Today on the podcast I am joined by Gordon Forrest, Assistant Manager of Heart of Midlothian Football Club. He has coached in Scotland, New Zealand and in Canada, where he was with Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
As the sport evolves, having well-thought-out infrastructure in place has become extremely important to the individual development of today’s players. Gordon touches on the fundamentals of a great club and how his own travels as a coach to other countries opened his mind to ways of improving the player experience back home.
Gordon takes us through his globe-trotting journey as a coach and how his almost nonstop eight-year career overseas shaped his approach to leading players. He says that, upon returning to Scotland, he had a greater appreciation for the footballer as a person and how understanding individual circumstances opens the doors to more effective coaching.
He also gives his thoughts on how football clubs can meet the individual needs of players, particular in the four key developmental areas of their technical, tactical, physical, and the mental capabilities. Finally, he offers his best advice to young coaches.
TIMESTAMP:
[00:20] Gordon reflects on a successful season at Heart
[02:27] The importance of infrastructure in modern football
[03:36] Gordon on his travels as a coach
[07:18] Where Gordon developed his desire to be a coach
[11:31] Gordon on moving to New Zealand with his young family and the cultural differences
[16:02] Gordon’s experience at the Olympics
[21:40] Coaching in MLS
[25:07] How Gordon’s time in Vancouver shaped his coaching
[28:11] Coming back to Scotland after being constantly on the road for eight years
[30:57] How the sport and culture of football had changed since Gordon first left Scotland
[33:50] The challenges of football clubs in meeting the individual needs of the player
[37:53] The different nuances of coaching young players in different countries
[42:42] Gordon’s advice for young coaches
Connect with Gordon Forrest:
Connect with Don MacNaughton:
· WEBSITE
· PODCAST
