Marque Coaching Memories

My Time at Manchester United

Features and News by Nino Severino

I was reading an article on Rio Ferdinand, it took me back to when Rio and my life paths crossed at the beginning of my elite coaching journey. It was one of those pivotal events that affected my whole life.

I invented a training system called Footsport Dynamics and presented it at a professional sports conference at the NEC in Birmingham.

Some of the Manchester United Football Club representatives attended and watched my demonstration and on my drive back home, I got a call from my office saying that they had bought the system.

Within a week I was on my way to the world-renowned Manchester United Training ground, Carrington. I met the Manchester United coaching staff led by a great man called Joe Filo who made this experience outstanding.

Great memories of the time I spent with Jo Filho and the Manchester United FC Coaching Team

I set my equipment out and waited for the under-18 squad to appear, there was a door that I was told they were going to come through and I was expecting a group of young players with big dreams. What happened next was a moment I will never forget.

There was a big bang, the door was flung open and a young first team player called Wayne Rooney came bounding energetically into the training area. He was followed by Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand.

Rooney was very friendly and started some banter, I had an inspirational conversation with Ole, before seeing Rio and the rest of the first team members all moving outside for their training session.

I then did what I was there to do and delivered the session for the under 18 players, which in itself was very positive for me personally. The backroom staff were very engaging, and were all obviously at the top of their game. Life experiences brings opportunities to meet other like mind industry leading professionals, these opportunities need to be embraced. For me, talking to professionals who are very knowledgeable about their craft, helps me grow as a professional myself, discussing the system to both the physio’s and the strength and conditioning coaches was immensely valuable, as I was focused on cultivating and developing the connection of both these professionals with the training system that I had invented.

After the session, Joe Filho approached me, and asked if I would like to stay for lunch, and of course I agreed. Joe personally joined me for lunch, which was incredible, the depth and breadth of football knowledge this man possessed was incredible, and it led to an amazing conversation that digressed into many other nonspecific football subjects. It was also a bit surreal to join a line for the buffet, in front of me was Wayne Rooney, behind was Rio Ferdinand and Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

We all experience life changing moments, for me, this one validated how much I loved working with elite athletes, and motivated me even further to keep developing my craft and seeing where the path of programme designer and creator would take my life.

The Hub training, support and education is delivered from multiple sites, by The Hub team of experts