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Socceroo John Iredale on leaving Sydney FC at 17 for Heerenveen, two injuries before 22, Wolfsburg II, the 2. Bundesliga and the K League 1. John grew up at Gladesville Hornsby, came through Marconi and Blacktown City, and joined the Sydney FC youth setup at 16. Training with the A-League squad, he even scored twice in a friendly at right back, but with Bobo and David Carney ahead of him he chose a move to SC Heerenveen's under-18s in the Netherlands over waiting for minutes as a striker. In his first year in Europe he could not do a single pull-up. By the end of 2018 he was in Heerenveen's Eredivisie preseason and Graham Arnold's first Socceroos squad at 19. Then came the U20 Asian Cup, a stress fracture, six months out and the end of his contract. John explains how a trial at VfB Stuttgart led to Wolfsburg II, playing alongside Omar Marmoush and Anton Stach, and how a second injury, COVID and missing the Olympics shaped his move to Paderborn and his promotion with Wehen Wiesbaden. He talks openly about strength and conditioning starting too late in Australia, investing in recovery and mental coaching before things go wrong, why Germany's league ladder means fewer players fall through the gaps, and life and football in South Korea. Plus Mesut Özil, Martin Ødegaard and scoring his first Socceroos goal in Canberra. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: John Iredale, from Sydney FC to Germany and South Korea 00:42 Introduction and early football journey at Gladesville Hornsby 03:15 When football became the goal: NSW selection and idols Rooney and Van Persie 05:41 Youth development and coaching influence: Marconi, Blacktown City and Sydney FC 08:16 Breaking into Sydney FC and learning from older strikers 10:53 Why he left Sydney FC: two goals at right back and a trial at Heerenveen 13:29 Adapting to European football at Heerenveen: tactics, the gym and one pull-up 15:59 The impact of strength and conditioning, and what Wolfsburg showed him 18:53 A Socceroos call-up at 19, the U20 Asian Cup and a stress fracture 21:33 Lessons from the U20 Asian Cup and the teammates who became Socceroos 24:07 Lessons from injury and personal growth: six months out and coming back stronger 26:57 From a Stuttgart trial to Wolfsburg II: playing alongside Omar Marmoush 34:59 Injuries and challenges: 11 months out, missing the Olympics and signing for Paderborn 37:44 Mental readiness and what he would do differently 39:55 Experiences in German football: the fans, Düsseldorf and a transfer two days after moving in 45:22 Transitioning to Denmark: why football is a key or a prison cell 47:43 Life and football in South Korea's K League 1 53:38 Aiming for Socceroos selection again 56:16 Stoppage Time Questions: the most unexpected place football has taken him 57:04 Memorable moments: Wiesbaden's promotion and his first Socceroos goal 58:30 Lessons from German football: why Australia needs a league ladder 1:00:33 Best players encountered: Mesut Özil and Martin Ødegaard 1:03:39 Advice for young footballers: hard work beats talent From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players, parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, with individual and group sessions, game analysis and performance testing: https://www.eleadefussball.com Follow the show, leave a rating, and send this to one player or parent on the journey. Enjoy your football journey!

No two pathways into professional football look the same. Honest stories for young players, parents and coaches. Every Monday, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional footballers, coaches and people building full-time careers in the game, and goes back to where it started: the first touch, the first rejection, the sacrifices nobody posts about, and the moment it turned professional. Marcus Younis lost two years to injury between 14 and 16, then went on to the A-League and PSV Eindhoven. Daniel Georgievski played Champions League nights against Chelsea with Dinamo Zagreb. Football Ferns goalkeeper Erin Nayler shares a decade as a professional abroad. Zac Sapsford went from the NPL at Hakoah to walking out at Celtic Park with Dundee United. Kealey Adamson went from NPL 2 to a contract at QPR. Brody Sams reached the NWSL as a goalkeeper coach without ever playing professionally. Daniel Cappellaro turned futsal into a career that took him to the UEFA Futsal Cup and into FIFA Street. Dario Vidosic stopped making Queensland teams as a teenager, then played in the Bundesliga with Nürnberg. And Socceroo John Iredale left Sydney FC at 17 for Heerenveen, played alongside Omar Marmoush at Wolfsburg, and is now scoring goals in South Korea's K League 1. For players: hear how professionals handled being cut, injured, overlooked or homesick, and what they would do differently if they were your age again. For parents: understand the real pathway beyond the highlight reels, from NPL and A-League academies to trials overseas, and learn how to support your child through every high and low. For coaches: get honest insight into what academies look for, how players develop, and what Australian football can learn from Germany, the Netherlands, Asia and the US. Also on the show: Will Kennedy, Nicolai Müller, Joshua Laws, Kiara De Domizio, Alexander Fuchs, Lloyd Owusu, Claudio Fabiano, Sammy Iredale, Daniel Solsky and UBF. New episodes every Monday. Follow the show so you never miss one, and share it with one player or parent on the journey. Every episode, guest and chapter: https://www.firsttouchtofirstteam.com Enjoy your football journey!

Dario Vidosic stopped making Queensland teams as a teenager, then went from Brisbane Roar to the Bundesliga with 1. FC Nürnberg and the Socceroos. Between 13 and 16, Dario stopped making Queensland teams, never made the Queensland Academy of Sport, and was one of the last to go into the AIS. His dad's advice: keep working, keep enjoying it. As a late developer he had to rely on technique to beat bigger, faster players, and it paid off when he scored on his A-League debut for Queensland Roar. From there it was a trial and a contract at 1. FC Nürnberg in the Bundesliga, learning every day from Marek Mintál and Zvjezdan Misimović. Dario explains how Germany's youth reform gave players like Ilkay Gündoğan, Toni Kroos and Mesut Özil their chance, and why Australia's young players, now playing 50 or 60 professional games before 18, are better prepared to go overseas. He shares what young players should be ready for when they move to Europe, why three sessions a week with Pep Guardiola still would not be enough, and how Pep's Barcelona turned him into a coach, from the Melbourne City academy to Brighton in the Women's Super League. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: scoring on debut, missing Queensland teams and Bundesliga matchdays 01:12 Episode 20: Dario Vidosic, Socceroo, Bundesliga player and Brighton coach 03:12 Who is Dario Vidosic: from Brisbane and the Socceroos to coaching in England 04:27 First touch: arriving from Croatia aged two and growing up at Brisbane Croatia 06:38 Childhood idols: Roberto Baggio on VHS, Ronaldo, Batistuta and The World Game 08:06 A late developer: missing Queensland teams, the AIS and signing with Queensland Roar 12:21 No two pathways are the same: Matt Leckie, Eberechi Eze and loving the game 14:28 What it takes to play at the top now: Premier League physicality vs technique 16:41 From Brisbane Roar to 1. FC Nürnberg: the trial, Bundesliga matchdays and the Fürth derby 20:17 Lessons from a pro career: discipline, extra work after training and earning your luck 23:43 Learning from Marek Mintál and Misimović, and what Germany's youth reform means for Australia 30:12 Why three sessions a week with Pep isn't enough, and what to expect when you move overseas 39:40 What he'd do differently, Ronaldo's mentality, and why Pep's Barcelona made him a coach 47:29 Is Hansi Flick's Barcelona back to its best? Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri 49:44 From Melbourne City to Brighton: the jump to the Women's Super League 52:12 A-League Women vs the WSL: 15-year-old Shelby McMahon and learning the hard way 54:58 Young players in the A-League: from the Del Piero era to Lucas Herrington's move abroad 1:08:24 Stoppage Time Questions: an Olympic qualifier in North Korea 1:09:56 Best player he shared a pitch with: Luka Modrić 1:10:49 Learning German at Nürnberg and French in Switzerland 1:13:08 The moment he'd relive: scoring on his Queensland Roar debut, and beating Arsenal with Brighton 1:16:54 Why the friendships last longer than the results 1:20:12 Final advice: love the ball, chase the dream and learn from people who've done it From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players, parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. Want to leave a question for one of the next guests?https://firsttouchtofirstteam.com/ask/ Follow the show, leave a rating, and send this to one player or parent on the journey. Enjoy your football journey!

Melbourne City academy coach Daniel Cappellaro on skill acquisition, the weak foot, and why Australian football needs more technique. In Part 2, Daniel moves from his playing career to coaching. He explains why technical skill and skill acquisition are two completely different things, why so few Australian players spend time alone with the ball, and what he sees when Melbourne City scouts 2014 and 2015 born players. We compare Australia with Japan and with Bundesliga U17 players, and look at the Australians making their way in Europe now, from Lucas Herrington and Nestory Irankunda to Alessandro Circati and Jordan Bos. Daniel explains why 15-year-old A-League academy players are relearning their weak foot, how the NPL ladder rewards early developers, and why a young Thierry Henry was told at Clairefontaine to stop using his speed. He also lays out how he would build a complete player from 8 to 18, what Melbourne City's academy looks for, and why so many families keep switching clubs. Plus Tim Cahill, Falcão, and what Harry Kewell told him about coming back from injury. From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what a life in football can look like beyond the pro contract. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: "Technical skill and skill acquisition are completely different things" 00:31 Part 2: coaching, skill acquisition and what Melbourne City looks for 02:02 Why Australia needs more technique: Harry Kewell, Herrington, Irankunda, Circati and Bos 04:33 Lessons from Japan, and why A-League academy players lack the foundations of a Bundesliga U17 08:19 Why so few Australian players train alone with a ball, and what you can do with a wall 11:14 What Melbourne City sees when scouting 2014 and 2015 born players 13:32 Is social media skills training useless? JJ Gabriel, Rayan Cherki and Kevin De Bruyne 17:48 One-to-one coaching too early and the bad habits it builds 19:09 Why A-League academy players relearn their weak foot, and how the NPL ladder plays a part 22:59 An ideal world: grouping players by maturation age, not birth year 24:54 Advice for late and early developers, and Thierry Henry's "stop using your speed" 28:20 Building a complete player from 8 to 18: Daniel's age-by-age plan 31:02 Why players keep switching clubs, and the environment that made them good 33:53 What Melbourne City's academy looks for: 2v1 moments and when to take more touches 37:05 Stoppage Time Questions: Tunisia, Tim Cahill, Falcão and the UEFA Futsal Cup 42:01 Final advice: love the ball, and what Harry Kewell told him about injuries Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firsttouchtofirstteam/ Follow the show, leave a rating, and share this with one player or parent on the journey. Enjoy your football journey!

Daniel Cappellaro, known as D10, on his journey from Perth to FIFA Street, professional futsal in Spain and England, and the UEFA Futsal Cup. Daniel did not touch a football until he was eight, on a family trip to Italy where his cousin played in Serie C. Back in Perth, he chose Armadale Soccer Club purely because they trained twice a week instead of once. What followed was West Ham's Hammers Academy in Western Australia, a scholarship at John Curtin Soccer Excellence, and a pathway that barely existed. No A-League academies. State teams that appeared and disappeared. His references were Stan Lazaridis and Harry Kewell, recorded off The World Game onto VHS. Then futsal found him at eleven, through a low bounce ball a coach had picked up from a guy in Leeds. It took him to Argentina, Spain, England, a Champions League campaign with a Scottish club, and eventually Melbourne, where he now coaches in the Melbourne City academy. Along the way he became one of sixteen unlockable characters in FIFA Street, played against Falcão and alongside Douglas Costa, and met Neymar in Brazil. Part 1 is his journey as a player. Part 2 covers coaching: skill acquisition, the weak foot, and what Melbourne City's academy looks for. From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players, parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what a life in football can look like beyond the pro contract. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: "I was a professional futsal player and I travelled the world" 03:23 Who is Daniel Cappellaro: Melbourne City U14s coach and former pro futsal player 04:51 First touch at eight: discovering football on a family trip to Italy 07:31 West Ham's Hammers Academy and John Curtin Soccer Excellence 09:22 A critical father and the "what's next" mentality 10:21 The Perth pathway in the 1990s and Frank Arok's Future Glory 12:17 No clear path but real references: Stan Lazaridis and Harry Kewell 14:46 The Perth pathway today: NPL, Football West and two A-League academies 19:42 Why young players should still study Denilson, Rivaldo and Romario 22:23 A late developer obsessed with out-teching the next team 24:54 How he learned: watch it on VHS, then find street football 27:49 Futsal and NPL side by side, and four months in Argentina 29:44 FIFA Street, Spain, England, the UEFA Futsal Cup and Melbourne City 33:51 Champions League nights, video games, homesickness and money 35:06 Leaving Perth Glory for Spain with no European passport 41:34 Where social media fits into the story 46:12 The 2016 tutorial that hit 80,000 views and deals with Nike and Adidas 49:40 Consistency, timing and blind faith 51:09 Part 2 preview: coaching technical skills Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firsttouchtofirstteam/ Follow the show, leave a rating, and share this with one player or parent on the journey. Enjoy your football journey!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this development special, recorded back home in Frankfurt, Jan looks back at the first ten episodes of the podcast. Ten professional footballers who played in Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Croatia, Kuwait and Scotland. Every journey was different, yet the same lessons kept coming up. Lesson one is rejection. Jan explains why an academy spot at 12 is not the finish line, why so many professionals were late developers, and why the short window of a playing career is the strongest reason to keep going through the setback years. You will hear from Will Kennedy, Nicolai Müller, Marcus Younis and Alexander Fuchs, plus Jan celebrates Socceroos call-ups for former guests Marcus Younis and Kealey Adamson, and shares that Alexander Fuchs is joining the Eleade coaching team in Sydney. Lesson two is sacrifice. The version social media never shows, from Daniel Georgievski getting by on chewing gum and pancakes five years into his professional career, to finding the right balance as a teenager, to the loneliness that can come once you finally make it overseas. Lesson three is watching football properly. What young players in Germany absorb by watching live football every week, why watching the game is a reading skill, how to make it work from Australia, and how parents can watch and give feedback without adding pressure. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode brings together the most important lessons from our first ten guests in one place. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro: looking back on the first 10 episodes from Frankfurt 01:50 Lesson one: rejection is usually the beginning, not the end 03:13 Why an academy spot at 12 is not the finish line 04:11 Late developers and when your body makes the decision 06:00 Socceroos call-ups for Marcus Younis and Kealey Adamson 07:22 The short window: why you keep going through the setback years 08:27 Lesson two: the sacrifice nobody posts about 09:19 Sacrifice as a teenager and finding the right balance 10:37 The sacrifice that starts once you make it 11:48 Building a life outside football and using the setback years 12:43 Why loving the game comes before the sacrifice 14:24 Lesson three: what Germany teaches us about watching football 16:08 Watching football is a reading skill 17:15 Watching from Australia and rewatching your own games 18:46 How parents can watch and give feedback without adding pressure 19:30 Three lessons from ten episodes 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan calls the US to sit down with Brody Sams, an Australian goalkeeper coach who never played at a professional level, but has spent over a decade coaching goalkeepers at the highest level in Australia and the US. From starting at the Brisbane Roar to signing with NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL, Brody proves that a full-time career in football does not have to go through a pro playing pathway. Brody talks openly about the imposter syndrome that comes from never playing at the top level, and the advice from an Ajax mentor (who grew up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic) that shaped his entire coaching philosophy: outwork everyone. We cover his years at the Brisbane Roar Women's, the random WhatsApp text from Gotham FC that changed everything seven years after his resume was passed on, and what it takes to walk into what was then called the "laughing stock of the NWSL" and turn it around. Brody is honest about the real differences between the A-League Women and the NWSL, why he thinks Australian football needs to be more open, and what the US does exceptionally well when it comes to marketing, community, and creating access. He closes with his best advice for every young goalkeeper: journal, reflect, watch the game like a student, and don't underestimate the mental game. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what a life in football can look like on the coaching side of the game. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and meet Brody Sams 02:57 How the 2002 World Cup hooked him on football at 11 06:03 The Brisbane Roar years and being told to "get a real job" 08:49 How he silenced the imposter syndrome from an Ajax mentor 11:49 What matters most: the goalkeeper coach and player relationship 14:48 Why watching football is the goalkeeper's secret weapon 17:32 Why US players still don't watch enough football 20:29 The random WhatsApp from Gotham 7 years after Nadine passed on his resume 23:29 "Bring it on, let's go": accepting the NWSL's worst-ranked club 26:25 The real differences between the A-League Women and NWSL 29:20 Inside the daily life of an NWSL goalkeeper coach 32:14 How he tracks progress and development in his goalkeepers 37:51 Journaling and reflection: the goalkeeper's secret weapon 42:56 What separates the number one goalkeeper from the number two 48:45 Inside the NWSL boom: Kansas City, Portland, and Angel City 54:35 What Australian football could learn from US openness 1:01:33 Stoppage Time Questions 1:06:14 His advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan calls Perth to sit down with Daniel Solsky, a 23-year-old goalkeeper who grew up in Sydney, was never in an A-League Academy, packed up his life at 18 to chase a professional career in Spain, came home without a contract, nearly quit football altogether midway through last year's NPL season, and then got a phone call from Perth Glory that changed everything. Solsky takes us through the whole journey. From starting at Maccabi Lions at five years old as an outfielder, being turned into a goalkeeper at nine after another kid's injury, and joining Hakoah where he won the NPL 1 under 16s league. He talks about his 10-minute trial at ESFA, the goalkeeper coaches who shaped him (Trinity Allen, Dave Plowright), and modelling his game on David De Gea. We move through his FFA Cup first grade debut for Hakoah at 17, signing for Manly United under Adam Griffiths (now head coach at Perth Glory), and the move to Cultural Leonesa in Spain at 18. Daniel is candid about the reality of playing in a tiny Spanish town at Leon, coming back to Australia without a contract, and the Wollongong Wolves NPL breakout year that put him on Perth Glory's radar. He opens up about the moment he almost quit football midway through last year, the Sydney-to-Wollongong commute five times a week, and the Perth Glory trial that led to breaking down in tears with his grandparents when the contract came through. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what the pathway to professional football looks like when you don't go through an A-League Academy. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 03:54 Starting at Maccabi Lions at 5 06:35 The injury at 9 that turned him into a goalkeeper 09:22 The 10-minute ESFA trial 11:56 David De Gea: the goalkeeper who shaped his mentality 14:45 Why clean sheets are everything to him 17:17 A family of goalkeepers: dad at Hakoah and grandpa's FFA role 22:00 The parents who drove him everywhere to chase the dream 23:57 Winning the NPL 1 under 16s league with Hakoah 25:26 The COVID year and getting split into the under 18s 28:40 First grade FFA Cup debut for Hakoah at 17 30:32 Signing at Manly United under Adam Griffiths at 18 35:33 What he'd do differently looking back on his youth career 39:17 Life in Spain: 42:57 The lessons Spain taught him about becoming a pro 45:08 Coming back to Sydney and searching for the next step 48:10 Signing for Wollongong Wolves and finding his form 49:45 The breakout NPL year 50:33 The Sydney-to-Wollongong commute five times a week 51:49 The moment he almost quit football 54:04 The Perth Glory trial and the 3-3 draw that almost ruined it 56:13 Breaking down in tears with his grandparents when the contract came 59:37 The circle that kept him going: 1:02:17 The message from Griffo that got left on read 1:04:56 Stoppage Time Questions 1:10:28 His advice for young players chasing the dream

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan sits down with Sammy Iredale, a 24-year-old German professional footballer freshly signed for the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Women. Sammy takes us through her journey from a tiny village club in Leipzig called SC Pulens, being one of the only girls in the school playground, and getting spotted by the DFB Mobile scout truck at eight years old. We move through her years at the Leipzig sports elite school under former East German international Detlef Schussler, her time at FF USV Magdeburg in the under 17s Bundesliga, and the youth national team callups that followed. Sammy is candid about her move to Wolfsburg's first team, the mental battle of not getting game time as a young player, and the ACL rupture against Ingolstadt at 19 that changed everything. She opens up about the rehab that reshaped her approach to strength training, her move to Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark where she played Champions League football, and why she believes every young girl should play with boys as long as she can to develop the physicality that so many female players struggle with when they step into senior football. She closes with what it means to sign for the Western Sydney Wanderers, her goals for her first A-League Women season, and an honest prediction on the friendly between Germany and the Matildas coming up in October. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who wants a real look at what it takes to build a professional career in women's football today. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:45 Welcome and meet Sammy Iredale 03:19 Starting football with the boys at SC Pulens in Leipzig 05:06 The DFB Mobile scout truck that changed her path 06:45 Why she tells every young girl to play with boys as long as possible 13:48 The pasta rule from Detlef Schussler that stuck for ten years 15:51 Making her weakness her strength as a physical player 17:05 Ball marks on her bedroom wall: how she trained at home 18:51 Two years at FF USV Magdeburg's under 17s Bundesliga 20:29 Getting scouted into the German youth national teams 31:52 The move to Wolfsburg's first team and the reality check 34:21 The mental battle of not getting game time as a young player 41:06 The torn ACL against Ingolstadt at 19 43:32 "Everything happens for a reason": her rehab mindset 49:22 The move to Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark 54:28 Signing with Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Women 1:02:23 Stoppage Time Questions 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode.

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan sits down with Abdul and Thomas from UBF, one of the fastest-growing independent football media brands in Australia. Two football-mad kids from Western Sydney who met at a Westfield Parramatta food court two and a half years ago and turned a conversation about Alexis Sanchez versus Eden Hazard into a media brand that now works with A-League clubs, NPL clubs, Football Australia, and covered the FIFA World Cup with the Socceroos. This is the second episode in the series on building a full-time life in football without ever playing professionally, because the game has far more to offer than just becoming a pro player. We cover the state of Australian football and where it is heading, why NPL teams are outperforming the A-League in the Hahn Australia Cup, the pay-to-play barrier that keeps talented kids out of the game, and why football is the most participated sport in Australia but still gets underfunded compared to table tennis. Abdul and Thomas open up about interviewing Gary Cahill, Matheus Tell, and Kevin Prince Boateng, the Australia versus Turkey World Cup moment that united the country, why A-League players need more character like Irankunda and Adrian Segesic, and Thomas's simple mantra for consistency: shut up, suit up, show up. They close with their best advice for every young player, content creator, and football fan trying to build something in the game: back yourself, be yourself, and put yourself out there. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what it takes to build a life in and around football. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and meet UBF: Abs and Thomas 02:20 How UBF started at KFC over an Alexis Sanchez vs Eden Hazard debate 04:50 Why NPL teams are outperforming the A-League in the Australia Cup 07:32 Why Australian football fans could learn from European crowds 09:59 Just put yourself out there: advice for young football fans 12:50 Interviewing Gary Cahill, Matheus Tell, and Kevin Prince Boateng 15:37 Why Australia's most participated sport is underfunded 18:21 The pay-to-play barrier holding Australian football back 30:29 The Irankunda character effect and why A-League players need personality 38:25 The Australia vs Turkey World Cup moment that united the country 43:50 "Shut up, suit up, show up": Thomas's mantra for consistency 45:39 Stoppage Time: A-League predictions for the upcoming season 52:50 The best players they've ever played against 55:27 Their advice for young players: back yourself, be yourself 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

From First Touch to First Team is the podcast for young football players parents and coaches. Every episode, host Jan Schmidt sits down with professional players, coaches, and people building lives around football, and unpacks the real journeys behind the game. The goal is simple: to give young players and their parents the education, the honest stories, and the perspective they need to navigate the pathway to professional football. In this episode, Jan calls London to sit down with Kealey Adamson, a right back who grew up on Sydney's North Shore, never played in an A-League Academy, and worked his way from Northern Tigers NPL 2 first grade to winning the Australia Cup with Sydney FC, his first A-League contract with MacArthur Bulls, and now Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship. Kealey talks about growing up at Linfield FC, the coaches who shaped him (including Adam Griffiths, now head coach at Perth Glory), and getting the Sydney FC email through his TD's connection with Kelly Cross. He is candid about the "delusional confidence" that convinced him he'd play for Sydney FC before there was ever a real chance, and the tibia fracture that ended his first season three games in. He opens up about winning the Australia Cup while being released simultaneously, the MacArthur Bulls offer that came through his agent while he was in a kebab shop, and how the QPR offer came in through an unexpected email. He also talks about representing Australia at the Olyroos in China, Qatar, and South Korea, and the reality of moving to London alone as a young Australian. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone who has ever wondered what the pathway from grassroots Australian football to the European game really looks like. Jan and the Eleade Fussball coaches help young Australian players bridge the gap between team training and individual development, so they can reach the highest level possible. Individual and group sessions with a cognitive focus, game analysis, and performance testing, all built around the individual player. Through this podcast, we share the real journeys of players who have reached the top, so young footballers can see just how different every path can look. Find Eleade on Instagram or at www.eleadefussball.com CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:53 Welcome and meet Kealey Adamson 04:15 Growing up on Sydney's North Shore and starting at Linfield FC 06:39 From Linfield to Northern Tigers and playing NPL 2 first grade at 18 09:02 The Colombian carer, Adam Griffiths, and the two-touch drill 11:45 The neighbour who inspired him to do the extras 14:17 Playing two games a weekend and jumping age groups at Tigers 17:02 First grade at Northern Tigers and the Sydney FC email through Kelly Cross 19:52 The delusional confidence that got him into Sydney FC 22:17 Why he wishes he'd said "I want to be a pro" louder as a young player 24:43 First year at Sydney FC: tibia fracture and learning off the pitch 33:32 The MacArthur Bulls offer that came in a kebab shop 36:13 Coaching kids on the North Shore between A-League matches 38:28 What coaching kids taught him about his own game 42:11 How the QPR offer came in through an email 47:31 Playing for the Olyroos in China, Qatar, and South Korea 52:08 The reality of moving to London and playing in the Championship 1:00:19 Stoppage Time Questions 1:04:39 Kealey's advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Enjoy your football journey!

The professional playing career is only one path in football. This episode marks the start of a new angle on From First Touch to First Team, where we show young players and parents that the game offers far more opportunity than just becoming a player, and that a full-time life in football is possible in many different forms. Claudio Fabiano is the perfect example. Host Jan Schmidt sits down with him to trace a career that started at Sydney NPL club Pagewood Botany FC, took him to Hoffenheim in Germany at 16 and Accrington Stanley in England at 19, and pivoted after two serious injuries ended his pro playing hopes. What he built next is a full-time career in football media, most recently presenting the FIFA World Cup for SBS in front of millions of Australian viewers. Claudio is honest about the hip labrum tear at 19 and the ACL rupture at 20, the two years away from the game that followed, and how a barbershop interview with Alex Brosque turned into a full-time media career. From simulated FIFA broadcasts during COVID, to BeIn Sports, to becoming the face of Optus Sport. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone wondering what a life in football can look like beyond the pro contract. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up in an Italian migrant family and joining Pagewood Botany FC ▸ Captain of Sydney Olympic and called into Steve Corica's Sydney FC youth team ▸ The Hoffenheim trial at 16 and the Accrington Stanley trial at 19 ▸ The hip labrum tear and ACL rupture that ended his pro dream at 20 ▸ From a barbershop interview to becoming the face of Optus Sport ▸ Presenting the FIFA World Cup for SBS ▸ Why the NPL is one of the best semi-pro leagues in the world CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:02 Welcome and presenting the World Cup on SBS 05:00 Growing up in an Italian family and joining Pagewood Botany FC 08:03 The juggling story: from 12 to 1,000 in a Christmas break 10:39 Captain of Sydney Olympic and getting called into Sydney FC 13:54 Missing the Joeys and getting a Hoffenheim trial through his uncle 19:41 Inside the Hoffenheim football school at 16 26:23 Why he watched what defenders did off the ball 28:02 Hip surgery, Accrington Stanley trial, and the ACL rupture 40:16 From denied at Optus to becoming the face of Optus Sport 52:44 Joao Pedro, Kevin Prince Boateng, and the human side of pros 54:49 Why the love for football should never die 56:42 The UNSW culture that took them from NPL 4 to NPL 2 1:05:07 Why the NPL is one of the best semi-pro leagues in the world 1:10:28 Stoppage Time Questions 1:12:31 His best advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Lloyd Owusu takes us through his professional football journey while constantly shifting perspective between how it was for him as a player and how it looks now watching his own son go through it. His story becomes a live case study for every young player and parent at any age and career stage. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Lloyd to build one of the most useful conversations we have done on this show. The format is unique. At every stage of Lloyd's career, we pause to look at the same stage through his son Ty's journey, showing what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what today's players and parents should focus on right now. We begin with Lloyd at 10 years old, joining his first team in Slough through his best mate Gary Byrne, and put that next to Ty starting football at 6. We move to Lloyd trialing at Crystal Palace at 15 and scoring four goals on his Slough Town debut at 18, and reflect on what parents should look for in their kids at those same ages today. We work through his rise to a first professional contract with Brentford at 21, the agent who nearly cost him the deal, and the mentor Danny Bailey who stepped in to save it, then look at Ty's move to Sparta Rotterdam in Holland at 14 and what it takes for a young Australian player to get to Europe today. Lloyd talks about the Brentford Division Three title-winning season in 1999, the years at Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Yeovil, and Luton, and what real professional culture looked like inside those change rooms. He closes with the extra 1% that separates young players who make it from those who don't, the change room culture Australia is missing, and his best advice for every young player chasing the dream. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation walks you through every stage of a football career from both sides at once. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Lloyd at 10 in Slough and how Ty started at 6 in Sydney ▸ Crystal Palace trials at 15 and what parents should watch for at that age ▸ Four goals on his Slough Town debut at 18 and the mentality that got him there ▸ The Danny Bailey mentor call that saved his Brentford contract ▸ Turning pro at 21 with Brentford and winning the Division Three title ▸ Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Yeovil, and Luton ▸ His A-League move to Adelaide United and playing in China ▸ Ty's move to Sparta Rotterdam and why the European pathway matters ▸ The extra 1% that separates young players today ▸ Why Australian football is missing a real change room culture ▸ His best advice for every young player chasing the dream CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:35 Welcome and meet Lloyd Owusu 06:50 Crystal Palace trials at 15 and 4 goals on his Slough Town debut 12:39 Scouts coming weekly and turning pro at 21 with Brentford 18:07 Multiple sports, Ty's development, and building an athlete 23:21 The agent who almost cost him his Brentford contract 28:54 The extra 1% that separates young players today 36:35 Ty at Sparta Rotterdam and why he backs the European pathway 44:42 Why coaches need to be honest and open with their players 50:49 The change room culture Australia is missing 56:37 What it really means to be a professional footballer 1:01:54 Stoppage Time Questions 1:04:24 His best advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Nicholas Olsen takes us through one of the most well-travelled careers in Australian football, from starting at Sutherland Sharks at 13 to playing professionally across Kuwait, the A-League, Vietnam, and the Maldives, and returning home as NPL NSW Player of the Year. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Nicholas to trace a career that took him well beyond the standard Australian football pathway. Nicholas talks about starting his football at Sutherland Sharks in the under-13s, moving to the Western Sydney Wanderers academy in 2012 where he trained under Tony Popovic, and being released in 2015 without an A-League appearance. We move through the NPL NSW years that followed at APIA Leichhardt, Sydney United 58, and back to Sutherland Sharks, and the decision to sign for Al-Jahra SC in Kuwait rather than wait around for an A-League opportunity that might never come. Nicholas is candid about what daily life looked like as a professional in Kuwait, moving between Al-Jahra and Khaitan SC, and the honest comparison between the Kuwait Premier League and the A-League. He talks about finally landing that A-League contract with Brisbane Roar in 2021, and the move to Vietnam that followed. Signing a professional contract in a torrential downpour with Saigon FC, the wage dispute that ended it, and moving between SHB Đà Nẵng and Becamex Bình Dương in the V.League 1. He also opens up about his AFC Challenge League year in the Maldives with Maziya S&RC, and the misconception that going overseas somehow doesn't count as making it. We close with his return to NPL NSW and a career-best 2025 season at Wollongong Wolves that earned him NPL NSW Player of the Year, his return to Sutherland Sharks for 2026, and why he now believes the NPL is closer to the A-League than most people realise. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is essential listening for anyone questioning what making it really means. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Starting his football at Sutherland Sharks as an under-13 ▸ Joining the Wanderers academy and training under Tony Popovic ▸ Being released without an A-League appearance and rebuilding through NPL NSW ▸ Signing for Al-Jahra SC in Kuwait and moving to Khaitan SC ▸ Playing Kuwait Premier League and AFC Cup football ▸ The A-League contract with Brisbane Roar ▸ Signing for Saigon FC in a torrential downpour in Vietnam ▸ Moving between SHB Đà Nẵng and Becamex Bình Dương in the V.League 1 ▸ AFC Challenge League football in the Maldives with Maziya S&RC ▸ Winning NPL NSW Player of the Year with Wollongong Wolves in 2025 ▸ Returning to Sutherland Sharks and the coaching path ▸ Why the NPL is closer to the A-League than most people think 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. And remember: enjoy your football journey.

Zac Sapsford takes us through his journey from an NPL 2 kid at Hakoah in Sydney to signing his first professional contract with Western Sydney Wanderers, and now scoring goals for Dundee United in Scotland's top division. In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with Zac to trace one of the most relatable pathways in Australian football. Zac talks about growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi, spending his youth years at Hakoah without ever being in an A-League academy, and the trial at Huddersfield at 16 where he came face-to-face with Liverpool and Man City academy players and realised how far the gap was. We move through the years that followed. Zac is candid about his time at Chester FC in England during COVID, being unable to play for a full year, and coming back to Australia so disillusioned that he asked Hakoah for a spot in the under 20s. He talks about the breakthrough that followed, the move to Sydney FC and then his first professional contract at Western Sydney Wanderers, and the derby goal against Sydney FC that helped land him on Dundee United's radar. He is honest about the reality of moving to Scotland alone, the mental approach that keeps him relaxed under pressure ("I don't even think about the game until I walk out"), why picking up golf changed how he handles bad games, and what it feels like to walk out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time. He closes with his advice for young players still chasing the dream, and a reminder that a coach not believing in you doesn't have to be the end of your journey. Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation is essential listening for anyone in the Australian NPL system. IN THIS EPISODE ▸ Growing up playing grassroots football at Maccabi in Sydney ▸ Trialing at Huddersfield at 16 and versing Liverpool and Man City academies ▸ A year at Chester where he wasn't allowed to play ▸ Coming back from COVID and breaking into Hakoah first grade ▸ The move to Sydney FC and playing NPL 1 against the best in NSW ▸ Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers ▸ The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down ▸ Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time ▸ Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out ▸ Life away from home and picking up golf as a mental reset ▸ His advice for young NPL players still chasing the dream CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:37 Welcome and meet Zac Sapsford 03:24 First touches with dad and joining Maccabi in Sydney 05:51 Trialing at Huddersfield and versing Liverpool and Man City academies 10:07 Coming back from Chester and breaking into Hakoah first grade 13:13 From Hakoah to Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers 16:35 Signing his first pro contract with Western Sydney Wanderers 18:28 The Dundee United offer he couldn't turn down 21:09 Walking out at Celtic Park and Ibrox for the first time 23:15 Why he doesn't think about the game until he walks out 25:04 Life away from home and picking up golf 26:46 What "professional football" really means beyond the top leagues 31:36 What comes next for him at Dundee United 35:49 Stoppage Time Questions 40:41 His advice for young players chasing the dream 🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question. @firsttouchtofirstteam And remember: enjoy your football journey.