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In this episode, we sit down with Neil Harris, a highly experienced academy coach with over 20 years at Manchester United. Neil has been instrumental in shaping the journeys of countless young players (such as Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and more!) and brings a wealth of insight into what it really takes to progress through one of the most competitive youth systems in the world.
Together, we explore the inner workings of elite academies, the qualities top clubs look for in young talent, and how families can best support aspiring footballers through the highs and lows of academy life.
💡 Expect to learn:
• The key attributes that separate good players from great prospects.
• What it’s really like inside a Premier League academy.
• Advice for parents navigating the emotional and practical challenges of youth football.
This conversation is full of first-hand experiences and practical advice for anyone involved in the journey of a young footballer.
🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes. We’d love to hear your thoughts—drop them in the comments below!
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53:30
Rashford and Greenwood are elite of elite.
Very professional and helpful especially for parents Neil well done BW Alf Galustian
The problem here is it's impossible to know. Doing a one to one back end. No Instagram, no nothing. The club only saw the level up when the player came. Everything was very private. So maybe he did we would never know 😅
This is way too great of an interview to have such a stupid thumbnail.
Ohh we are glad your back.. been missing the pod
Soo hes the one to blame…🤔
Loved this episode so insightful and educational.
This woman is probably the nightmare parent they discuss….
She's "busy" lol
People think there aren’t skilful players being produced, actually false. It’s just coaches don’t want those players it’s all about moving the ball quicker, rather than encouraging ability to know when to release the ball if needed. How many times you hear release the ball or pass pass and there’s nothing on,
Keep the ball, enjoy the ball, never promoted in England.
I liked Mrs Boatengs question. I wanted it touched on a bit more. Should parents be trying to take or make opportunities where their child can play abroad at scholar age. For example it worked for Noni Madeuke, who was Tottenham captain and went abroad to PSV and broke into their first team. He was highly regarded at Tottenham but I guess he thought it would be easier to break into at PSV and help his development.
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not all Cat 1 academies are made equal, some get hammered by Cat 3 clubs
What Niel and Mat are talking about. They don't teach you on the coaching courses. Can you guys tell me what is the closest course or info or advice to on teaching life skills. Etc Thanks for the podcast was awesome to listen too. 🙏
To much talking as usual
BUT Everyone scared to talk truth
What is going on in academies
can she stop taking her son as example, and being a bit more generic?
Woman speaking like going to Napoli or Dortmund is an easy option. Absolute 🔧! Not for me at all her
Parents often get caught up thinking their child will be the next football star. The reality is very different. Premier League players might earn £60k a week, but in the Championship it’s around £10k, League One £7k, League Two £2k, and in non-league just £1–1.5k. Most are on one-year contracts, struggle to get mortgages, and risk injury ending their careers overnight.
If the same effort went into their child’s education, they’d be guaranteeing far more secure opportunities and a stable future than football can ever offer.
1:28:08 Michael who ?
Can you please tell us Michael’s his full name please to check him up please
What if a kid is more of an all-rounder and doesn’t have one outstanding quality? I’ve heard that academies don’t always want players who rely too much on their physical side. One coach from a Category 1 academy told me to stop focusing on the physical and instead develop the technical side. Technically my son is good, but his physical side shows more because he always wins his 1v1 duels. He’s naturally physical and has that fighter’s mentality.
Adults are controlling everything (everything ) children are doing. No wonder why children love playing games online; they get time to be free, creative and be themselves with their friends.. Free play is under-rated. But, parents need to balance school, sports and free time carefully..for physical and mental health reasons
Super Strength or “Super Skill”. To stand out from the crowd you also need the attitude and the foundation skills and to be an excellent mover (agility, speed, strength, power and skill). Charactor and football IQ is under-rated too
Coaching here in Barcelona, i do not know any 8-14 year player who is practicing 2 nights a week. Most top clubs & academy kids here are doing 3 or 4 nights a week team training(1.5 to 2 hours), 1 or 2 days weights training (or some form S&C training), at least one 1 technique session a a week (with either a 1-2-1 Coach or tech school). Most are also filling spare time playing tournament’s with tech schools on spare days or holidays.. some people say this is crazy, but competition for places at Barcelona, Girona and Espanyol academy is rife here. 2 days a week does not cut it
01:21:00 If you want to make it, you need ADULT FOOTBALL minutes at aged 18+. You need to go out on LOAN and play real men's football. Its not about the LEVEL of the club in pyramid. Its more about the child not just spending 4-5 years playing U18s and U21s. As your chances of finding a club when getting released are minimal. When looking for a club you may find yourself playing National League Premier, and if you fail then, you are looking at step 7 or step 8 as a sub or squad player. Many just fall out of the game.
No SUBSTITUTE for ADULT MENS football minutes. Ask Josh Brooking about that.
Genuine question If only 1% of academy footballers go on to be pro then where did all the players come from playing in L2 right now ? Because from there names I’d say at least 3 quarters are British ???
Only in English football will you see a 6 foot 4+ footballer who can barely control the ball and who cannot even pass to a teammate who is 10 yards away playing professional football at ages 18 to 20.
This is because they have gone PURELY for size, and think they can teach the technique and vision. Often they will end up in National League or lower, once they pass the youth stages but this is unique still in English football. This is despite all the EPL and Champ clubs now playing European style football. This coach who claims to be U14s even admits he only kept McTominay on despite being small because his parents were big. Otherwise today McTominay would be playing for Clitheroe in non-league at best if his parents were not taller.
When you see any player 5 foot 6 in English professional football they will be by far the best player in every team they play in, and often not even make the first 11 because they need to be 10 times better and more determined than every other player to even make it into a squad.
Only in English football will you see a 6 foot 4+ footballer who can barely control the ball and who cannot even pass to a teammate who is 10 yards away playing professional football at ages 18 to 20.
This is because they have gone PURELY for size, and think they can teach the technique and vision. Often they will end up in National League or lower, once they pass the youth stages but this is unique still in English football. This is despite all the EPL and Champ clubs now playing European style football. This coach who claims to be U14s even admits he only kept McTominay on despite being small because his parents were big. Otherwise today McTominay would be playing for Clitheroe in non-league at best if his parents were not taller.
If anyone wants an explanation as to why England has failed at every final or semi final or world cup or European Championships in the past 30 years this is your answer. Italy, Germany, and France as the other 3 major footballing nations have all won multiple titles in that time period.
The coaches are STILL purely selecting and retaining boys based on physical attributes (Power, Strength, Size, Speed). When English players have to front up in the major knock out games they have a mental breakdown because they are not selected for intelligence or footballing intelligence.
They have zero midfield creators so are not able to retain possession. Everything is about speed and power and ability to 1v1 beat an opponent, no focus is on ability to pass the ball or technical skills to retain it.
They know it and we know it, but their ego's are too big and its too important to them that they win games at U8s or U13s than that they develop players who will be elite at aged 25. The coaches will say one thing, but their actions speak volumes. We all see it when we see a line up of signed players at all across the ages, its blatantly obvious.