“If you want better players, you need better coaches - and if you want better coaches, you need better coach developers.”
That’s the view of Scott McNeill, Head of Coach Development at the Premier League.
His logic is straightforward to understand, and with tangible progress already being made up and down the country, it’s a premise that appears to be very much achievable too.
“The Premier League has been supporting coaching since 2012, but with skilful coach developers’ clubs can have an even bigger ripple effect,” continues McNeill. “Instead of the game directly helping 20 coaches on a course, a coach developer can help 20 to 30 coaches within their own club, and those coaches then improve countless players. So, it multiplies the impact.”
On the back of a successful pilot in 2021/22, the Premier League’s Future Coach Developer (FCD) Programme is now about to embark on its fourth cohort.
The programme is designed to help coaches develop essential skills such as observation, feedback, and mentoring, while also cultivating the deeper expertise required to adapt these tools across diverse coaching contexts. Spanning 24 months, it culminates with a celebration event that marks the start of their expertise journey, not the end of their learning.
In-person workshops and experiences are put on side-by-side with online learning, with each coach also given access to their own personal mentor.
“Traditionally, our work was about supporting people once they were already in post, but programmes like this focus on the future - how we prepare people before they get there,” says McNeill.
“It’s been very successful. We’re already seeing people come through the programme and take up Head of Coach Development roles in academies; around a dozen in just two or three years.
“Initially we recognised that the coach development family lacked breadth in background and experience, so we wanted the programme to support both readiness and greater diversity. While there is still more to do, we are encouraged by the steps taken so far and the difference it is beginning to make.”
Each year, clubs are invited to nominate suitable individuals. After an initial paper-based process, shortlisted candidates attend a face-to-face assessment day.
“That day is so important because coach development is a people business. We want to see how candidates connect with others, not just how they answer interview questions,” adds McNeill.
Former Premier League defender for Charlton Athletic, Osei Sankofa, is Head of Coaching Pathways at the Premier League and is delighted with the opportunities that are becoming increasingly available to all.
“The FCD programme provides another avenue for learning and development, and as with all our work here, it is designed to strengthen the system and ultimately produce more and better homegrown players.
“We think about pathways in different ways; player-to-coach, under-21s into first-team football, first-team coaches stepping up into head coach roles, and also opening up pathways around equality, diversity and inclusion too. All those things matter to us.”
The use of mentors, from inside and outside the football environment, form a key part of coach development.
Strong self-awareness is considered a fundamental quality that is required to succeed, and according to Sankofa, this aspect of the programme has been a triumph.
“Coaches want lifelong learning, so mentoring is valued highly,” he says. “They want someone in their corner, someone to challenge them and support them. Working at clubs can be chaotic, so having a mentor or coach developer on hand provides clarity and structure.
“Having someone outside your immediate environment to talk to also helps you process experiences and manage challenges better. It’s consistently one of the most valued parts of our programmes, and many want it to continue beyond the two years.”
As we continue to discuss the importance of mentoring, McNeill reinforces the Premier League’s stance.
“Change comes from challenge and support. Our workshops and programmes provide the challenge, while mentors provide the support. External mentors can play an important role too, as their focus complements football knowledge by supporting growth as a learner and professional.
“We want football at the heart of everything of course, but we also recognise the value of external expertise. If there are lessons to learn from other sports or performance environments, we bring that in. Coaches really benefit from fresh perspectives,” he continues passionately.
“In the past, learning was often seen as just going on a course. We know though that expertise is never finished, and more so about continual learning, reflection, and refinement. Our programmes encourage that culture: learning on the job, not just in the classroom.”
It is now in the rules that every academy must have a Head of Coach Development. Reflecting it’s evolving purpose, that title has recently changed from Head of Coaching.
Has there been any pushback to these changes?
"One tension is that academies are rightly player-centred, so coaches can sometimes feel guilty about prioritising their own development,” answers Sankofa, before adding, “but the truth is, by investing in yourself, you are ultimately helping the player too."
“Coach development in elite sport isn’t fully embedded yet, “admits Sankofa. “So, we’re working hard with Academy Managers and Heads of Coach Development to normalise the changes which have been made.”
From the outside, it might seem like vast coaching experience is the main prerequisite. But McNeill stresses that expertise in coach development is about far more than years on the pitch.
“We’re seeing a blend. From highly experienced coaches, to younger, motivated practitioners who simply want to support other adults. Respect comes from creating trust, providing meaningful feedback, and designing environments where coaches can thrive,” he explains.
For McNeill, the role requires a unique blend of qualities. “A good coach developer needs adaptive expertise – the ability to flex their approach, apply professional judgement, and innovate learning based on the individual in front of them. Every coach’s journey is different, so the support has to be bespoke.”
Observation, feedback, and mentoring remain vital tools, but Sankofa argues that what separates the best is how they use them. “It’s about noticing key behaviours, interpreting context, and knowing when to challenge and when to support. That judgement comes from reflection, resilience, and a genuine commitment to helping others grow.”
The Premier League’s coaching department has exceptionally clear aims.
By strengthening not only the coaches, but also the coach developers themselves, they believe it will bring about major improvements to players, teams and the wider game.
“Hands up, who wants help and development?” asks McNeill with a broad smile. “Coaches want that support, and they all want to improve because football by its nature is unbelievably competitive.
“Previous leaders in this space like Dr Claire-Marie Roberts and Marc Canham set the ball rolling and it’s our duty now to keep up that momentum.
“Ultimately, we are here to help strengthen the English game, and pleasingly we are seeing coaches coming through our programmes to take on key roles at clubs, and with the England age group teams.
“Together with our professional game partners (EFL, FA, PFA, LMA and LCA), we believe the system is now in a stronger place than ever.”