In this episode of the MSC Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Natalie Henderson, Assistant Coach with the Canada Women’s National Team and former England and Newcastle United coach.
Natalie's coach support work is below:
padlockpad.com/nh-coach-support
Together, they explore one of the most important — and often overlooked — challenges in modern football: how to stay authentic in a world full of information, judgment, and noise.
Natalie opens up about:
The growing pressure on coaches to “know everything”
Finding balance between curiosity and confidence
Leading experts across sports science, medicine, and analysis
Creating authentic environments where players and staff can be themselves
Protecting time for football amid meetings and distractions
The “167 Rule” and why every coach plays a role in player psychology
Building trust through genuine mentorship rather than tick-box programs
From imposter syndrome to leadership, from player development to coach well-being, Natalie’s honesty shines through every topic. This is a must-listen for anyone trying to balance clarity, vulnerability, and growth in their coaching journey.
All content for Modern Soccer Coach Podcast is the property of Gary Curneen and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
In this episode of the MSC Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Natalie Henderson, Assistant Coach with the Canada Women’s National Team and former England and Newcastle United coach.
Natalie's coach support work is below:
padlockpad.com/nh-coach-support
Together, they explore one of the most important — and often overlooked — challenges in modern football: how to stay authentic in a world full of information, judgment, and noise.
Natalie opens up about:
The growing pressure on coaches to “know everything”
Finding balance between curiosity and confidence
Leading experts across sports science, medicine, and analysis
Creating authentic environments where players and staff can be themselves
Protecting time for football amid meetings and distractions
The “167 Rule” and why every coach plays a role in player psychology
Building trust through genuine mentorship rather than tick-box programs
From imposter syndrome to leadership, from player development to coach well-being, Natalie’s honesty shines through every topic. This is a must-listen for anyone trying to balance clarity, vulnerability, and growth in their coaching journey.
The Fluminese Blueprint: How to Create Intelligent, Adaptable Players with Andre Medeiros
Modern Soccer Coach Podcast
55 minutes 16 seconds
3 weeks ago
The Fluminese Blueprint: How to Create Intelligent, Adaptable Players with Andre Medeiros
On this week’s Modern Soccer Coach Podcast, Gary sits down in Rio de Janeiro with André Medeiros, the man who has helped shape Fluminense’s methodology for over 25 years. Recorded during Gary’s recent visit as part of the TetraBrazil Tour, this conversation dives deep into how Brazil’s most respected academies view player development, coaching, and the evolving game.
André shares incredible insights on:
Why respect sits at the very top of Fluminense’s core values.
How coaches are taught to see themselves not as the center of the process, but as facilitators of player growth.
The club’s belief that “we don’t build players — we develop them,” focusing on character, adaptability, and intelligence.
The balance between athleticism, speed, and decision-making in the modern player.
Why the future of football might see positions disappear entirely, replaced by fluid, dynamic systems built on player versatility.
Beyond tactics and systems, André speaks passionately about the human side of the game — education, psychology, cooperation, and humility — all foundational pillars of how Fluminense produces not just great players, but great people.
Modern Soccer Coach Podcast
In this episode of the MSC Podcast, Gary Curneen is joined by Natalie Henderson, Assistant Coach with the Canada Women’s National Team and former England and Newcastle United coach.
Natalie's coach support work is below:
padlockpad.com/nh-coach-support
Together, they explore one of the most important — and often overlooked — challenges in modern football: how to stay authentic in a world full of information, judgment, and noise.
Natalie opens up about:
The growing pressure on coaches to “know everything”
Finding balance between curiosity and confidence
Leading experts across sports science, medicine, and analysis
Creating authentic environments where players and staff can be themselves
Protecting time for football amid meetings and distractions
The “167 Rule” and why every coach plays a role in player psychology
Building trust through genuine mentorship rather than tick-box programs
From imposter syndrome to leadership, from player development to coach well-being, Natalie’s honesty shines through every topic. This is a must-listen for anyone trying to balance clarity, vulnerability, and growth in their coaching journey.