Sam Hudson has spent almost 10 years as a coach.

Roles coaching at camps and clubs in the US, including New Jersey Soccer Group, were followed by time spent at academies in the UK, including Derby County.

Now an Academy coach at Aston Villa, Sam has recently published his first book, Football in a Pandemic, an insight into the strategies and tactics used during the 2020- 21 Premier League season.

I asked Sam for some of his technical expertise on the role of the defender, talking about the key attributes required, how we can build defending into our practices, and the role both body shape and physicality play in defending...