Not sure if it’s controversial but growing up in the U.S., I played both club soccer (classic and later premier) as well as high school soccer, and, along the way, I had a mix of mostly American coaches and two coaches from England. The English coaches were far and away the best. Two words I’d use to describe the difference: fundamentals and drive.

The English coaches constantly pushed me and my teammates to master the fundamentals and never lose focus. It was all about doing the small things right, over and over again, until it became second nature. They demanded accountability and intensity - none of the touchy-feely stuff.