The 2026 United Soccer Coaches Convention recently played host to a masterclass in elite performance. Mike Phelan Coaching was invited by Inspire Sports to participate in their seminar which focussed on world-class insights from two men who lived and breathed the most successful era in English football history: Nicky Butt and Mike Phelan . This wasn’t just a session on tactics; it was a deep dive into the "Manchester United System"—a talent development institution that currently boasts over 200 academy graduates playing professional football across the globe, a prestigious learning environment where talent development is not just philosophy, curriculum or theory, it is and was a system that works.
The Modern Challenge: Chaos into Control As modern football evolves, defensive discipline and team structure are becoming tighter than ever. Success is increasingly defined by the ability to convert final third entries into goals—a difficult task when facing deep, crowded defences (the 'low block'). This session is designed to train the precise detail required to maximise tight-space, chaotic scenarios, goalscoring opportunities and is built to mirror the high-stakes moments that define football matches.
In a bold move to reshape grassroots football, the English Football Association (FA) has unveiled its FutureFit initiative, introducing a 3v3 format for Under-7 players starting in the 2026–27 season. This shift reflects a growing global trend and a deep commitment to nurturing young talent through formats that align with their developmental needs WATCH THE VIDEO: MP Coaching 3 v 3 training with Neil Harris
This summer, Mike Phelan Coaching hosted its inaugural Premier League Experience camp in partnership with Burnley Football Club. The event took place at Burnley’s Barnfield Training Centre and the Whitehough Outdoor Centre, operated by Burnley FC in the Community.
This summer www.mikephelancoaching.com in conjunction with www.qe.org delivered a summer school like no other for existing and prospective students.
Sir Alex Ferguson: The Ultimate Leader
In this session MP Coaching guest specialist striker coach Steve Guppy brings us further detail on the fine art of creating shooting opportunities and the more intricate technical details that make all the difference in your approach, set up, and execution when in goalscoring positions.
Two top Premier League players — Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson — have generously donated signed shirts to MP Coaching to help give back to the grassroots game.
It’s been a busy June so far for the MP Coaching team with visits to Thailand and Singapore and this morning we had the pleasure of providing coach education for ADVOS PTE LTD at the Kallang Football Hub.
