressive player pathway, arguing that sustainable player development begins with developing better coaches. Rather than relying on fixed curricula or prescribed sessi...

Preseason is the perfect opportunity to build defensive habits that will carry into the season, but fitness alone isn't enough. Players need to experience a variety of defensive pictures at match tempo, making quick decisions under pressure while working individually, in pairs, and as a unit. In this latest Modern Soccer Coach breakdown, I share three of my favourite preseason d...

Spain lifted the World Cup by combining elite individual quality with a tactical structure that consistently gave their best players the platform to influence games. In this final World Cup breakdown, we highlight the three key tactical principles that separated Spain from the rest of the tournament: the intelligent relationship between the fullbacks and wide attackers, the uniq...

One of the biggest mistakes coaches make during preseason is believing fitness has to come before football. Too many sessions still begin with players jogging laps around the pitch before they finally get a ball at their feet. While running has its place, it does very little to prepare players for the intensity, decision-making and competitive moments they'll experience in a mat...