What is your long-term vision for developing a football academy at Prague Raptors FC?
First of all, I have to thank Daz and Petra Moss for their interest. Everything happened quickly around Christmas and I appreciate their contact.
We would like to develop and create training environments where the coach’s and parent’s focus is on development and not on the short-term result of a game. The aim is to provide a structured support plan to guide Raptors, coaches and parents in order to assist all our players in reaching their full potential in the game. I think it's not just about the academy, but about the continuity of the club. I am very attracted to working in both the academy and the adult categories, so that the club has the same mood, cohesion, community and one direction of the brand. I am really looking forward to building projects with Daz, Petra, Kim, Luis & the other coaches and people around the club.
Can you share your previous experience in managing or working with football academies? What were your biggest successes?
I am very happy with the journey I have had in both the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. I have been in professional, semi-professional and grassroots environments as both a coach and player. I have also had the opportunity to study at both Czech and English universities, which has been another valuable experience. In England, I worked in the academies of Preston North End FC and Portsmouth FC under the leadership of very experienced managers such as Sean O'Driscoll, Stuart Pearce, Chris Neville, Mark Kelly and Kenny Jackett. But without my master's degree at both Charles University (FTVS) in Prague and Solent University in Southampton (study of Coaching and Football Management), I would have had a hard time achieving this.
After returning to the Czech Republic, I try to pass on the acquired experience and knowledge to youth academies in the development of player and personal potential. I can't name my biggest achievement (that's what my colleagues would probably have to say...), but I always enjoy it and am happy to see the players' progress and development.
How do you ensure the progression of young players into higher levels, including professional football or senior teams?
By motivating and leading by example, I want to constantly improve the football performance of our players, coaches and a club concept step by step. My aim is to optimise player performance by developing a personalised training concept and utilising the latest methods.
What is your philosophy on youth player development?
My philosophy is to keep coaches, parents and players focused and on the same page when it comes to the right milestones that will help us all meet our goals. My goal is to improve the quality of play at every level, and develop well-rounded, technically competent players who learn to play and enjoy football for life.
How would you engage with parents, schools, and the local community to build strong relationships and promote the academy?
I think the most important thing for a club like this is trying to build community and connectedness across and around the club. In a similar spirit to what we tried to do at my home-town club SK Rapid Psáry. As in an international context and under slightly different conditions that are unusual for Czech society. Communication, building relationships and ideas that should connect individual entities are very important. I think an important mission should be to try to make the world a better place and to have the right to dream. I want to be available to everyone.
What performance metrics would you use to evaluate the success of the academy?
Definitely, it’s important to set goals, plans, and projects that we want to pursue and gradually use metrics that will help us provide feedback.
What motivates you to join Prague Raptors FC, and what excites you most about this opportunity?
I am looking forward to the international confrontation and the possibility of working together in an international company. This is a unique thing in the Czech Republic and there are not many sports clubs that have players, coaches and people around the club from all over the world. I am attracted by the possibility of using foreign languages, collaborating with interesting people from abroad, networking, and furthermore on projects that we want to further build and develop in the club. It is also an opportunity to be in contact with foreign countries, which would certainly appeal to me again in the future.
How will your work in the Czech FA help you in this role?
I am very happy about the overlap in sports and football that I can have thanks to the combination of coaching in the club environment, working for the Czech Football Association and be part of the Coaches at School project. Everything greatly influences each other. And it's all about a similar principle: trying to improve things around you and trying to improve yourself. Trying to be a better person day by day.
Having spent time playing and studying in the UK you must be used to international environments - do you think that will help given Raptors' diversity?
Yes, both my football career and studies in England has helped me a lot. I can say that the international reach and outreach is one of the reasons why I was excited about working with Raptors. This project, unique in the Czech context, allows me to use my international experience and develop both Raptors and myself.
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