Masterminds - High Performance Sports

As a youth player Raymond Verheijen (1971) was part of the famous Dutch Youth Academy structure. Unfortunately, the dream of a professional career ended as a chronic injury forced him to retire at the young age of 18. This disadvantage became an advantage as Verheijen started his coaching career at the age of 19. He studied Exercise Physiology and Sport Psychology at the Free University Amsterdam and completed his Masters Degrees in 1995.

In 1995, Verheijen developed his Masters thesis into the book ‘Conditioning for Soccer’ which became the coach education book of the Dutch FA (KNVB) in 1997. Verheijen became a pro-license instructor at the Dutch FA in 1998. In 2014, Verheijen published the best-selling book ‘Football Periodisation’. More than 30.000 copies have been sold worldwide.

Verheijen has been involved as an assistant or consultant in 4 World Cups and 4 EURO’s and with several European top clubs. All his lessons learned at international level have been described in 2015 in the book ‘How Simple Can It Be?’ which was published in Dutch, English, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese amongst other languages.

Professor Damian Hughes combines his practical and academic background within sport, organisation and change psychology to work as a trusted adviser to the business, education and sporting elite, specialising in the creation of high performing cultures.

He is the author of The Barcelona Way, Liquid Thinking, Liquid Leadership, How to Change Absolutely Anything, How to Think Like Sir Alex Ferguson and The Five STEPS to a Winning Mindset in addition to the three acclaimed sports biographies of Sugar Ray Robinson, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler

Tony Pulis has managed over 1,100 professional games. A Premier League manager, having gained several promotions and working in all four divisions of english football. He's managed at the very highest level in the game, with huge success.

Eddie Jones, was a hooker in his playing days, making 3 appearances for Leicester during the 1991/92 season in England.

He gave up a career as a teacher to coach his old club, famous Sydney side Randwick, in 1994, before spending three years in Japan, returning in 1998 to take charge of Super 12 side the Brumbies.

His first major piece of silverware came in 2001 after leading the Brumbies to their first Super 12 title, and in doing so becoming the first side from outside New Zealand to win the tournament.

He took charge of the Wallabies between 2001 and 2005 and delivered Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup success. The national side reached the 2003 Rugby World Cup final on home soil, losing narrowly to England.

He has since had two spells at Premiership club Saracens as a consultant, as well as assistant to the South Africa side that won the World Cup in 2007.

Jones took the Japan job in 2012 and lead over a period of unprecedented success, including a run of 10 successive wins, a record for a tier two nation, and beating South Africa in Brighton.

In November 2015, he agreed a 4-year deal with England. In January 2018, Eddie Jones signed a two-year contract extension to remain in his position as England head coach until 2021.

By April 2020, Jones had led England to two Six Nations titles - including a Grand Slam in 2016 - a 3-0 series victory in Australia and an 18-match unbeaten run.

He signed a new deal until the 2023 Rugby World Cup in April 2020 after leading England to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. At the time Jones' 78 per cent win ratio is the best of any England coach in the nation's history.

The Australian has overseen 42 wins in 54 Tests as England coach, including leading them to last year's Rugby World Cup final, where they were beaten by South Africa.

On signing the new deal Jones said: "We set out four years ago to be the best team in the world and unfortunately we missed that by 80 minutes. Now we want to be the team that is remembered as being the greatest team the game has ever seen. It's a big ambition but I believe we are capable of doing it."

Lee Johnson is currently the longest serving manager in the English Championship. Having been a professional player in England, he then became one of the youngest managers in the UK, and since then has had successful spells at Oldham Athletic, Barnsley FC and now as the manager of Bristol City FC.

Ange Postecoglou is the regarded as the greatest Australian coach of all time. Success at both club and international level has seen him win several titles in Australia and Japan, as well as in Asia with the Australian National Team. His teams play incredible football, he inspires the fans and his leadership is one of high principles and values.

Sir John Kirwan is a former All Black and Head Coach. He played for New Zealand for over a decade, and was one of the highest scorers in international rugby union history. He was part of the New Zealand team that won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He is the former head coach of the Auckland Blues in Super Rugby, and the Japan and Italy national teams. Since his playing days, he has opened up to New Zealand and shared his personal story of depression, resilience and hope. His journey has led him to an active involvement with mental health awareness campaigns in New Zealand where he speaks openly about his battle. JK is passionate about mental health within sport and also putting an end to suicide, he helps thousands of people and students each year.

Alan Hudson was one of the true greats, a footballing maverick. George Best said ‘he was the finest player of his generation.’ German International, and current World champion Gunter Netzer, said after they played, ‘where have England been hiding this player?’

The original rebellious Kings Road kid burst onto the football scene at a time that London was truly swinging. Alan Hudson's career was one long roller-coaster ride and was marked by clashes with the establishment and the authorities. His was a rags to riches and back again story, the highs saw him winning European trophies and playing for his country and the lows include a hit and run incident that put him in a coma for 59 days. Alan truly believes the 'accident' was actually an attempt on his life.

John is the Chief Football writer for the Daily Mirror, having worked with the paper for over 20 years. He is also the author of 'Arsene Wenger - The Inside Story of Arsenal Under Arsene Wenger'. The book is claimed to be the most comprehensive biography on Arsene Wenger ever published.

John started his career working for the Islington Gazette, and it was there that he began to develop his unrivalled contacts at Arsenal. Since 1999 he has been working for the Daily Mirror, where he is the paper's Chief Football Writer and the lead reporter on the club.

Stuart has worked at the highest level of International Sport. He was appointed to the role of England Head Coach in 2011 and led the team through four Six Nations campaigns and a Rugby World Cup in 2015.

He is a former Leeds Tykes player and played representative rugby with Scotland at age grade level.

Having been forced to retire due to injury at the age of 30, the qualified teacher moved into coaching and had roles with the Leeds Academy and Leeds Carnegie before being appointed as the RFU’s Head of Elite Player Development in 2008 which included coaching the England Saxons. He then became Head Coach of England Rugby.

Prior to joining Leinster Rugby as Senior Coach in September 2016, Lancaster had short term roles with the Atlanta Falcons, with British Cycling’s world-class performance programme, with the English FA and with Counties Manukau in the Mitre 10 Cup in New Zealand.