Statement: Cooperation with University of Liverpool
A proud moment as our book ‘How hard can it be?’ now officially is part of the curriculum at the University of Liverpool _& University of Liverpool Manag...
Columns
‘How hard can it be?’ - NOW available in English
After a solid year on the Scandinavian market, Dan Hammer and I are pleased to launch our football strategic book ‘How hard can it be?’ in an international l...
Pione Sisto’s story is, in reality, a cry for help
Published May 2020 (in Politiken):
Another demotivated talent - we must help them
Danish media Politiken did three interviews recent weeks with Danish international, Pione Sisto, about his tough period, demotivation and struggle to reach h...
“Don’t waste a good crisis”
Different types of crisis will occur from time to time. The current one makes football not important at all, but as an industry we still have to prepare for ...
Firing frequencies in football
Football is a low-scoring game where the winner takes it all. Therefore, we become outcome biased and tend to only look and judge a head coach on the results.
Isomorphism in Football
Welcome to Optima Football Academy
Born, made, developed? A discussion on talent
A free chapter from our book
Optima Football launches new academy
As part of the vision to explore, challenge and develop the world of football, five ambitious people will be given an internal education and foundation to he...
New Transfer Window reality – clubs take back control
Another summer transfer window in the world of football has now passed and strategically it was interesting to observe a larger skepticism and hesitation fro...
75% of all clubs are strategically unhealthy
Professional football clubs are in general unhealthy. At a strategic level. Over time. This is the conclusion after a minor empirical field study, interviewi...
Solskjaer & Wilczek: State of the obvious – or?
Are we making the right decisions future wise based on feelings and biased short-term results or should we approach ‘expensive calls’ more analytical?
Transfer Window Analysis
The January 2019 transfer window has now closed through out most of Europe and there are a few interesting elements to analyse:
The Future Game
How can we predict the future? How do we analyze what football will look like by 2025? To create long term succession planning this is the main task for club...
‘The achieving-mentality’ prevailed at the World Cup
Football’s offensive tendencies and development were confirmed during the World Cup 2018, where the ‘achieving-mentality’ won over the ‘avoid-mentality’, but...
World Cup 2018 columns
During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, I’m hired as a ‘football expert writer’ for Danish media ‘Politiken’.
How to manage to unmanageable?
Over the recent years, I have been hired by business groups, companies and for different events to do a speech on my 6 years operating in China. Not specific...
The biased game
The DNA of football is to win. Especially in the professional side of the game. The world of football is ‘black or white’; there are winners and losers - not...
To achieve or to avoid?
A common saying is; there are no right or wrong in football. Another saying is: the winner is always right.
Succession planning requires a strategy
After visiting more than 20 top clubs in the past four years and in general developing my own strategy, philosophy & methodology in the past 10 years; I’...
The value of talent
A chapter from my book (in cooperation with Helle Hedegaard Hein) “Når talent forpligter” (Great talent requires great leadership):
Analysis of the Tactical Tendencies 2016 EURO - 2.0
We are now done with all the group stage matches in France and it’s time for another analysis (2.0) and a deeper look at the most interesting tendencies from...
Analysis of the Tactical Tendencies 2016 EURO - 1.0
In my cooperation with the Danish media, Mediano, I’ve done my first 1.0 analysis of the ‘Tactical Tendencies’ from the current EURO 2016.
Blog: The Chinese Powerhouse
I’ve worked together with the ‘Player Development Project’ for a while and recently they asked me to do a piece on my 4 years working in Chinese football loo...
The SIPG Way - article on our interesting project
As part of my tasks here at Shanghai SIPG F.C., I’m trying to develop our club pattern “The SIPG Way”, where we develop our club philosophy, methodology and ...
Leadership: The importance of ‘Cultural Intelligence’
A few weeks ago, I participated in an interesting webinar discussing cultural intelligence in sports. This is obviously an area, I’ve dealt with in my daily ...
Dontt: What about motivation?
I have this past week again done my “Dontt” - this time about motivation and how I think & hope we will see more focus on this aspect in the future in ou...
The Chinese transfer perspective
A transfer window is among the most interesting periods in football, where the clubs can buy, sell or loan players, and it’s all about getting a stronger squ...
New blog at Danish media
For several years in the past, I have been a ‘blogger’ at the famous Danish football magazine TIPSBLADET - and now I’m back! My first blog is already online ...
Season Analysis: When the league table lies
Football is all about winning or? Not if you wish to continue winning By Mads Davidsen in cooperation with 21st Club (www.21stclub.com)
UEFA PRO assignment: How important is the feedback culture?
I have just finished my UEFA PRO coaching license major assignment. A big step towards getting my license later this year and I’m quite satisfied with the as...
AFC 2015: China - Australia analysis
Unfortunately, China is now out of the Asian Cup 2015 after a 0-2 defeat against Australia. The host nation scored after a set piece and had the individual q...
AFC 2015: China analysis & Australia preview
China analysis vs North Korea As I wrote in my previous Asian Cup column; The head coach of China, Alain Perrin, choose a combination of resting some players...
AFC 2015: China - Uzbekistan analysis
First of all; what a night for Chinese football! China is for the first time in 10 years ready for the quarter finals in the Asian Cup. And this is after jus...
AFC 2015: China - Saudi Arabia analysis
We have now seen all the teams in action at the Asian Cup 2015 and so far the favorites has done well and secured an important win in the first game of the g...
Asian Cup 2015 preview
The AFC Asian Cup this January is obviously of massive interest in all of Asia. And after a disappointing World Cup 2014 for all of the Asian teams, we will ...
Column in Danish newspaper Politiken
On Sunday, I did a column together with lector at Aarhus University, Kristian Thomsen, regarding the lack of pressure in Danish talent development. We think ...
World Cup 2014 tendencies
The biggest and most interesting football event is now over and it’s time to analyze and look back at the tournament and the tactical related tendencies we m...
WC Round 2-3: Don’t keep the ball
We are now in the final 16 of the World Cup and my analysis and stats had a huge step up this past week as I went for my UEFA Pro license course in Copenhage...
WC Round 1: The key of the penalty box
The World Cup has finished the first round of the group stage, and I’m excited about the offensive minded concepts and the fact we are talking about the offe...
Why and how to use statistics?
The World Cup 2014 is almost starting, and I will during the WC write some columns and make some analysis, and this is the first one - a pre-analysis.
What is possession - and how to train it?
Last week, I had some very interesting days in Nyon at my UEFA PRO coaching course with the Danish, Croatian, Belarus and Romanian delegation as well. We had...
What is good leadership?
In this article (in Danish), I discuss how to be a good leader/coach and how to understand, respect, and develop your employees together with yourself:
To manage other aspects than 4-2-3-1
I have the past 1½ year lived in Shanghai, China as Technical Director of the Ebbe Sand Academy – the first international elite academy in the big Chinese ci...
Chinese column – season close down
The Chinese Super League (CSL) 2013 has now ended after an interesting season where Guangzhou Evergrande as expected became the champions while Shanghai East...
Chinese column – Beijing still claiming the ACL-spot
The crucial third position in the league is still open, while 4 teams are fighting to avoid relegation together with Wuhan. Very exciting last two rounds are...
Chinese column – The East Asia young guns and Qingdao-victory
Only two games this weekend in the CSL due to the national games, so we got to see a few of the talents of Shanghai East Asia and Qingdao won 4-1, so now the...
Chinese column – Shenxin win important Derby
With a goal in the first minute, Shanghai Shenxin won the ‘Mini Shanghai-Derby’ against Shanghai East Asia and all three Shanghai-teams are now close to a ne...
Chinese column - Vital Changchun-win
This week, I saw three of the teams involved in the relegation battle live, and we can conclude that Qingdao is looking to join Wuhan as the team going down ...
Chinese column - Shandong squeezed East Asia
The team of Radomir Antic is far the best team in China to work off the ball and to pressure an opponent in an organized way.
Chinese column: The worst Hangzhou performance
Sunday evening at Shanghai Stadium was a nightmare for the Hangzhou Greentown fans. My ticket gave me a seat among the Hangzhou fans, so I could really feel ...
Den dygtige angriber - uden mål
De danske angribere scorer generelt ikke mange mål (der er altid undtagelser). Det kan skyldes skolingen fra ungdomselitesystemet, hvor der i moderne fodbold...
Chinese column: Classic Sainty problems and Evergrande dominance
The CSL was back Wednesday and Thursday after two weeks with national games, and Evergrande continued their dominance in the top of the league, while Jiangsu...
Chinese column: The new Chinese style
The EAFF East Asian Cup is now over, and we can be very excited regarding the Chinese performance and a second place. The results were good, but even more im...
Analysis on the new FC Barcelona coach and his philosophy
Gerardo Martino probably got the most attractive football job in the World earlier this week, but we don’t know his style and philosophy that well. Therefore...
Chinese column – EAFF East Asian Cup
The CSL is taking a short summer break and instead it’s time for the national teams to perform. This and next week, I will do analysis on the EAFF games incl...
Chinese column – Shenhua-Derby and Jiangsu-Evergrande
Two new head coaches were on the bench Saturday evening at the Shanghai-Derby, where Shenhua was the best team and won 2-0. On Sunday the CSL topside Evergra...
Chinese column – Batista, Evergrande and Zhu Jiong
A very turbulent week for Shanghai Shenhua with a new head coach coming in, and also the Argentinian assistant coach and physical coach left the club togethe...
Chinese column – Focus on Jiangsu Sainty
Last season Jiangsu Sainty was the big surprise in the CSL with an impressive second place and a spot in this year Asian Champions League as well. This seaso...
Chinese column – Button teams and a Camacho-analysis
Midweek games are always interesting because it also tell us how big the squad is and not just show us the normal starting eleven. Some teams have to make ch...
Chinese column – Important Greentown victory
The best CSL-game, I saw this past weekend was Hangzhou Greentown against Beijing Gouan. A very intense, well-played and dramatic game, where Hangzhou won 2-...
Can Brazil win the World Cup next year?
I will let the football experts make that judgment and instead analyze the Brazilian performances so far in the Confederations Cup 2013.
Chinese column: Some positive Chinese aspects
The Chinese national team lost last Thursday 1-2 against Uzbekistan, but I will leave this game behind and instead focus on the game this past Tuesday agains...
Chinese column: Shandong passed the test
A very intense match between number one from Guangzhou Evergrande and number two from Shandong Luneng was played Saturday night in the south of China. Evergr...
Chinese column: The Chinese Derby
Beijing played well in the first half – Shenhua is still not playing very well, but the team just keeps on getting their points and Sunday evening they won t...
Chinese column: The biggest star in China
Elkeson – Guangzhou Evergrande – Brazil - Striker:
Chinese column – Evergrande at an international level
We saw a great Friday match at Hongkou between Shenhua and Evergrande and also Greentown and East Asia had some good moments in a week, where R&F surpris...
Chinese column: The kings of Shanghai
This weekend had two big Derby’s in China, but my main focus is on the Shanghai-Derby as Guangzhou Evergrande was at least on level above Guangzhou R&F a...
Chinese column: Hangzhou and Zhang Linpeng
The Japanese revolution in Hangzhou has had a disappointing start in the CSL season, and Okada needs to work on the game plan and especially offensive organi...
Chinese column: Shandong and Guizhou Renhe
This week of CSL showed some interesting results. Very impressive that Shenxin got a point against Beijing Gouan, who played a fantastic game last week again...
Chinese column: Beijing, Qingdao, and Wu Lei
Another interesting week of CSL is over. Shandong is still ahead with maximum points and I look forward to analyze them live next Saturday at Hongkou Stadium...
Chinese column: The Battle of Shanghai
The Shanghai-Derby and Guangzhou dominance
Chinese column: Dalian and Liaoning
It is yet another interesting week of the CSL. A good top match between Evergrande and Beijing, but I will leave this one for now, because most of you reader...
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Lær at lave en kampanalyse
Hvis du ønsker at arbejde med fodbold (og visse andre sportsgrene) på elite niveau, så skal du lære at lave en kampanalyse, hvor du skematisk og systematisk ...
30-20-10 løbetræningsmodellen
I 2009-2010 var jeg med i et forskningsforsøg på August Krogh Institutet i København omkring intervaltræning frem mod udholdenhedskonkurrencer. Meget, meget ...
Den umulige kinesiske kampanalyse
Igennem min tid som træner, under træneruddannelserne og som kampanalytiker for Brøndby IF, har jeg set og analyseret masser af hold fra hele Europa. Det er ...
Træn kort og eksplosivt
Løb kortere - og bliv en bedre løber. Så simpelt er den nyeste forskning.
EM’s taktiske tendenser 2.0
En slutrunde danner altid grobund for massive fodbolddiskussioner og har igennem historien vist, at fremtidens fodbold viser sit ansigt netop her. Tendensern...
EM’s taktiske tendenser 1.0
En slutrunde danner altid grobund for massive fodbolddiskussioner og har igennem historien vist, at fremtidens fodbold viser sit ansigt netop her. Tendensern...
Dyrk glæden i den daglige træning
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VM ved den persiske bugt
FIFA’s opgave er først og fremmest at videreføre fodboldens fortælling, globalisere sporten, og derfor er det helt rigtigt at give den arabiske halvø et verd...
Talentudviklingens dilemma
Skal der trænes udelukkende elitært eller mere holistisk? Det er fodboldens evige diskussion.
Champions League kan ende som kvindehåndbold
Engang var kvindehåndbold en af Danmarks mest populære sportsgrene. Ikke målt på de aktive, men målt på antallet af tv-seere. Danmark havde verdens bedste li...
Ydmyghed stammer fra fortiden
Ydmyghed skaber middelmådighed. Lad os derfor redefinere ordets betydning i det moderne, individuelle samfund.
Den vitale 6’er
Balancespilleren og ankermanden på midten er blevet en af moderne fodbolds mest betydningsfulde spillere.
Zlatan-snak er tom for substans
Der er for meget populisme og alt for lidt viden, når medierne udnævner talenter til at være ‘Danmarks Zlatan Ibrahimovic’.
Landsholdets og fodboldjournalistikkens manglende rytme
En ting er en biptest. En helt anden ting er touchet på bolden og fornemmelsen for spillet.
Talentudviklingens dilemma
Jeg vil i det følgende advokere for, at man bør træne kort og eksplosivt. For der er evidens i videnskaben for, at det i langt højere grad forbedrer din fysi...
Hvis jeg var Maradona Permalink
En artikel om, hvad jeg ville gøre, hvis jeg hed Diego Armando Maradona…
Talenterne er fremtiden
Fodboldverdens finansielle situation gør, at klubberne ikke længere vil hente dyre spillere, men i stedet satse på at udvikle dem selv.
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Glæden er fodboldens DNA
Jeg har skrevet en artikel om, hvorfor glæde er essentielt i talentarbejde, som er udgivet på legestue.net.
Kommunikation er vitalt for talentudviklingen
Jeg har skrevet en artikel om, hvad kommunikation betyder for talentudviklingen på legestue.net.
Den indre dialog
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Talentudviklingens dilemma
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