ISSUE 008: The man quietly shaping the minds of American coaches

IN THIS ISSUE

• 🤝 Introduction: Little known but influential

• ☕️ A Special Offer: 15% off at Kickoff Coffee Co.

• 👨‍🎓 Soccer Thought Leaders: The man quietly shaping the minds of American coaches

• 👥 Mentorship Opportunity: 1-on-1 with Frédéric Lipka of MLS

• ⚽️ Soccer Jobs: The most interesting new jobs in soccer

• ⭐️ Featured Job: Senior Software Engineer - Washington Spirit

• 🫵 Do This Now: A framework for navigating your next career move

INTRODUCTION

Hello, Pathwayers!

One of our favorite things here at Pathway is sharing the stories, successes, and wisdom of individuals who have played a key role in shaping our sport and advancing its progress.

Today, we’re pleased to introduce you to an individual who has quietly had a massive impact on American coaches for the better part of the last decade. Notable figures like 2023 MLS Cup winner Wilfried Nancy of Columbus Crew SC, two-time MLS Cup winner Greg Vanney of the LA Galaxy, FC Dallas Head Coach Nico Estevez, and San Jose Earthquakes Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez have been taught and mentored by this individual, with many other domestic coaches on the list.

That individual is Frédéric Lipka of Major League Soccer. Over that last ten years, he has worked tirelessly to improve coaching education and player development by successfully launching the Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL) as well as the MLS NEXT youth league - two initiatives that showcase his significant contributions to pushing the development of the beautiful game in North America. In our conversation, Fred provides insight into the qualities he has seen early on from these high performers and what it takes to be a leader in our sport as the game continues to evolve. 

His story is a good reminder that there are many, many people behind the scenes who are quietly having a massive impact on the future of the sport in North America.

-Nolan Sheldon, Co-Founder & Chief Experience Officer

SOCCER THOUGHT LEADERS: FRÉDÉRIC LIPKA OF MLS

“We don't just want consumers, we want people who think deeply about who they are and what kind of coach they want to be.”

A native of Metz, France, Frédéric Lipka began his post-playing career in 2000, with tenures as coach and sporting director at Racing Club de France (Paris), and then leading the youth academy at Le Havre Athletic Club from 2008 to 2011. 

In 2012, Fred embarked on a completely new career pathway, stepping away from the familiarity of his home country, with the goal of making a significant impact on the development of elite players in the United States. His initial focus was on forging a partnership between MLS and the French Football Federation to train MLS youth academy coaches. This vision was realized through the launch of the Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL), now widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive master’s degrees in soccer education today. 

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Fred, the Vice President & Technical Director of Player Development for MLS.

Questions and answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity (and any emphasis below is ours) 

PATHWAY: Let’s get started. Fred, take a moment to think back to the time leading up to your decision to move from France to the U.S. at the age of 42 - what was the motivation to make such a drastic shift in your life?

FRED: I moved here because I wanted to challenge myself and go out of my comfort zone, discover a new culture, and importantly, to try to have an impact on a country where a lot of things were still needed - USA and Canada were the perfect fit with great culture in sport, resources and a league putting a lot of effort into developing a sustainable model focused on player development. Here you can see easily the fruit of your work versus in Europe things are pretty well established.

PATHWAY: When you think of the Elite Formation Coaching License course environment, content, and instruction, what has made EFCL an effective coach-development program?

FRED: I think it's difficult to get results in a very short amount of time. So, it is a process where you have to be challenged, you have to go out of your comfort zone, so you have to accept to be uncomfortable. And what we do, we do with kindness, challenging the candidate about their knowledge, about their belief, and we try to shift and deconstruct what they know to enable them to acquire other methods, other thought processes to reinvest at the end in what they think is best for them and for their project. So, the curriculum in fact is only a kind of material, but the process behind is to let people discover it by themselves, to challenge them, to give them a response. We want to let them incubate what they think - we don't just want consumers, we want people who think deeply about who they are and what kind of coach they want to be.

PATHWAY: What was it about working with coaches that motivated you to move away from developing players to developing coaches?

FRED: Coach development is a very diverse job because every single coach is different but the objective is the same as with players - optimizing potential. With coach development you can impact many people’s lives, both coaches and players, knowing that if you develop a good coach you can impact hundreds of players. In fact, more than 100 coaches have gone through EFCL and those graduates also impact thousands of coaches and players. You can turn a program into a cycle for developing core group of experts which lead a new way. That’s the way I see it, EFCL graduates are our elite soldiers to spread out a new and better way to develop players. 

PATHWAY: Think of a young coach that is aspiring to be a top coach but isn’t currently in an ideal environment to develop or doesn’t have access to a mentor - what steps can this coach take in order to keep developing?

FRED: Good question. And difficult because you grow when you are exposed to a variety of stimulations and the different mentors or the coaches you’ve had in your career - the richness is the diversity of people you are going to meet and the quality of people you're going to meet. I would say you have a lot of ways now with the Internet, access to videos and documentaries, to get access to good resources to grow. But, I would say having someone you can talk to if it's not very close to where you live, you have to connect with someone. Traveling for a coaching clinic to take two or three days to watch a training session is also important. If you don't have a mentor, go get them by being proactive because with isolation, it's almost impossible to grow except via new technology, which has also some limits.

PATHWAY: You've been around elite youth coaches for years now within North America and have seen a number of these coaches progress to become first team coaches. Think back when you first met coaches like Wilfried Nancy, Greg Vanney, Nico Estevez and Luchi Gonzalez - what qualities did you see that allowed them to move from being a youth coach to a top first team coach?

FRED: Commitment. I see the commitment in what they're doing, commitment in their passion. It's two things. They're committed and passionate. I think they are hard workers, all of them. The names you gave were very reliable in terms of capacity to deliver what the instructor expected. And they also have personality. Each of them are completely different and in their differences they are unique and I think they were built to lead people in a different way.

PATHWAY: Share your perspective on leadership. Think about the best technical directors and academy directors at the MLS, NWSL and USL level. What qualities do the best leaders possess?

FRED: I would say you need to be kind, but you need to challenge. That means like with a player, you have to understand that the job has to be done and you have to be demanding. You have to push people to give their best, especially when they have high potential and they're capable. Be inspiring in being challenging, that means asking for results, but helping them to reach their potential and to be able to understand that it could take time. Being inspiring while also challenging, but be kind and help your people to grow - you do it because you love people. Personally, I could do another job, but being around people that are motivated and passionate is what I prefer.

PATHWAY: Okay, last question Fred, what's your favorite thing about working in soccer?

FRED: I like the community. I like being around the people passionate about what they're doing and we strive to be better. That's what I like.

Ed. note: You can connect with or follow Fred on LinkedIn.

PATHWAY MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITY: 1-ON-1 WITH FRÉDÉRIC LIPKA

Frédéric Lipka has kindly offered to conduct two (2) 1-on-1 mentorship sessions in early 2024. If you’re interested in speaking with Fred directly, click below to raise your hand for the opportunity. 🙋

• PATHWAY MENTORSHIP APPLICATION: Fred Lipka, Major League Soccer [click to apply!]

SOCCER JOBS: THE MOST INTERESTING NEW JOBS IN SOCCER

New week, new jobs! Here are a handful of the most interesting new jobs that have been posted over the last week.

• Director, Marketing - Sporting Club Jacksonville [USL]

• Director, Scouting & Recruitment - Angel City FC [NWSL]

• Academy Performance Coach - Columbus Crew SC [MLS]

• Assistant Women’s Coach - University of Louisville [NCAA]

• Director, Project Manager (Copa America 2024) - MLS [MLS HQ]

• Manager, Public Relations & Communications - Philadelphia Union [MLS]

• Senior Director, Institutional Giving - U.S. Soccer Federation [USSF HQ]

Want more? Sign up for our weekly “Pathway Jobs Newsletter” where we aggregate and share 100+ soccer jobs all in one place - and drop it into your inbox every Friday.

DO THIS NOW: A FRAMEWORK FOR NAVIGATING YOUR NEXT CAREER MOVE

The end of the year (and, for many in the sport, the offseason!) provides a natural opportunity to pause, assess your current work situation, and consider what the future holds. This particular offseason has been unique for us here at Pathway, as we’ve embraced the role of supporting our friends and colleagues who have been asking for advice when making decisions ahead of 2024 and next year’s on-field campaigns.  

While every person’s situation is unique, it’s clear through our conversations how deeply personal this evaluation process can be. To assist those facing similar situations, we’re sharing a framework we’ve developed for both ourselves and others. This framework is designed to facilitate clear decision making, helping you achieve the clarity and confidence needed when evaluating new opportunities and deciding “what’s next” in your career.

We hope you find it helpful. 🤝

Step 1: Evaluate Your Current Situation:

• Reflect on your current role and overall job satisfaction

• Take note of skills you’ve acquired or specific achievements

• Identify your skill gaps and areas for improvement 

• Consider those around you who are providing leadership and mentorship 

Step 2: Know Yourself and Your Priorities:

• Write down what excites you and outline your long-term career goals

• List your strengths, identifying the unique skills and qualities that define you 

• Be clear in your aspirations - where do you want to go? 

Step 3: Deconstruct New Opportunities:

• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the role’s duties and daily tasks

• Analyze the team dynamics and ensure alignment with your working style 

• Evaluate salary expectations, benefits packages, and career advancement opportunities to ensure alignment with personal financial goals and industry standards

Step 4: Identify Growth Potential:

• Determine if the role encourages you to expand on your skill set and capabilities. Remember, being uncomfortable can be a good thing!

• Identify training programs, mentorship opportunities, and/or options for continuing education 

• Probe in the interview process the company’s vision for future growth opportunities, whether in the role or within the organization

 Step 5: Check Yourself:

• Trust your instincts. At the end of the day, only you really know whether a new opportunity feels like it will be the right fit

• Evaluate if the job genuinely sparks enthusiasm and passion in you 

• Confirm that the opportunity aligns with your career and personal goals  

Final Thoughts: Remember, this is a framework, not a rigid script. Take it and tailor it to fit your unique needs, considering your current place in the industry, and the opportunities before you.  

We hope you find it useful!

-John Bello, Co-founder & COO

WHEN YOU’RE READY, HERE ARE A FEW WAYS WE CAN HELP:

1. If this email was forwarded to you, you can sign up here to ensure you get every issue (sent on Wednesdays!) directly in your inbox.

2. You can subscribe to our brand new Pathway Jobs Newsletter, which hits inboxes every Friday and lists as many new soccer jobs in North America as we can find.

3. And, if you’re a club or brand looking to hire the most ambitious talent in soccer, drop us a line and we can tell you about our process, our growing talent pool, and the services we offer.

TELL A FRIEND?

⏩ Finally, if you’re willing to help spread the word, please forward this issue along to a friend or two who love the beautiful game. It’s the top way people find us and we’re grateful for the assist.

And if you really want to plug in to all things Pathway, you can also follow us on social media:

• X [Twitter!]

• Instagram

• LinkedIn

LAST WEEK’S ISSUE: BEN OLSEN OF HOUSTON DYNAMO FC

In case you missed last week’s issue, you can find it here [reminder: It’s free!].

• We caught up with Houston Dynamo FC Head Coach Ben Olsen

• We shared a framework for preparation and reflection to consistently perform your primary responsibilities at a high level

• And, per usual, we shared a few soccer jobs! ⚽️

See you next week, soccer friends. We’ll have a special-edition newsletter for you that reflects the spirit of the holiday season. 🎄

• John Bello

• Kyle Sheldon

• Nolan Sheldon