Goalkeeper coaches from across the world summarise their successes and challenges over 2024.
Every goalkeeper coach we spoke to answered the same three questions:
- What has been the biggest factor in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
- What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
- What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
There was no specification for a particular length answer, or to meet certain criteria in the answer. Every respondent interpreted the questions of their own accord.
Every coach interviewed either works in the professional game, has worked in the professional game in 2024, or holds a professional license/qualification. With this, we hope to give the goalkeeping world a representative and comprehensive summary of the trends and challenges experienced by professional goalkeeper coaches across 2024.
And, importantly, give a platform for these individuals to share their successes from their hard work this year.
Marcos Abad, West Bromwich Albion (to December 2024)
What has been the biggest factor in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
“For me it is really important that the goalkeepers still believe in the process to transform their behaviors and their details in the game. Helping them understand how to do this has been a big, big thing. Helping them to believe each day that each session is an opportunity to transform as a goalkeeper and as a person”
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
I had two main challenges. The first was to try and keep the union of the group, because our number two, Josh Griffiths, who plays with England U21 was on loan at Bristol Rovers. So my role was also to be responsible for recruitment in terms of which is the number two ideal for competing with our number one Alex Palmer. This great environment and atmosphere that played a part in the turnaround we had in the last season, as a squad and as a small group of goalkeepers. It was about getting the right person - not just a good goalkeeper but a good person.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
The biggest thing for me is how to economise time and do more, better, in less time. So a big question is to involve as many people I can from the club in our pathway. Between the academy and the first team, we are one, creating a process that started last year, recording sessions, receiving all the post-game analysis from U18s and the U21s, creating methods about how we follow loan goalkeepers.
So for me, creating a department that can engage everyone, like recruitment, physical team, methodology, academy team, and also the support that we can give as assistant coaches to the individual development of players, set pieces, and the wider first team. The data that we then gather is really important to share between the group and grow together, not just the first team alone.
Chris Sharpe, Colorado Rapids
What has been the biggest factor in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
First and foremost, it's building a culture within the club, not only on the field but off the field as well. We added Zack [Steffen] to the group this year and, what Zach brings experience wise is his leadership in a locker room but then also the ability to teach and help the young goalkeepers. We have a good group of young goalkeepers, but anytime you can add someone of the stature of Zack and what he brings, it’s valuable.
I'm very, very big on when we recruit our goalkeepers, the personality of the goalkeeper and what they bring to the locker room, how they're gonna add to the culture is a big thing. We don't do a goalkeeper video analysis session without all three senior goalkeepers in the room together. They all want to be involved together. They're all comfortable answering questions and asking questions when they're in the same room. Culture has been the number one pillar this year.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
We’ve had a pretty successful year as a team and I don't think anyone expected us to have the season we’ve had. The new head coach coming in has done a very, very good job of establishing the style of play that we want. We’ve had to change our profile of the goalkeeper a little bit based on the change of the head coach which has been to become a high pressing team. Goalkeepers have to be comfortable high off their line.
Because the MLS is becoming a very transitional league, we score a lot but also concede a lot. You have some very good midfielders in the league and the moment you lose the ball, those challenges have become us finding comfort in the areas that we are uncomfortable in higher off the line. We might have to defend the goal in ‘unorthodox’ situations, but mocking this up in sessions has been a good challenge because it’s tested me as a coach to be creative.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
I’m very lucky with the resources I have at this club. But I think maybe the biggest thing for me to match the way the game is going right now is the analytical data that is being put forth into recruitment and now Opposition analysis.
The critical and clinical data that we can use as goalkeeper coaches is probably the one thing I think I would love to have more of so I can break things down even more. Are we doing the right things in training? Are we looking at the positional play of the goalkeeper in the right way? Are there moments when we can move, shift, drop, advance, whatever it looks like that is going to give us that little 1%?
Michael Gspurning, FC Union Berlin and Austrian National Team
What has been the biggest factor in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
In the beginning of the season it is always important that you find the most perfect fit of the group, if you have a good group and a solid number one who is constantly performing and good backups the season can be a success and you wont have much trouble in the mid season. Setting the goalkeepers in the right pecking order is important.
Of course the goalkeepers must have competition but setting the order is key. Being honest with them and focusing on each one individually is important. Of course the number one is main focus but all the other goalkeepers are just as important and it is key they are happy in their position within the club
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
There are always challenges, the most important thing is to try and have an overview and make sure everything is on track. This is something I do often to maintain performances and make sure the goalkeepers are performing. Do we have to change something? Conversation is key throughout the club to make sure everything is good, with the goalkeepers the manager and the sporting director to stay one step ahead.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
We are always open to new tools, thinking and ideas to make sure we are moving with the time. I have a personal drive to get better each day and I have this for the goalkeepers also. Tools are key to help the keepers and to help myself. What is important is the work is still key, the tools help but how you work with the keepers is key.
Alan Kelly, Everton (to September 2024)
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Continuing to analyse, learn, and develop my ‘game model’ for training and match processes to enhance the education and learning experiences for both the goalkeepers and goalkeeping coaches I have mentored and worked with. The use of my goalkeeper match analysis process allows the goalkeeper, goalkeeper coaches, and coaching staff to fully understand the vital role of the goalkeeper in the modern game. The expert visual match analysis and bespoke goalkeeper match action data provide a comprehensive assessment report of every goalkeeper action in the game.
What was the most significant challenge you faced?
Having played and coached at all levels of professional and international goalkeeping for the last four decades means I have seen experienced nearly every major rule change with regard to the goalkeeper and the team. This means I have always had to find solutions to those rule changes to keep moving forward into each new season rather than see those problems as insurmountable problems. What’s the old saying…“Don’t give me problems, find me solutions”.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective
The match/training analysis tools at most professional clubs are pretty comprehensive but the one tool I would recommend for any goalkeeper coach to acquire is a GoPro camera or equivalent market product. These cameras provide a ‘birds eye’ view of the performance of your goalkeepers in an unobtrusive way.
Ian Willcock, Manchester United Women
What has been the biggest factor in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
For me the biggest success is the goalkeepers we work with and seeing their development as people and as goalkeepers. Mary Earps achieved FIFA Best for the second successive year. Phallon Tullis-Joyce fitting in at the start of the season and Safia Middleton-Patel making her debut for us were both huge.
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced
Managing situations around recruitment and players leaving and what that brings and making sure all the goalkeepers feel valued and supported.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
We’ve worked again around the stats and what seems to have worked previously we have returned to and has shown its value again. This has made us a more efficient dept before we step out on the pitch. We have gained more valuable time on pitch to work on specifics because of this.
Alessandro Barcherini, Sunderland AFC
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Staying consistent and having absolute clarity in our principles everyday when we train. The club project and when things haven’t gone the way we would like, we stick to the structure and focus on being better and never have knee jerk reactions. The staff being so open to my ideas and the environment being one where each coach is able to share ideas/opinions/solutions to problems regardless of goalkeeper coach/assistant coach/head coach title.
What was the most significant challenge you faced?
Not winning games. The Stadium of Light and the fans are incredible, and that comes with huge expectations and responsibility. Last season didn’t go how we wanted it to but for as hard as that was we also grew and matured as a team - it was actually a really important time for us and we are better for it now having experienced that difficult period.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
My role at the club is quite unique in comparison to the traditional role of a goalkeeper coach. I lead on the in possession restarts and build up play, defensive unit work, defensive set plays as well as obviously leading the club's goalkeeper department.
Having that autonomy and responsibility means that I have to be extremely efficient in my day to day tasks - time management and having the ability to be able to flip from a goalkeeper coach to an assistant coach at times is a task I really relish. It wouldn’t be possible at all without the openness and help of the club and staff who entrust me to take on these duties within my role. We are certainly an innovative club where the goalkeeper coach is more than just a goalkeeper coach.
Fraser Stewart, Kilmarnock
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Having a group of goalkeepers buy into your process and way of working as a coach. Creating an environment of best practice everyday has been big for us.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
Managing a European schedule next to pre-season and league starts for the first time in my coaching career.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Extra support to allow myself not to be spread too thin, as the only full time goalkeeper coach responsible for the full club top to bottom. To do that effectively then extra support in terms of staff would be a big help to the department.
Tom Pressman, Leicester City Women
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Working internationally, it was great being part of the Wales team that qualified for the Euro Playoffs and won the Nations League group to gain promotion to League A. The group stuck together to make sure we achieved the targets we set.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
I enjoy being stretched in different ways, and this year has been one of change. I have moved clubs from Aston Villa to Leicester. It has been great to be out of my comfort zone, working with new players and staff. Over the past few months I have developed new relationships and adapted ways of working to suit the new environment. It is always a positive challenge to bring your ideas and principles into a new environment and work to implement them with new people and players.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
At times the number of goalkeepers in the clubs across the women’s league can compromise session design when we have injuries. It can be difficult to bring younger players into the environment due to education so it can lead to a lot of adaptation and small group goalkeeper sessions.
Rob Shay, Reading Academy
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
This year I have been trying to make sure within sessions that I'm always going back to what we want, how we want our goalkeepers to behave, and understanding what we want from our goalkeepers within a game. Does our session demand those characteristics from them is the main question, and trying to pose them these problems within sessions.
A big thing for me this year has also been how we manage individuals within a group. So looking at how a session flows from something that's individually worked for each person within our session to something that then lines up for the whole group when you get to the bigger picture and looks like how we want Reading goalkeeper to play. It’s really rewarding when you do see that come together in training and a game.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
I think one of the biggest challenges is helping each goalkeeper when their pathway can evolve and vary from the plan that was potentially given to them - maybe due to injury to another goalkeeper, which means that they have to take a different role within the club. Be that third choice, second choice, etc. I think you see goalkeepers that maybe have been playing week in week out and then go to a position where the role is different and they may not play on a regular basis, but we have to generate that understanding with that player that their development has to continue in a different way.
It may be easing them through the game block, or through a training block and that's how their development comes. And I think this year has had some extremes where people have had the first half of the year where they've had loads of games, and then potentially had not so many, and second half vice versa with different goalkeepers. There have been well-documented difficulties around the club as a whole this year but, it has genuinely improved my coaching in a way as it challenges you because of the time management and the demands placed on you.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
The more data you can have and the more it has context, the more powerful it becomes. More of what I've been trying to do this year is really aligning the data with the learning plan. The messages you're trying to give to the goalkeeper, you can make your point but you have to point to the evidence. Once you start to back it up and they see it for their own eyes, you really get the buy-in from the player.
Ryan Hudson, Burnley Academy
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factors to my personal success this year have been trusting my process, being willing to work hard and not take the ‘easy way out’ or take the ‘shortcut’
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced?
The most significant challenge I faced would be learning to manage people’s varying opinions and being able to make people feel heard whilst also doing what I believe is best for the goalkeepers. Sticking to what I think is right and being firm but fair.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
Better organisation of my tasks. Filtering through what is most important and what can be put on the back burner.
Kris Dixon, Crawley Town
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
For me, it has been creating relationships. I’m a huge believer in a 'person-first' approach to what I do, as are the rest of the guys here. It played a hand in being asked to move down here with the new management, and in my more recent development success stories which helped to raise my profile as a coach. in my current role, it has been the first real box I wanted on my 'to-do' list, create an environment where the goalkeepers, and players know that I genuinely want the best for them, which creates trust - as long as it is genuine - and it creates a WE mentality to our work.
They will never be isolated in a mistake - nor will the one be singularly praised above the group - it's a collective approach that stems from building an honest, caring and challenging environment. and I think that's something that I have created wherever I have been - and it allows them the freedom to really express themselves as people and players.
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced?
During my time as a young coach, I was too scared to listen. At one club, we had a change of manager six times in a season. All with different styles, ideas and beliefs, and different expectations from staff. My biggest challenge was not being able to adapt my personal beliefs to align with/give the goalkeepers the best chance of success, quick enough. Being too worried about bending my ideals on goalkeeping - or at least not being comfortable discussing how I thought we can add value based on what I thought.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
I film and document everything. All sessions are filmed on the GoPro and the 'main camera' to give varied perspectives on a session, to which the goalkeepers have access to review their work. It gives me a platform to discuss aspects of the game, with evidence for/against ideas. The rise in coaching software has been great too, I use ONCE to paint clips in my pre- and post-match analysis, keynote to document my sessions and produce set play presentations, tactical pad to design my practices.
But the main tool would be communication - I'm lucky in the sense of having staff that are open to adding certain elements into the 'main sessions' to give the goalkeepers their specific detail - small tweaks or adaptations that don't effect their topic but maybe adding an additional area can make a great difference to the realism aspect for the goalkeepers.
Daniel Ball
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
2024, what an insane year. Everybody will have written about technology, pedagogy, constraints, and a host of other approaches. Candidly, being a goalkeeper coach starts with being a human, and the last 365 days have allowed me to invest in that.
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced?
Nobody talks about what it is like when by surprise your contract isn’t renewed, but it is a very real part of the professional game. For three years I sat in stadiums from Los Angeles to New York. 22,000 people, working alongside some of the world's most gifted goalkeepers.
This year however has been one spent away from the game in a formal sense. Investing in time with family. Traveling – but on my own schedule and to places I determine, not work trips. Formalizing on paper who I am and want to be. Truly reflecting. We as coaches often talk about reflection – it’s a buzzword in the profession, but the truth is, the next session or season rolls around too quickly, so it is more glance than reflect.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
Without doubt, this year has been the greatest period of growth. It is only truly when you’re outside the goldfish bowl that is catching, kicking, film, traveling, and scouting, that you realize if you want to jump back in. The sport, profession and role can become a treadmill; but I think we’d all agree that walks in the mountains are less convenient but more rewarding. Take time to get off the treadmill and I’d go so far to guarantee that you’ll be a better person and practitioner for it.
Tony Elliott, England Para Teams and Birmingham City Women (to June 2024)
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
My ability to adapt across multiple formats of the game, namely: Mainstream 11-a-side Men’s, Mainstream 11-a-side Women’s, Men’s Blind Football, Women’s Blind Football, Men’s Deaf 11-a-side Football, Futsal, Cerebral Palsy, 7-a-side football.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
Working out who I can trust and definitely, who I can’t, in an ever increasingly cut throat sport! I’ve had numerous personally challenging situations occur this year, that I’ve been party to and I’ve become increasingly frustrated with leaders and coaches ruffling their feathers, jostling for position and using any method possible to make their own situation as strong as they can, most of the time to the detriment of good people connected with them!
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
A crystal ball and a magic wand!
David Combes, Walsall Academy
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Personal success came from surrounding myself with good people and ensuring an open mindset in all discussions. Whether that is other goalkeepers coaches supporting with session feedback, outfield coaches with different perspectives or coach developers helping your coaching skill. Or actually just good people helping you be a better person!
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
The challenge, from a category three academy, is trying to do enough for all the goalkeepers. How thin we are spread - whilst still managing work life balance.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
For efficiency, get templates - whether that’s set pieces, session activations. As for effective, look to vary up the sports. There is a lot that can be learned from other sports, which can support just movement patterns, keep enjoyment and engagement high, just need to then have a good understanding of your session to bring it together.
Chris Stygal, Aston Villa Women
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Consistently pushing to expand my knowledge by learning new tools and skills. I actively networked within my previous club in which I worked with and supported the academy and first team on occasion. This built my confidence by confirming what I was doing well, along with highlighting my areas of development. Being able to focus on these and commence my Goalkeeping A Licence this year has helped me immensely in supporting the goalkeepers I have worked with this year.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
After three seasons with back-to-back promotions, I left a comfortable environment that was 15 minutes from my home to a new opportunity four hours away in the top tier of women’s football. The challenge was stepping into an established WSL team and building relationships from scratch as I had no connection there. I believe the only way to increase your learning is to step out of your comfort zone and ‘expand your bubble’. Working with international goalkeepers and the pressures they have under a constant spotlight I have welcomed that challenge with open arms and learnt more in the past three months than the previous two years.
What tools have made your role more efficient and/effective?
Consistent reflection – every session delivered I look at What Went Well (WWW) & Even Better If (EBI). This is logged in my own review notes so if delivering again I can make the necessary tweaks to ensure that the goalkeepers' time is maximised on the pitch. I also ask the goalkeepers to consider this from a personal point of view, it doesn’t have to be shared with me as a coach. It’s important they do this as goalkeepers can often be hard on themselves but in every session, there is definitely a WWW that should be reviewed. Utilising Sportscode and Hudl allows me to give concise feedback to the goalkeepers I work with from both training and matches.
Martin Davies, Cambridge United
What has been the biggest factor in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Trust is the biggest factor for me. It’s a fundamental part of every relationship you build, and in the environment we work in it’s vitally important that I can be trusted to do my job to the best of my ability by the staff and players I work with on a daily basis.
With such a close working relationship with the goalkeeper group, we have three goalkeepers in the First team Squad, they have to know that I am giving everything to help them improve individually in the first instance and subsequently be as informed as possible for match day with the training sessions I put on, the reviewing of those sessions and also the reviewing of those match days. Be consistent with your messages and consistent with your actions. I tell the goalkeepers I’ll still be the same guy on a Match day +1 as I was on the Match day -1 no matter the result or the performance.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
One of the challenges I’ve had is probably one that every goalkeeper coach has had. How quickly can you build a relationship with a new goalkeeper, how quickly does he understand the language you use, the sessions you put on and how quickly does he trust you to help him to improve? This season we’ve taken Vicente Reyes on loan from Norwich, he’s recently turned 21 - a young goalkeeper with real talent and real potential.
We were fortunate to have him from day 1 of preseason, so some good time to build a relationship and get to know him, how he takes on information and get him ready for the challenge of League One football, the highest level he will have played up until now. The start of the season was tough for us, we didn’t win a game in the first 10, so my job was to be consistent with my messages and my actions to a lad who hasn’t faced this situation before and who might be losing a bit of confidence with the results.
Fortunately, Vinny is a level headed lad who loves watching clips, going through his decision making and getting as much information from our reviews as possible for the next time he faces something similar. In adversity, we were calm, methodical and built a mutual trust which will help us going forward. Well, it was either that or the incredible lift he got from his first call up to the Chile National Squad just before we went on a winning and clean sheet run!
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
If you’d have asked me that question last season, you would have had a different answer! The new building at the training ground has helped us all massively. We now have an analysis room with a big screen in it. It's a real game-changer for going through stuff with the goalkeepers. Last season we would be huddled around a laptop trying to get details from a small screen, which was almost impossible for everyone to get a good view. Now we can have group goalkeeper meetings and can get the same detail across to all in one meeting rather than three or four individual meetings. Also this season our analyst has recreated a 'code window’ that I had previously, to allow me to cut games on the software that we have available to us, which has made that process a lot easier.
Jack Cudworth, Chinese Taipei National Team, Wigan Athletic (to July 2024)
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Probably the success of Sam Tickle at Wigan. To see him win players’ player and player of the year awards in his first year of professional football was very satisfying. His performance against Manchester United in the FA Cup Third round was proof he can do it against top Premier League Teams.
What was the most significant challenge you faced?
Going completely out of my comfort zone to a different continent to work with people and players I had never met before was a big leap of faith but I'm loving every minute of it .
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective
Good question. I think virtual reality will eventually become a big tool in goalkeeping. I said this about seven years ago but it has yet to materialise. It may be the case at Premier league level but it hasn't quite filtered down to Championship/League One level as of yet (I may be wrong about this). I think if you could put the goalkeeper and yourself back in a scenario in a game and see that scenario through the eyes of the goalkeeper, it would have huge benefit in terms of seeing the thought process behind a decision/action.
Daniel Tumelty-Bevan, Birmingham City Academy
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factor in our success this year would be a cohesive coaching group who have been driven by a common goal of helping as many players progress as possible. As a coaching group we’ve created a plan to help players, and through adversity and success we remained consistent. That has seen players progress really positively this year.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
The most significant challenge was finding the right training and games programme for each individual goalkeeper while also accommodating team training through the club. While there were difficult moments, I don’t feel we ever let anyone down; individuals, teams nor staff.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Full time goalkeeping staff which we now have and are building a really strong department. Goalkeeping programmes are a team effort and it takes a group to come together to build an aligned programme with everyone bringing value across the age groups.
Ross Ballantyne, Hearts Academy
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Seeing young goalkeepers that I have worked with since they were 10 years old going and earning a full time contract and another goalkeeper who I again worked with since 10 years old going to have a breakthrough season and winning the Player of the Season in his final season as a B team goalkeeper, now out on loan and performing well.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
Time! Not enough time in the day to cover all the tasks that I need to do to give the goalkeepers the best possible platform to develop.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Sportscode for analysing my goalkeepers which would make the process quicker.
Nicolas Nerinckx, Lommel SK
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
This year I switched clubs, going from academy to the first team role. The biggest change I had to make is going from a youth environment to the pros. We play against teams that have full stadiums, making a lot of noise. That also impacts how to approach a game because it changes the mental demands on the goalkeepers and you have to support young goalkeepers who may be coming into this environment, especially as we are looking to finish near the top of the table.
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Because the playing style was similar - technically we really try to build up from behind with an idea to beat the second press of the opposition - my introduction with the new goalkeepers was a presentation with principles of goalkeeping, and how they can affect the game offensively too. I do a lot of positioning-based exercises to help this, and this laid the foundation of successful sessions for me.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
I take a look at data but don't let it lead my way of working. Rather I use it as a supportive tool. The data helps create a clear image for the goalkeepers, and I use it to do position analysis. And then I want to see how a goalkeeper on that level solves it and what kind of principles they use, and how they react.
Jamie Brassington, KR Reykjavik
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
I would say the relationship building in the goalkeeper training environment that was created. If we’re talking about external, it would be seeing goalkeepers making their debuts for their homegrown club and/or international call ups.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
We had a goalkeeper who was underperforming by his own standards and being harshly criticised in the media (paper, online, TV). Working with him to block our external noise, focus on what we can do together to help him get back on track and perform to the level he’s capable of was a challenge we worked to overcome.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Difficult one to answer, due to the financial restraints of the league and what is available here but: access to better data to provide a better insight into performance, a high camera behind the goal for match day/training, and access to better/other equipment - handheld rebounder, inflatable mannequins etc.
Mirza Harambasic, Real Salt Lake
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factor for my success this year is the group of goalkeepers I work with every day. They are open to learning and growing and challenge each other to be better.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
Time is always the biggest challenge. You want to do more and offer more in regards to video or on field training but don't have enough hours in the day to cover everything.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Something I would love would be a full time performance coach. We are different athletes to outfield players and need special attention.
Sergio Gonzalez, Racing Louis City
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The support from technical staff to have freedom to lead the goalkeeper department with my philosophy.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
Lack of opportunities for the number two to number four goalkeeper - no reserve league available makes it difficult to get games which then leads to loaning out goalkeepers but very difficult to find goalkeepers to replace goalkeepers out on loan in a training environment.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Better goalkeeping data - what’s available is too surface level and not detailed enough, video analysis software specific to goalkeeping, additional training equipment - large dummies with legs to better replicate match scenarios.
Dease Kerrison
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
I think on the grass the biggest factor has been being as authentic as possible as well as connecting and understanding the goalkeepers' individual needs, on and away from the grass.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
The biggest challenge has definitely been the time constraints of working within part-time football, trying to manage a full-time job whilst still trying to provide players with the tools and insight they need has been tough. Having other coaches (Charlie and Jack at Southampton Womens!) assisting and spreading the workload within my previous club was a luxury!
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Having my trusty GoPro at sessions has made my life so much easier as it gives the goalkeepers something to go back and reflect on themselves. We watched footage back together and would often spot different things that we might have missed on the grass. Having the footage also created a bigger sense of buy-in from the goalkeepers as they enjoyed seeing what they did well and could improve on rather than the feedback sessions always being ‘coach led’.
Juan Carlos Garzon, Chattanooga FC
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factor in my success this year has been implementing a comprehensive development approach that combines technical training with data-driven analysis. At Chattanooga FC, this methodology led to two of our goalkeepers ranking in the top 10 of MLS Next Pro's Goals-Added metric, with one being selected for the prestigious Goalie Wars event.
My approach focused on:
Creating individualized development plans that address both technical skills and mental preparation, implementing video analysis to provide specific, actionable feedback, building strong relationships with goalkeepers to understand their individual needs and goals, and integrating match preparation with development objectives.
What was the most significant challenge you faced?
The most significant challenge has been adapting training methodologies to meet the demands of different development levels, from academy goalkeepers to professional players. Each goalkeeper requires a unique approach while maintaining consistent professional standards. Successfully integrating academy goalkeepers into the first-team environment required careful planning and individualized progression paths.
I addressed this by creating clear development pathways, implementing level-appropriate challenges, maintaining high standards while providing necessary support. and building confidence through measured progression.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
While we achieved significant success, additional performance analysis tools would enhance goalkeeper development even further. Specifically: advanced video analysis software for immediate feedback during training sessions, integrated performance metrics tracking systems, modern shot-stopping and reaction training equipment, and real-time data collection tools for training session analysis.
Having these tools would allow for more precise performance tracking, immediate feedback implementation, better progress monitoring, more efficient training adaptation.
Justinas Gasiunas
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
In my opinion the biggest factor helping form me this year was building the relationship with colleagues and finding a small circle of goalkeeper coaches that I can communicate, share sessions with, and seek for advice in the goalkeeping field or personal development. Being a goalkeeper coach can be a lonely place at times, especially in my experience. The last few years I have worked abroad in Greece and Cyprus and a lot of times I spend time alone in the goalkeeper corner, where clubs do not have big goalkeeper departments, so getting feedback or seeking advice for improvement is not easy. So the best thing for me this year was establishing the small group of goalkeeper coach colleagues that I can always ring, voice message, or Zoom for advice and opinion, whatever the question is.
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced?
This season one of the biggest challenges I had to overcome was managing the goalkeepers' load and optimising performance in games not training. I had to work with an older but very professional goalkeeper that had a big injury history. On top of that we had a long UEFA Conference league qualification starting early in the summer and also managed to qualify to the UEFA Conference league main stage.
That had significantly increased the number of games this season so I had to really think about the training periodisation, pre-season program etc. So far our number one goalkeeper played 23 official and two friendly games already and had not missed a single match due to any injury. Also another challenge that arises from this was making sure that number two, three, and four goalkeepers still get their physical needs fulfilled as they all are young goalkeepers, 25 and younger.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
Having an effective Goalkeeping GPS (for example Catapult) and the S&C coach who shares an interest in goalkeeping- specific work would definitely help me to improve this area even more. Monitoring the goalkeepers' load daily, being able to increase and decrease loading not just for the next session or for the next micro cycle, but having live data and being able to modify loading while the session is going on could improve goalkeepers even more.
For now the only tools I used was taking individual goalkeeper feedback, collecting RPEs, carefully planning and following the periodisation approach and using feedback of other professionals within the club like the S&C coaches, physios, and club doctors. I think we have achieved our main goal so far to make sure the number one goalkeeper is having an injury-free season; however we do not know without GPS data and experts who can read it if maybe I could have pushed him even more and made performance more effective. Also it is not entirely clear how much the number two/three/four goalkeeper has improved and could we push them more. So having a good GPS and good understanding of how to read it I think would take us to another level.
Jack Stefanowski, Loudon United
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factor in my personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year has been improving my leadership qualities and how I interact/communicate with the goalkeeper group. This allowed them to play with more confidence while also holding them accountable to high standards.
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced?
Not having goalkeeper/match analytics to give me insight into having data to evaluate goalkeeper performance and prepare for the next match. We had analytics for set pieces which was very beneficial. We are one of the teams in the league with the lowest budget so it is a challenge to outsource. I would be willing to learn and do it myself if there are workshops/courses available.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
The use of Sportscode made video analysis and presentation more time efficient and organized. Wyscout goalkeeper clips are also valuable to evaluate performance and see world class best practice clips.
Glen Johnson, Carlisle United (to Sept 2024), Queen’s Park (to June 2024)
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
For me it’s been working within the processes that I have put in place over my period of time at Queens Park. By this I mean our ways of working, the how and why within the methodology, knowing what type of goalkeeper we were looking to develop, and understanding what processes needed to be put in place for that to happen.
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced?
The biggest challenge was losing my job at Carlisle. It was the first time for over 12 years that I’d experienced that situation. It has been challenging in so many ways, but also a great opportunity for self reflection and learning, and taking as many positives as possible from a negative situation.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
I’d say having the help of Goalkeeper.com in terms of data, having a better understanding of what the data actually means and how it can be implemented into recruitment, or opposition analysis to then create effective training sessions.
Cameron Crook, Brentford Women
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factors in my personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year is taking our team to the Third Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time in our history; our first team goalkeeper hitting a league best eight clean sheets so far this season. I’ve also just completed my UEFA C course on the 14th December.
What has been the most significant challenge you've faced?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced so far this season has been managing 5 goalkeepers at different stages of development within our sessions. Using differentiation within my sessions has really helped with managing this and something that has worked really well, with all of the goalkeepers experiencing different challenges that aid their development in the same practice.
What tools would have made your role more efficient or effective?
One tool that has really worked well has been utilizing video feedback from our training sessions. Recording our training sessions and reviewing them has really benefited our goalkeepers as they can now see exactly what they’ve done well/need some more work on, which they can then implement in their next sessions/game.
Craig Hinchliffe, Aberdeen
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Moving to Aberdeen Football Club from St Johnstone along with Dimitar Mitov allowed us to continue the relationship and journey we were creating
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
On the playing side, changing the playing system and defensive set plays as part of a new coaching staff. On a personal side, being away from my wife/daughter for extended periods.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
At Aberdeen I’m pretty lucky in terms of equipment/software that is available. For me, the introduction of a goalkeeper department would be the next step! Goalkeeper analysts, goalkeeper strength and conditioning, goalkeeper recruitment. All these departments are functioning at the moment but to have a specific goalkeeper department would take things to a new level.
Jake Davis, Cavalry FC
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factor in my personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year has been the influence of the team environment that I am allowed by the manager/coaching staff. With unit work, working with the defensive side of the team, it has allowed the goalkeeper to be integrated nicely, feeling comfortable with the situations that he is seeing on the weekend. We have allowed the fewest amount of goals, but also have been a strong defensive unit, not allowing a lot of shots against. This has played a factor in how I am able to get messages across to the goalkeepers and has definitely been a big factor in the success of the goalkeeper and team.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
The most significant challenge has been the amount of draws we have had as a club. This has led to some friction, as we started the year off slow, not losing a lot of games, but struggling to win them. This was a challenge both mentally, but then tactically, as it was a decision to change or stay the same along with how we would give up chances if we were playing differently or 'going for it more'.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
A tool that would have had a significant difference in being effective would be an assistant goalkeeper coach. I believe this role is crucial and would allow for a lot more learning moments, along with being efficient in timing.
Amro Khalid, Leicester City Academy
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Ability to find reflection with like-minded individuals to develop my skill set. Using a process of peers and video reflection has been key to my coaching behaviour and practice development . Using different learning methods from a planning purpose to meet the individuals where they are at on their learning journey to give them the best possible development journey.
What has been the most significant challenge you’ve faced?
Developing emotional management of players, becoming more invested and aware of how outside situations have implications on behaviours within training and games from different age groups. Managing situations informally and formally dependent upon the situation.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective
Use of video reflection and in-game coding with Hudl and Spiideo. Allowance to identify key situations within the moment and provide feedback at half time. And full time using these tools to aid in reflection for players and coaches in order to develop player or coach tools in order to work out the best solutions for individuals' bespoke development.
Michal Korbel, Harrogate Town (Academy & Women)
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
The biggest factor was my PLAN A - GET A HIGHER POSITION IN A PROFESSIONAL CLUB. At the same time, I have to say that thanks to my commitment, responsibility, determination and hard work, everything succeeded as planned, mainly thanks to these personal qualities. Also thanks to help from all my goalkeepers I worked with.
This year, the most important thing for me was to complete my goalkeeping license, but not only that, it was also important for me to meet new goalkeeper coaches, to connect with interesting people, to plan my next step in the coaching position. I had a clear plan in several steps, when at the end it was to get a higher position in a professional club. I did this, the goal was accomplished with the help of other great people I met along the way. Now my goal is to help as many goalkeepers as possible to achieve their goals and dreams. But that was always my goal anyway.
What was the most significant challenge you faced?
Maybe it will sound controversial now, but the biggest challenge has always been and still is a certain intolerance and disrespect of goalkeeper coaches and their work from some outfield coaches, when outfield coaches think they know everything and there is no other option or truth than theirs. This is ruining football in my opinion. This is probably the same problem in most countries, including my own, the Czech Republic or England, where I am now. As goalkeeper coaches, we face this every day. The situation is improving, but you must constantly fight for your name, role, education and understanding of the game. I can compare it from several countries. It's better now, but I still feel that other coaches don't take goalkeeper coaches as equals.
They should be asking which goalkeeper was better during the week, who should be number was, not judging their technical skills or decision making because the real game situation always decides. It doesn't happen very often that outfield coaches understand the other side of the coin. We should all work together. This is something I will always fight for, always face obstacles and always believe in my skills, qualities and education. This is definitely the biggest challenge, but if everyone listens to everyone, learns from each other, we will more easily succeed. FOOTBALL AND THE COACHING WORLD SHOULD NOT BE AS ONE-SIDED AS IT IS NOW…
What tools would make your role more efficient and/or effective?
Education, sharing knowledge and experience, openness and respecting the role of the goalkeeper coach. Football Associations should create a lot more courses for goalkeeper coaches, it shouldn't just be a money grab through courses. There are many goalkeeper coaches who do not get a chance to educate themselves. I believe that if goalkeeper coaches from big clubs were more open to more internships, visits or sharing ideas with goalkeeper coaches from smaller clubs, we would be able to change things together and help our goalkeepers.
There are a lot of technical options like analytics, data tracking, etc., but the most important thing is still when you are on the field teaching players/goalkeepers about real match situations. The data is important, don't get me wrong, but in my opinion, the feeling you get from the goalkeeper during training or a match is more important. And then you can continue to work with it. Football, in my opinion, has gone into the digital world instead of real hard work on the pitch. But we can influence and change this together.
Ali Hanif, Arizona State University
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Staying hungry to learn, networking and being open to criticisms, all of these factors have helped me grow this year, helped me help my goalkeepers grow, and challenged me to be better! You have to be open minded to new ideas and ways of tweaking your own ideas in session planning, in the way you see development.
What was the most significant challenge you faced?
Continuing to develop as a coach who is also a goalkeeping specialist, focusing on my assistant coach’s role first to develop as a more well rounded coach. And also not be perceived as just a goalkeeper coach!
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
Video/film, I record every session I do for my goalkeepers' benefit of reflection and my own, but using reflection properly and allowing myself the time and grace to be okay with mistakes and recognise how to develop/fix them! Film and being mic'd up has been a huge tool in that! Also being observed getting feedback from fellow coaches as an educator running an example session to being a learner and being educated by others.
Steve Bayard, Miramar Rangers
What were the biggest factors in your personal success as a goalkeeper coach this year?
Achieving my B diploma. While the learning and teaching methods were not new to me, I valued reaffirming my knowledge and what I’ve been doing.
What was the most significant challenge you faced?
It’s the first year with my son. Managing coaching, training, and being a father.
What tools would have made your role more efficient and/or effective?
For us, we have limited pitch access. In Wellington there are a lot of turf pitches, but we don’t own one, so our training is at defined times and spaces - often we have to share with our reserves team.
Congratulations to all our partners, readers, friends, and the wider goalkeeper family on your successes in 2024 and all the best for 2025. We are with you.
