Winning is part and parcel of playing football - it's there, it exists and no-one can deny that. But it must also be put in perspective, particularly when striving to help young players improve (and also when trying to actually [...]

To be the most effective soccer coach you can be it's important to become accomplished at managing emotions. Here's my really quick guide to staying calm during a match. Understanding your Front Brain What are the key skills of a [...]

For those of you who have dipped into my books and are frequent readers of my blog and tweets you'll know that I'm fascinated by practice and training - specifically, what constitutes quality of practice and effective training. I think Rio Ferdinand's [...]

As a soccer player patience is more important than you might think. Not only does patience help you manage any unwanted emotions you might experience on the pitch, it also helps you stay focused as you compete. How? Let me [...]

"Confidence takes constant nurturing. Like a bed, it must be remade everyday." So says the great soccer player Mia Hamm. I think she's right. Confidence is an every day thing. It's an every week and an every month thing. I feel [...]

The England Under 20 team has just won the Under 20 World Cup. They beat Venezuela in the final one-nil. Their team is filled with ability - athleticism, ball control, passing, shooting, pace and guile. As individuals they have the [...]

What do you expect from yourself on the pitch? To score? To keep a clean sheet? To be man/woman of the match? To win? These are the obvious answers aren't they? They sound confident. They appear to deliver a message [...]

In my first book, Soccer Tough, I recount a story about former West Ham and England striker, Carlton Cole. One of the most important questions I asked him before every match was this: "What will you do if it's going [...]