by John Nassoori | Aug 1, 2021 | Features
“I think the future of football lies in mental health and wellbeing.” You’d be forgiven for thinking the statement came straight from a Jurgen Klopp or Thomas Tuchel press conference. Forward-thinking is not the preserve of the Premier League’s more...
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
We welcome back regular guest and former England women’s team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis to discuss the psychology of the play-offs, whether managers’ motivational stunts really pay off and the mental benefits of celebrating.
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
We look back on the life of Professor João Carvalhaes, football’s first World Cup-winning psychologist. Join us for a discussion about a fascinating individual who pioneered the use of cognitive examinations in elite football, divided opinion with his analysis...
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
Wycombe coach Matt Bloomfield and former England women’s team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis join us to discuss: Chelsea & Derby: how off-pitch problems really affect players’ state of mind Conte: the impact of pressurising players to return from...
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
We’re joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women’s team psychologist, to discuss: City v Spurs: the psychology behind a ‘bogey ground’Rodgers, Conte and Mourinho: why managers persist with public criticism of playersChristian...
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
We take a break from our regular format to bring you an interview with David Busst, the former Coventry City defender who suffered what is widely considered to be the most serious injury in the Premier League’s history. David talks to us about the...
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
We’re joined by Professor Marc Jones, from Manchester Metropolitan University’s widely-respected psychology department, and Dr Andy Hill, Blackburn Rovers’ psychologist, for a discussion about psychological support for young players, the forces which...
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
We’re joined by Everton’s former Director of Medical Services, Danny Donachie, and ex-England Women’s Team psychologist, Dr Misia Gervis, for a discussion about the psychological techniques managers can use to address poor runs of form, dealing with...
by John Nassoori | May 11, 2022 | Episodes
We welcome Hearts and Southampton psychologist, Dr Jillian Harley, for a discussion about the impact of managerial changes on players’ motivation, the thin line between productive devotion and unhealthy obsession and the way in which international breaks affect...
by John Nassoori | Oct 28, 2021 | Features
“There would be days when we’d got away games, maybe at Chelsea or Arsenal in London, and I’d get back to the training ground at about two o’clock in the morning. There was no point in me going home, so I’d just sleep on a sofa in the training...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
We welcome back Wycombe’s assistant manager, Richard Dobson, alongside the Chairboys’ boss, Gareth Ainsworth, for a wide-ranging chat about the leadership and psychological support structure the duo have established at Adams Park. Running order: Part 1:...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
Former West Ham and Southampton player care specialist, Hugo Scheckter, joins us to talk about the social media abuse he’s seen Premier League stars suffer, how he supported West Ham’s first-team squad during COVID and the future of the player care...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
Trabzonspor’s Head of Sports Science, Malcolm Harkness, joins us to discuss his time in Turkey and the ‘psychological coding’ project he helped run in his previous role at Chelsea. Running order: Part 1: Introduction – dressing...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
Former AC Milan and Chelsea psychologist, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by for the second half of a two-part episode, looking at his time at Stamford Bridge. Bruno talks to us about the sports science and cognitive support he provided for Carlo Ancelotti’s...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
AC Milan’s former Scientific Coordinator, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by to discuss the ‘Mind Room’, Italian football’s first psychology laboratory. Bruno talks to us about the role the ‘Mind Room’ played in Milan’s...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
Southampton’s former Head of Sports Science and the man credited with introducing futsal to the UK, Simon Clifford, stops by for a fascinating discussion about the psychological characteristics of the ‘perfect footballer’. Simon talks to us about the...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
Nick Littlehales, aka ‘The Sport Sleep Coach’, drops by for a discussion about the impact of sleep on players’ performance. We talk about Nick’s career, spanning spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and England,...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
Renowned academic Professor Marc Jones joins us for a discussion about the impact of stress on performance, as we continue to look at how footballers, coaches and the people around them respond to pressure. We talk about Marc’s work with academy players, the...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
In the latest episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to Wycombe assistant manager, Richard Dobson. We discuss the club’s pioneering psychology programme, established by Richard and responsible for helping...
by John Nassoori | Oct 13, 2021 | Episodes
In this episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to award-winning journalist and author, Mike Calvin. Mike talks to us about leadership in sport, drawing on his experience of co-writing Gareth Thomas’s and...
by John Nassoori | Aug 6, 2021 | Features
Richard Dobson’s voice quivers with emotion. The Wycombe Wanderers assistant manager is recounting a conversation with two female supporters, which left an indelible mark on the 45-year-old. “One of them said to me, ‘I’ve fallen in love with this club’”, he recalls....
by John Nassoori | Jul 23, 2021 | Features
As Bukayo Saka stepped up to the spot, Jordon Ibe might have been forgiven a wistful glance towards the TV. Five years ago, Ibe was the tricky winger who seemed set to make his mark with England. It could have been him staring at Gianluigi Donnarumma, a nation’s...
by John Nassoori | Jul 8, 2021 | Features
“We had one player who had quite high-profile struggles with his performances. I remember he had a particularly bad away game, and I was sat next to him on the bus. His phone was pinging with messages – ‘You’re a disgrace’, ‘Get out of our club’ – and I...
by John Nassoori | Jul 7, 2021 | Features
Anthony Stewart’s header hits the back of the net. He peels away to celebrate, his teammates in close attendance. They all know the importance of the goal, which will set the club on course for promotion to the Championship. For the first time in its 133-year history,...
by John Nassoori | Jul 6, 2021 | Features
‘They’re passing the ball with real confidence: you can just see how focused they are today’. It’s a line that could be taken from almost any commentator or pundit. It’s also a statement which fans across the world would recognise. We know when our team’s players are...
by John Nassoori | Jul 5, 2021 | Features
Pele. Maradona. Ronaldo. Messi. It’s rare to go a day on social media without a debate about the greatest player of all time. The arguments are well-known: Ronaldo’s aerial ability vs Messi’s dribbling skills. Pele and Maradona’s major tournament record set against...
by John Nassoori | Jun 30, 2021 | Features
For any Dinamo Zagreb defenders watching Tottenham’s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday evening, the prospect of facing Gareth Bale and Harry Kane in tonight’s Europa League round of 16 first leg might not have seemed particularly appealing. Despite Dinamo’s...
by John Nassoori | Dec 1, 2020 | Features
Finding a preview of England vs San Marino which doesn’t mention Davide Gualtieri is a tough task. The former Sammarinese striker scored after 8.3 seconds of the 1993 World Cup qualifier between the two teams. The goal stood as the fastest in the history of the...
by John Nassoori | Oct 16, 2020 | Psychology
“Over the last few months, players are just walking from one game to another, without stopping. There’s no respite from it…it puts a hell of a lot of pressure on them.” It’s a stark warning from a man who knows more than most about the fatigue felt by footballers....
by John Nassoori | May 13, 2020 | Episodes
In this episode of the Beat The Press podcast, we speak to Dr Misia Gervis, leading sports psychologist and academic. Join us for a fascinating discussion about her time working for the England women’s team and the role she has played in supporting academies at...
