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"Control the controllables to survive, influence the uncontrollables to thrive." Today I am delighted to be joined by Olympic gold winning coach Mehdi Kordi. Despite never riding competitively Mehdi went on to win an incredible six Olympic gold medals as coach. Here he shares with us his journey which took him from researching CPR techniques in Space to an Olympic podium. A great episode on what truly moves the needle in elite sport and what happens when winning is all that counts. Listen to find out more including; - Why leadership conversations get sanitized? - Transitioning from Sports Scientist to Head Coach and what buyin looked like? - Is "What It Takes To Win" still relevant? - What Mehdi learned from leading the People's Republic of Derbados? - How to lead athletes more powerful than ever who also communicate less than ever? Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

Today I am delighted to be joined by esteemed football executive Adrian Bevington. In today's episode we cover Adrian's 10 lessons in leadership from building sporting departments throughout his career. Drawing on his experience working at the FA, FAW, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough we delve into what it truly takes to work at the top. Listen to find out more including; - What does operational excellence look like? - The logistical demands of a World Cup and how change is navigated. - Inside the appointment of Gareth Southgate as England manager. - What macro / micro leadership looks like for Adrian? - Adrian's current work in M&A with Revolution Sports Investment. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

Today I am delighted to be joined by Red Bull Bragantino Academy Director; Victor Passeri. I have been fortunate to get to know Victor as part of this years MBA cohort with the ASD. This episode provides brilliant insight into technical leadership within a Brazilian context. From an early apprenticeship at FC Porto and Palmeiras Victor explains how he’s able to apply a generalist’s frame to his day to day work within the Academy. Listen to find out more including; - How different roles shaped his understanding of leadership? - Finding a competitive edge in South American scouting - What adaptability looks like within the Red Bull methodology ? - What player evaluation looks like in their environment ? - Decision making in player pathway management. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

Today we celebrate the 200th episode of The Lowdown with a special World Cup episode with David Garcia & Bernat Mosquera. With 106 games down and fresh from watching Brazil v Japan we review the action thus far, Listen to find out more including; - Has the move to a 48 team competition made for a better watch? - Why we all see Colombia as potential dark horses? - The mid block and attacking transition strategies that are defining this World Cup. - How the favorites approach squad usage and what that means for building rhythm throughout the tournament? - The difference between progression and danger and where teams fall short. - Why the sudden increase in set piece goals in this year's World Cup? David's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-garcia-a043794b/ Bernat's LinkedIn; https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernat-mosquera/ Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Oliver Denhardt to explore his journey from the early days of performance analysis and scouting to helping shape the future of football intelligence. Having worked within leading environments including AFC Ajax and FC Copenhagen, Oliver shares the lessons he learned from talent identification, recruitment processes, and understanding what separates elite decision-making from the rest of the industry. We also dive into the growth of Eyeball, a platform now covering thousands of clubs across dozens of countries, and discuss how technology is changing scouting, recruitment, and football operations. From video scoring and market expertise to the democratization of data and analysis, Oliver provides a fascinating perspective on where clubs can still create competitive advantages and what problems football will need to solve next. Listen to find out more including; - What were the biggest lessons Oliver learned from his time at Ajax and FC Copenhagen? - What Oliver sees as the biggest challenges facing clubs in recruitment and analysis? - Why has Eyeball been able to scale successfully across so many countries and clubs? - Why succeeding in a new market requires an extreme level of focus and specialization? - What are the biggest mistakes clubs make when trying to adapt to new technology? Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

The countdown is almost over as the biggest FIFA World Cup in history arrives across the United States, Canada and Mexico. With 48 teams, three host nations and an expanded format, the 2026 tournament promises to be unlike anything football has seen before. Liam Tharme and I discuss whether the scale of the event will elevate the spectacle, the challenges presented by travel, climate and scheduling, and how the never-ending football calendar continues to fuel the debate around player workload and the balance between club and international football. Alongside our predictions, we explore the tactical trends, key group-stage fixtures and knockout permutations that could define the road to the final. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Tomasz Cybulski, co-founder of ProTrainUp, to explore the evolution of sports technology, performance analysis, and building a startup within elite sport. Tomasz reflects on the early stages of ProTrainUp, where the company began, and how the original vision has evolved through years of working directly with clubs, coaches, and federations across different countries and sporting environments. The conversation dives into the realities of scaling a sports tech company in a rapidly changing industry, the importance of understanding club workflows and operational culture, and how co-design with practitioners has shaped the platform’s development. Tomasz also shares his perspective on product differentiation in an increasingly competitive market, the future role of AI and meaningful insight in sport, and the lessons he has learned building technology that must adapt across different cultures, structures, and performance environments. Listen to find out more including; - The journey into sports analysis and founding ProTrainUp. - Early startup growth: challenges, successes, and lessons learned. - How the company’s original vision evolved over time? - Selling technology into clubs and understanding staff workflows. - Co-designing products through feedback from clubs and practitioners. - The future of sports tech, AI, and creating meaningful product differentiation? Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

In this episode, Carsten Dohm shares lessons from over 30 years in coaching, from his earliest football memories to building a philosophy centered on developing the person before the player. He explores what it takes to produce “A+ players,” while emphasizing the importance of long-term development over early performance outcomes. His approach focuses on creating environments for accelerated learning, deliberate practice, and maximizing the “golden window” of development. Drawing on his experience helping shape San Diego FC, Carsten reflects on the challenges of youth development in the U.S. and the importance of designing integrated learning ecosystems that combine education, culture, and football. He discusses building a “third culture” that blends global expertise with local identity, the growing importance of coaching skills like attention design and the need to prioritize potential, character, and adaptability. Timestamps; 00:00 - 10:21 - Person First 10:22 - 30:04 - USA 30:05 - 48:48 - A+ Players 48:49 - 1;00:54 - Compass 1:00:55 - 1:27:31 - Path to Mastery 1:27:32 - 1:33:56 - Future Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

"Is football becoming less of a spectacle?" On his return to the show Paul McGuinness explores whether modern football is losing its creative edge, drawing on his experience developing elite players at Manchester United and working across the Premier League. The conversation examines the effects early specialization, results-driven environments and increasingly structured tactical systems are having on player development. Paul also dives into how coaching can either nurture or suppress creativity, emphasizing the importance of “flow” in player development and the challenge of balancing structure with freedom in academy environments. He reflects on the risks of a win-focused culture, the pressures of modern evaluation systems, and whether these issues extend beyond elite clubs into grassroots football worldwide. Listen to find our more including; - Where the education of young players is going? - How Paul is adapting his coaching for today's generation? - How the link between midfield and forward players is evolving at the top level? - Paul's view on the shift from fixed positions to prioritizing player characteristics. - Having coached top Premier League talent, is there truly a decline in creative players coming through? Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with coach developer Russell Earnshaw, whose work spans elite environments including Liverpool FC, England Rugby, the Premier League, and New Zealand Sevens. This conversation explores what it really means to optimize for impact in coaching—moving beyond busy work to focus on the moments that truly matter. Russell shares how coaches can better plan their weeks around energy and time, rather than just schedules, and why treating CPD (continuous professional development) like a second job is essential for long-term growth. We also dive into the role of playfulness and experimentation in high-performance environments, challenging the idea that structure and creativity are opposites. Russell unpacks his perspective on what “better” actually looks like in coaching, and how that definition evolves over time. Finally, we explore the shifting skillsets required as coaches transition into leaders—including noticing, designing environments, and creating cultures where people can truly belong and thrive. Timestamps; 00:00 - 05:35 - Coaching 05:36 - 14:33 - CPD 14:34 - 25:44 - Energy 25:45 - 45:57 - Leadership 45:58 - 56:42 - Mindset, Skillset & Structure 56:43 - 1:03:35 - Future Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

John O’Rourke, President of the North American Irish Coaches Association, joins the show to discuss the growing influence of Irish coaches across the United States and Canada. The association’s mission is to serve, connect, and elevate Irish coaches throughout North America. Having arrived in the U.S. 33 years ago, John has worked at every level of the game and has witnessed the sport’s growth in America firsthand. In this episode, we explore how the game has developed over the decades and the significant role Irish coaches have played in that journey. Furthermore, we also discuss the legacy John hopes the forthcoming World Cup will leave on the United States, how he believes the pay-to-play model may evolve in the coming years, and how talent identification across the country could change as the sport continues to grow. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

"Today is the slowest day of technological change we have experienced in our lives." In this episode, Gareth Quinn shares his journey from working in nightlife and politics into the business world, and how those experiences helped shape the foundations of Kairos. He reflects on the early growth of the startup, the challenge of overcoming confirmation bias in football, and the push to introduce more objective, data-driven thinking in elite sport. The conversation also explores Kairos’ work in high-performance environments, including contributions connected to the Ryder Cup and South Africa’s victory at the Rugby World Cup 2019, and the lessons learned about problem-solving and momentum in both sport and business. Gareth also discusses the merger with Teamworks and the growing importance of integrating technology across sports organizations. From hubs and athlete management systems to intelligence platforms, the focus is on improving communication, creating clarity, and connecting departments. The episode closes with Gareth’s thoughts on modern leadership, the consolidation of sports technology, and what excites him most about the future of the industry. Timestamps; 00:00 - 06:29 - Nightlife 06:30 - 17:22 - Kairos 17:23 - 25:50 - Teamworks 25:51 - 34:20 - Speed of Change 34:21 - 40:15 - Leadership 40:16 - 45:33 - Future Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Sean Paul Murray from the Irish Football Association (IFA) for a deep dive into the evolution of coach education, leadership, and the power of intentional learning design. Sean shares his journey from his earliest memories in football to shaping coach development structures that prioritize people over PowerPoints. This conversation explores what great environments look like, how emotional intelligence influences leadership, and what the future holds for coach education. Listen to find out more including; - How we should rethink coach education structures? - What learner centered and not content centered education looks like? - How environments shape behavior and decision making? - Self-awareness as a leadership foundation. - Advice for coaches and coach developers seeking long-term impact. Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Cristina Fink, former Olympic athlete and performance psychologist, to explore what it really takes to perform at a high level — not just in sport, but in life. Drawing from her experience competing on the world’s biggest stage in Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992 and working with elite performers, Cristina shares how mindset, resilience, and identity shape sustainable success. We dive into pressure, setbacks, leadership, and mental health, unpacking practical tools listeners can use immediately. This conversation is about moving beyond outcomes and redefining what high performance and fulfillment actually look like. Delving into modern day leadership Cristina explains more as to how the best lead from a foundation of "proactive resilience". Listen to find out more including; - How her Olympic journey paved the way for her transition into performance psychologist? - Why separates world class performers from the rest? - What a deliberate practice of mental skills looks like? - Practical tools for players to stay in the present. - Managing expectations and the role they play at the elite level. Timestamps; 00:00 - 05:42 - Olympics 05:43 - 14:58 - Psychology 14:59 - 24:30 - Awareness 24:31 - 39:11 - Expectations 39:12 - 47:25 - Parents 47:26 - 55:12 - Leadership Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we sit down with Martin Foyston whose journey into football leadership didn’t start on the pitch—but in film studies. From early days using analysis as a competitive edge, to learning under elite mentors like Roy Hodgson, to taking bold career risks that led to over a decade as a head coach in Scandinavia, this conversation explores the human side of modern coaching. We dive into the highs of historic promotions, the importance of culture when success arrives, and the lows that come with being sacked. Now, for the first time in a while, Martin has stepped away from the day-to-day grind of the field—offering rare perspective, honesty, and reflection on how the game (and the person coaching it) has evolved. A thoughtful, candid conversation about growth, resilience, and what truly shapes a coach over time. A must listen. Listen to find out more including; - Utilizing analysis as a competitive advantage. - Why Martin chases the feeling of discomfort? - What powerful role models taught Martin about leadership and development? - How Scandinavia has shaped Martin as a coach and person? - Every gamble each assistant coach must eventually make. Timestamps; 00:00 - 10:39 - Intro 10:40 - 25:32 - Fulham 25:33 - 34:22 - Analysis 34:23 - 45:16 - Scandinavia 45:17 - 53:06 - Osters 53:07 - 1:05:42 - Culture 1:05:43 - 1:23:19 - Reflections Get in touch; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/conorwalsh1995/ YouTube; https://www.youtube.com/@TheLowdownPod Email: [email protected]