GIS and FCA’s Coaching Philosophy Masterclass at the MCG

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Melbourne Cricket Ground will become a crucible of coaching insight on Tuesday, November 26, as Football Coaches Australia (FCA) and the Global Institute of Sport (GIS) collaborate to deliver a groundbreaking Coaching Philosophy Masterclass.

The two-hour professional development workshop, accredited for two CPD hours, promises to be a transformative experience for football coaches seeking to deepen their understanding of coaching methodology.

The workshop will be led by two distinguished experts in the field, the event will explore the critical intersection between theoretical knowledge and practical application in sports coaching.

Headline speaker Jono McPhail, Deputy Dean of the UK-based School of Coaching and Performance at the Global Institute of Sport, brings a wealth of academic and practical experience.

He has 6 years of experience in higher education including teaching roles in the UK and US, not to mention having executed academy coaching roles at numerous English football clubs and organisations.

McPhail has completed an Undergraduate in Sports Business & Coaching, a Masters in Sports Coaching, and a PGCE, and is currently pursuing a PhD researching “Coaching Philosophy from Theory to Practice.”

McPhail will guide participants through the conceptual and practical landscape of coaching philosophy.

Complementing McPhail’s strong academic perspective, Gary Cole who is President of Football Coaches Australia, consultant to Football Australia and former Socceroo will provide invaluable industry insights during the evening’s Q&A session.

Cole’s wealth of experience includes leading coaching development at several Australian clubs and senior roles at AIS and Football Victoria, ensuring a robust, real-world approach to the discussion.

The workshop aims to equip coaches with three key outcomes: developing a comprehensive understanding of coaching philosophy, exploring how personal philosophy impacts coaching practice, and crafting a personalised coaching philosophy statement.

Though registration is closed, this interesting workshop can hopefully help the lucky recipients further disperse this knowledge through coaching channels to assist development of coaching and football. It’s also another great opportunity for coaches to network with like-minded individuals in the industry.

The event represents a significant step in professionalising coaching education, bridging academic theory with practical sports leadership, helping Australian coaches gain a more enlightened understanding of how to successfully develop their coaching roles and practices.

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Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

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Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Marie-Louise Eta makes history as new Union Berlin head coach

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Image credit: FC Union Berlin

In an historic appointment, Eta will take over as head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

History in the making

Previously the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history with Union Berlin, Eta will now take the reigns of the men’s first team on an interim basis.

Currently, the club sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, but with only two wins so far in 2026, relegation appears an all-too-real prospect, and one which the club is desperate to avoid.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta via official media release.

‘I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta will begin as Union’s new head coach with immediate effect, and will be in the dugout for the club’s matchup against Wolfsburg this weekend.

 

A step into an equal future

Eta’s appointment signals a major step towards a more level playing field in the football landscape.

Furthermore, Eta joins other coaches including Sabrinna Wittmann, Hannah Dingley and Corinne Diacre who, in recent years, have blazed a trail for female coaches to step into the men’s game.

Wittmann currently manages FC Ingolstadt in Germany’s third division, and was the first female head coach in Germany’s top three divisions.

In 2023, Dingley became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers, and thus the first woman to lead a men’s professional team in England.

Diacre, now head coach of France’s women’s national team, managed Ligue 2’s Clerment Foot between 2014 and 2017.

 

Final thoughts

The impact therefore, is that Eta’s appointment will show future generations of aspiring female coaches that men’s football is an equally viable and possible pathway as the women’s game.

The time is now to level the playing field.

And while it may be a short-term role, its effect on attitudes towards equality and fair opportunities in the game will hopefully resonate long after the season ends.

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