In September last year, Chris Powell joined Gareth Southgate's coaching staff at the England men's national football team.

Powell's appointment was part of the Football Association's Elite Coach Placement Programme, which sought to place black, Asian and other minority ethnic coaches at various stages of the national player pathway.

It is a position he discusses at length in this episode of At Home With Leaders, which is brought to you today by our sponsors Football Manager, the global hit football simulation game.

The role also meant Powell, who played more that 760 senior matches before embarking on his coaching career a decade ago, had to spend his 50th birthday at an England training camp. "Normally I'd be planning a party or having a big meal with my family," he explains, "but I preferred this, to be honest!"

Powell spoke to co-hosts Matthew Stone, Leaders’ Senior Product Manager, and sports psychologist and consultant Michael Caulfield, whose clients include Brentford FC, Northampton Saints RFC and Hampshire CCC.

Also on the agenda were:

- How the shutdown might have changed him as a coach [5:00];

- The evolving outlook of the modern player [14:00];

- Why Gareth Southgate welcomes being challenged at training [20:00];

- The capacity for footballers to effect change in society and the implications for their performance [28:00].

Michael Caulfield: Twitter | LinkedIn

Matthew Stone: Twitter | LinkedIn

Further listening:

At Home With Leaders - Simon Timson

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