Could you develop your child into a footballer if you followed the 'perfect' formula? Sean Conlon, the founder of We Make Footballers and a Scout with Chelsea believes some people can. Follow our journey to discovering what it really takes to become a footballer.
How much is down to luck, genetics or being born into a football family.
Inter Miami Player, Alex Shaw’s parent explains how he made it through American Youth System
What does it really take to raise a professional footballer in the US?Johnathan Shaw, father of Inter Miami player Alex Shaw, joins Project Footballer to share the story behind his son’s journey from a young child who wasn’t initially interested in football to making it as a professional.
With no football background himself, Johnathan reflects on the decisions, sacrifices and family experiences that shaped Alex along the way — and what it feels like to now watch his son play alongside Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. Most recently, Alex scored on his home debut in the same game Messi scored four, bringing years of hard work, sacrifice and belief full circle.In this episode, we discuss:
⚽ How a 4-year-old who "never watched soccer" and a dad with zero football background built a pathway to professional football through multi-sport foundations, tough love and consistent discipline
⚽ The family separation and reconciliation that shaped Alex's mindset - and why gratitude, not talent alone, became his "secret sauce"
⚽ Why a life-changing trip to England at age 9 reset Alex's work ethic.
⚽ A father's take on discipline, boundaries and coachability - including tough coaching and where to draw the line between pressure and support.
⚽ What it really felt like watching his son score his Inter Miami home debut goal, and the sacrifices behind that moment
Are you pushing your kid too hard, or not hard enough? Where do you draw the line between discipline and pressure?If you're a football parent trying to understand what it really takes to help your child chase a professional dream, this conversation offers an honest look at the journey from a parent who has lived it.
Project Footballer is the voice of youth football, bringing together experts, coaches and industry leaders to explore the biggest issues shaping player development.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
🎧 Listen to the full podcast on:https://open.spotify.com/show/2hHiSvpzpc6S50Jn6Hu69e
Follow us on social platforms for more exclusive content and updates! 🌟 / projectfootballer / project_footballer
Check out our Merch: https://shop.wemakefootballers.com/collections
#FootballPassion #KidsFootballTraining #DevelopFootballSkills #RaisingFootballer #YoungFootballers
18 Sept 2026
15 year old wonderkid asks to leave Man Utd academy | Youth Football News
Manchester United’s 15-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel has asked for his academy registration to be cancelled, and we’re reacting to what it means for the player, his family and the club.Gabriel has been one of the most talked-about names to come out of the Carrington academy in years. He’s won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, scored a hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League last week and has even been compared by some to Manchester United legend Duncan Edwards.So why would one of Manchester United’s brightest young talents want to walk away?We break down what’s actually been reported, what his decision could mean for his future, and what happens next under Premier League rules on academy registrations.We also look at the bigger question this raises for academy football: clubs can release young players when it suits them, so should families be just as willing to take control when they believe it’s in their child’s best interests?This is the first episode in a new Project Footballer series reacting to the biggest stories in youth football.🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications for more youth football news, discussion and insight from Project Footballer.🎧 Listen to the full news on:https://open.spotify.com/show/2hHiSvpzpc6S50Jn6Hu69eGrab our Merch: https://shop.wemakefootballers.com/Follow us on social platforms for more exclusive content and updates! 🌟https://www.instagram.com/projectfootballer/https://www.tiktok.com/@project_footballer#YouthFootball # FootballPassion #RaisingFootballer #Young Footballers
Former Premier League and England Footballer Joleon Lescott and Futsal and Football Veteran and Coach Rob Ursell sat down with Sean Conlon, CEO of We Make Footballers, to settle a heated Instagram debate that started after a clip of Rob's comments on futsal and player development went viral. What follows is a deep, no-holds-barred conversation about why Spain keeps winning — and why England might not, no matter how much money it spends.⚽ The Bukayo Saka vs Nani debate — Jolean challenges Rob's original comparison whether receiving the ball well is really about individual skill - or the players and instructions around you.⚽ Futsal's real role in Spanish development — does futsal genuinely develop greater game intelligence, or is Spain's success more about specialised positional training from a young age?⚽ Athleticism vs game intelligence in academies — why English recruitment prioritizes physically dominant kids at young ages, and what that costs England in the long run⚽ England's World Cup heartbreak — an honest look at the semi-final loss to Argentina, Spain's dominance, and whether England's population and investment should guarantee more success⚽ Fixing the system — Lescott's blueprint for individualized "development sessions" over generic team coaching, plus a candid discussion on why Ashley Cole hasn't been given a head coaching role despite his pedigreeDoes futsal really make Spanish players smarter — or is it something else entirely? And are we identifying the right young players in England in the first place?Project Footballer is the voice of youth football, bringing together experts, coaches and industry leaders to explore the biggest issues shaping player development.Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated on future episodes. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!🎧 Listen to the full podcast on:https://open.spotify.com/show/2hHiSvpzpc6S50Jn6Hu69eFollow us on social platforms for more exclusive content and updates! 🌟https://www.instagram.com/projectfootballer/https://www.tiktok.com/@project_footballer#FootballPassion #KidsFootballTraining #DevelopFootballSkills #RaisingFootballer #YoungFootballers
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,047,232
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
75 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 73 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
76
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
85
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