Mehran Rowshan

If Ronaldo can switch off the elite mentality just to be a father to his son, the rest of us have no excuse.I watched his video with little Mateo, and it reminded me of something I see every week at matches: parents stuck in coach mode. Correcting. Instructing. Giving feedback with the best intentions and quietly shaking their child's confidence without realizing it.Here's what I've learned after years of working with parents and players: correction doesn't build a player. Connection does.In this video I talk about the awkward car ride home, over-celebrating, trusting the coach, and the one question every parent should ask themselves before they say a word: what am I adding to my child's day?Be their safe space. Be their father. Let the coaches coach.

📘 Want to go deeper? I created The Football Parent Code, a complete guide with journaling prompts to help you become the parent your child actually needs on their football journey:

https://mehran-rowshan.mykajabi.com/footballparent

💬 If you're brave enough, write one thing in the comments you realize you need to change. Not for me. For you.🔔 Subscribe I talk about the things most parents won't say out loud.00:00 Intro00:51 Allowing Kids to Grow in Sports they Love01:45 Connection VS Correction03:45 Critic = Awkward Car Ride Back Home05:03 Highlight Positivity but Do NOT Over Celebrate06:12 Be the Safe Space07:11 Trust the Professionals08:39 See the Long Game09:26 Journaling Helps to Reflect for the Best Action

He went from a village in Kerala to winning the Champions League with Chelsea, twice. And almost no one knows his name.In this episode of the Rowshan Podcast, I sat down with Dr Vinay Menon — one of the most respected wellness and recovery experts in elite football, who spent over a decade at the heart of Chelsea Football Club. The New York Times once called him their secret weapon. He worked with the best managers and players in the world, and he built the path from Kerala to the Premier League that almost no one thought was possible.But this conversation goes far beyond football. It's about what it actually takes to perform at the highest level — and why the thing that matters most is the thing nobody sees.We got into:– His journey from a village in Kerala to the Champions League with Chelsea– Why he describes wellness as "like salt" — everywhere, invisible, and the difference between thriving and falling apart– What separates the truly elite managers and players from everyone else– Why recovery and sleep are the most underrated tools in performance — and why nobody does them– The link between adrenaline and injury that most people have never heard– "Be a parent, don't be a coach" — what youth football gets wrong– Why performance is the alignment of body, mind, and emotion– Sleep hygiene, taking breaks, and his vow of silence– Why he no longer has a biggest fear in life– "Don't be the creator of your own problems"One of the most grounded, genuinely useful conversations we've had on the show.🎙 FOLLOW DR VINAY MENONhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-vinay-menon-b487bb1b3/https://www.instagram.com/vinay.p.menon/If this conversation gave you something, share it with someone who needs to hear it.⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro02:16 Self-Introduction: Vinay Menon04:24 Career at Chelsea: Kerala to London11:25 Pursuit of Purpose14:59 Wellness is Happiness18:04 Wellness is Oneness20:53 Everything is For the Good23:46 Believe in Tomorrow, Don't Predict It26:40 Engaging with Players Before and After a Match32:20 Giving Managers a Proper Grounding33:16 Working with Academy Players38:42 Be a Parent, Don't Be a Coach42:28 Performance is the Alignment of Body, Mind and Emotion47:08 The Importance of Recovery in Performance52:18 A Positive Statement, Then Sleep55:52 Sleep Hygiene01:03:03 Everyone Needs a Break01:04:54 The Vow of Silence01:09:19 A Holistic Approach to Recovery and Wellbeing01:12:33 Human Performance: The Ultimate Goal01:13:54 No Biggest Fear in Life Anymore01:16:08 Don't Be the Creator of Your Problems#RowshanPodcast #Football #Chelsea #Recovery #Wellness #VinayMenon #Performance #DubaiPodcast #MentalHealth #Sleep

Everyone's afraid AI is coming for their job. Dua Al Toobi says we're asking the wrong question.In this episode of the Rowshan Podcast, I sat down with Dua Al Toobi, workforce transformation advisor, best-selling author, and broadcaster who spent years inside the rooms where companies decide whose job stays and whose job goes. Her argument: AI isn't taking your job. It's redefining your value. And once you understand the difference, everything changes.This conversation is for anyone worried about their career, anyone hiring, anyone starting out, and anyone trying to figure out what comes next in a world that won't stop changing.One of the most genuinely useful conversations we've recorded, especially if you're early in your career or wondering what's next.🎙 FOLLOW DUA AL TOOBIhttps://www.instagram.com/dua_altoobi/https://www.linkedin.com/in/duaa-al-toobi/🎙 FOLLOW MEHRAN ROWSHANhttps://www.instagram.com/mehranrowshanIf this conversation helped you, share it with someone navigating their career.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

02:05 Self-Introduction: Dua Al Toobi

02:40 Future-Proofing Careers

05:01 Can AI Take Jobs Easily?

08:28 Advantages of AI Courses

10:22 Job Applications and CVs

14:19 Impact Language vs Skill Set

18:38 Greater Chances of Getting Hired

20:06 Genuine Interest and Curiosity

21:25 Add Value Before You're Hired

24:48 Instant Gratification vs Delayed Gratification

26:05 Paying Forward Knowledge

28:33 Lowest Point in Life as a Silver Lining

34:21 Failures Are Also Blessings

35:21 Setbacks Are the Setup for Great Comebacks

39:01 No One Is Ever Over-Prepared

43:08 How to Convince a Busy CEO to Mentor You

45:13 Find Ways to Contribute Value

47:44 Importance of Mentorship

49:08 Confidence Comes From Competence

52:32 Biggest Fear of Losing a Family Member

55:56 Move in a Direction That Will Light You Up

57:10 Add Value to What You're Passionate

About#RowshanPodcast #FutureOfWork #AI #CareerAdvice #DuaAlToobi #Hiring #PersonalGrowth #DubaiPodcast #Mentorship #Resilience

FIFA has introduced a set of new rules for the 2026 World Cup and some of them will completely change how the game is played and managed.From mouth-covering penalties to time-wasting countdowns, these new rules are designed to clean up the game, speed up play, and reduce confrontation. Whether you're a player, coach, or fan — you need to understand them before the tournament starts.In this video I break down every new rule, what it means in practice, and how it will affect the way teams play.The new rules covered:Some of these will be controversial. Some are long overdue. All of them matter for 2026.💬 Which new rule do you agree with — and which one do you think is a mistake? Tell me in the comments.🔔 Subscribe for honest football breakdowns.

Most coaching mistakes aren't about tactics. They're about behavior and most coaches don't even realize they're making them.After years on the pitch, I've seen the same coaching habits repeat themselves over and over. They're not about formations or drills. They're about how a coach carries himself, treats his players, and manages his own ego.In this video I break down the most common coaching mistakes — the small things that quietly damage player development, team culture, and your credibility as a coach.What we cover:00:00 Coaching Etiquette00:29 Sitting on the ball01:11 Aiming to win all the time02:00 Stopping the sessions all the time03:29 Unclear Instructions03:41 Treating training as punishment04:29 Getting involved with other coaches/parents05:06 Arguing with the referee06:02 Harmful body language07:30 Coaches' Ego VS Kids' DevelopmentWhether you're a new coach or you've been doing this for years, these are the things worth checking yourself on.💬 Which one are you guilty of? Be honest in the comments.🔔 Subscribe for honest coaching content from the pitch.

Communication might be the most underrated skill of the next decade — and in this episode, international presenter, TEDx speaker and communication coach Flo Akinbiyi breaks down exactly how the best in the world do it.

We get into the science of charisma (and why Barack Obama scores an almost unbelievable 96%), how to use your voice as a tool, why most people in business sound boring, and the small, almost invisible techniques that make people instantly like and trust you.

Flo shares stories from sharing the stage with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michelle Obama and Pep Guardiola, why self-deprecating humour signals a mature personal brand, how to recover from mistakes in real time, and why "human-first communication" matters more than ever in an AI world.

Whether you lead a team, build a brand, or just want to communicate with more impact, this one is full of practical tools you can use immediately.

📲 Follow Flo Akinbiyi:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flo_akinbiyi/

📲 Follow Mehran:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mehranrowshan/

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:26 Exploring Communication
03:37 Self-Introduction: Flo Akinbiyi
04:54 Arnold Schwarzenegger as a Communicator
09:32 Becoming a Better Communicator as You Age
10:58 Influencing People in a Positive Way
12:23 Voice Patterns
14:08 Punchline Rhythm
15:17 A Little Compliment Doesn't Hurt
17:47 Humour is an Asset
19:03 Non-Verbal Communication
21:03 Dressing Well as Communication
22:26 Barack Obama as a Communicator
23:48 Voice Profile Charisma Score
25:10 Body Language vs Voice Modulation
27:07 Emphasis and Pauses
30:15 Personal Branding and Communication
33:21 Self-Deprecating Humour = Mature Brand
36:28 Miscommunication vs Clear Communication
40:29 Audience Attention and Creativity
41:23 Pep Guardiola as a Communicator
43:07 Human Relationships through Communication
47:36 Voice Awareness = Competence, Confidence, Passion
49:36 Human-First Communication
51:38 His Biggest Fear
53:10 It's Always FOOTBALL, not Soccer

Which communicator do you admire most? Drop a comment 👇

#communication #publicspeaking #charisma #leadership #podcast #FloAkinbiyi #personalbranding #TEDx

Talent gets noticed. Intelligence gets you to the top.In this video, I break down what separates a smart footballer from a talented one — and why football intelligence is the most underrated quality in player development today.After 20+ years of coaching, the players I've seen go furthest aren't always the most gifted. They're the ones who think faster, read the game earlier, and make better decisions under pressure.This is for serious players, parents who want their kids to develop properly, and coaches who care about more than just skill.⏱

Chapters

0:00 The Intelligent Footballer

0:45 Smart Players Anticipate

2:38 Knowing When to Demand the Ball

3:32 Smart Players Learn From Everything

5:21 Performing in Difficult Situations

6:30 Football Intelligence is a Choice

🎯 For parents who want to support their child the right way:The Football Parent Code: https://mehran-rowshan.mykajabi.com/footballparent

⚽ For young players ready to develop seriously:The Football Player Code: https://mehran-rowshan.mykajabi.com/footballplayer

#FootballIntelligence #YouthFootball #FootballDevelopment #AllianceFC #MehranRowshan

Everyone wants to start a football club. Almost no one tells you the truth about what it actually takes.In this episode of the Rowshan Podcast, I sat down with my friend Chris Brown — someone I've known for nearly 18 years. Chris went from being a professional footballer in England, to a coach, to building multiple football companies in Dubai: IJF Academy, the Mina Cup, CBF Sports Equipment, and more. He's one of the few people who's actually walked the full path from player to coach to entrepreneur — and lived every hard lesson along the way.This conversation is for anyone in football who's wondering what comes next. If you want to coach, build a club, or turn your passion into a business — this one's for you.We got into:– Why it took me 6 years to admit my club was a business — and Chris's reframe on why that's exactly what made it work– Losing your identity when football ends, and why so many young players struggle when the dream stops– The honest reality of running a club: parents, cash flow, and keeping standards high– Why finding and keeping the right people is the hardest part of any business– The cash flow lessons we both learned the hard way (including selling watches to make payroll)– Why educating parents matters more than coaching kids– How celebrating every goal can quietly teach a child that love is conditional on performance– The real odds of going pro — and why we should be building better people, not just better playersTwo people who've built clubs from nothing, talking honestly about what it really costs.🎙 FOLLOW CHRIS BROWNhttps://www.instagram.com/brownstar01https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-brown-57139b14/📲 FOLLOW THE SHOWInstagram: @rowshanpodcastTikTok: @rowshan.podcast🎧 LISTEN & WATCHYouTube / Spotify / Apple / Castbox If this conversation helped you, share it with someone chasing a football dream.⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 Start00:53 Podcast overview01:30 Introduction of guest Chris Brown03:43 From coaching to business08:14 Founding CBF and Mina Cup10:33 Building a third venture12:46 Discovering the coaching path15:34 Identity beyond football17:23 Pivoting from coaching19:14 Moving from coaching to entrepreneurship22:49 Advice for starting a football club26:33 The importance of parent education29:50 Reality of professional football32:40 Realizing football as a business35:38 Codes of conduct for parents36:57 Working with the right people38:45 Managing cash flow41:03 The hiring strategy44:45 Chris's biggest fear#RowshanPodcast #Football #Entrepreneurship #FootballBusiness #ChrisBrown #Coaching #DubaiPodcast #FootballAcademy #YouthFootball

11 years. One club built from scratch. Here's everything nobody told me — and everything I got completely wrong.I'm sitting alone in my office. The coaches are outside. And I want to say something I've never said on camera before.What it actually cost me to build Alliance FC from scratch.Not money. Everything else.This video is for anyone who wants to build something — a club, a business, a team, a family. Because the lessons I learned the hard way apply to all of it.What I cover:— Why starting Alliance was never a business decision — and why that was my biggest mistake— Why I turned away players for 4 years and what that really cost me— The trap of getting too attached to the people you build something for— Trusting the wrong people — and what happens when they destroy what you built from within— Why structure saves everything — and why I almost lost it all without it— What I would do completely differently from day oneI've made mistakes I'm still not proud of. I've had my heart broken more times than I expected. And somehow, through COVID, through regional conflict, through everything — we're still here.This one's personal. I hope it helps someone.💬 Are you building something right now? Tell me where you are in the comments.🔔 Subscribe — I talk about the things most people won't say out loud.0:00 Costs of building a club from scratch 0:27 Why did I start a football club2:38 Not just football 4:00 Lost revenue 5:50 Getting too attached 7:40 The Boundaries 8:33 Understanding parents 9:25 Learning from mistakes 10:23 Create a structure

Most parents think abuse means hitting. It doesn't. And most parents believe they'd know if something was wrong with their child. Often, they don't.In this episode of the Rowshan Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Asmahan Saleh — child psychologist, researcher, and adjunct professor whose work focuses on safeguarding children and empowering the adults around them.This is one of the most important conversations we've recorded. It's sensitive, it's honest, and it's ultimately about something hopeful: how to raise resilient, confident, safe children — and the surprisingly simple thing that protects them more than any rule.We talked about:– Why the single most protective thing for a child is having one safe, connected adult they can go to– Why coaches, teachers and mentors often hear things a child won't tell their own parents– What emotional abuse actually is — and why it's not always loud or angry– The red flags any adult around children should watch for– Grooming, and why "90% of abuse is by someone you know" is more nuanced than it sounds– Sleepovers, body boundaries, and teaching a child to confidently say no– Why shouting at a child to get performance backfires — in sport and in life– How to turn a hard moment ("a coach told me to shut up") into resilience– Raising anti-fragile children who come out of difficulty stronger– Why football, done right, is one of the best character-development tools there isDr. Asmahan speaks with the depth that only comes from years of working with children in their hardest moments. If you're a parent, a coach, a teacher, or anyone with children in your life — this one matters.⚠️ A NOTE BEFORE YOU WATCHThis episode discusses child abuse, including sexual and emotional abuse, and briefly references suicide. If any part of this conversation brings up something from your own experience, please know that's common — and you don't have to carry it alone. Reaching out for support, whether to a professional, a trusted person, or a community you trust, is a sign of strength.🆘 If you or someone you know needs support:[Add current, verified, properly-staffed helpline numbers for the UAE and international audiences before publishing — confirm they are active and correct.]⏱ CHAPTERS00:00 Intro[Add real timestamps from the final edit — see note below]🎙 FOLLOW DR. ASMAHAN SALEHhttps://www.instagram.com/dr.asmahan.sk/🎙 FOLLOW MEHRAN ROWSHANhttps://instagram.com/mehranrowshan📲 FOLLOW THE SHOWInstagram: https://instagram.com/rowshanpodcastTikTok: @rowshan.podcastIf this conversation helped you, share it with a parent, a coach, or anyone with children in their life. It might be the thing that helps a child.#RowshanPodcast #Parenting #ChildSafety #Safeguarding #DrAsmahanSaleh #Resilience #Parenthood #DubaiPodcast #ChildPsychology00:00 Episode 1201:30 Self Introduction: Dr Asmahan Saleh04:05 Community's Role in Child Safeguarding06:13 Kids Tell Things to their Coach More than their Parents07:22 Trauma and Disclosure09:46 Signs of Abuse11:40 Sudden Unexplainable Behavioural Change14:57 Regression of the Collective Intelligence of the Generation16:07 Child's Confidence VS Academic Grades18:26 Child Abuse and Its Types21:01 Adults Influence Kids' Behaviour25:13 Different Levels of Progress and Success27:30 Sexual Abuse29:16 Width of a Child's Caretaking Network31:39 Sleepovers32:36 Body Boundaries: Learning When to Say NO33:20 Fight, Flight or Freeze35:07 Foundation of Connection, Skills and Values38:29 Impacts of Sexual Abuse40:52 Emotional and Verbal Abuse42:28 Words Impact Kids' Behaviour46:46 Consequences and Limitations48:35 Reframing with Respect51:01 Consistency in Words Create Assurance & Safety53:24 Advice to Parents: Honesty55:01 Peer Pressure, Curiosity and Threats57:17 Resilience: Anti-Fragility01:01:05 Team Sports Build Decision Making Skills and Character01:05:03 Biggest Fear of Being Irrelevant to my Children