The Insider's Lounge
The Insider's Lounge
Sammy Lander - The Science of Substitutions: Insights from Soccer's First Substitution Coach (S2 E7)
In this episode of The Insider's Lounge, host Chad McArthur speaks with Sammy Lander, known as Soccer's First Substitution Coach and the Head of Research and Innovation at Loudoun United. Sammy shares his groundbreaking journey in football, where he has worked with teams from the Premier League, Championship, League One, Scottish Premiership, MLS, Ligue 1, The FA, National South, and Primeira Liga. He discusses the innovative role of a substitutions coach, emphasizing the importance of preparing players physically, mentally, and tactically to make impactful performances.
Sammy draws on his unique experiences, including his work as a Publisher of Expected Impact (xI), and highlights the need for a cultural shift in how substitutes are viewed within teams. He also delves into the challenges he faced, including overcoming the adversity of losing sight in one eye due to a car accident.
Listeners will gain insights into his data-driven strategies and the psychological aspects of preparing substitutes, along with reflections on his time at AFC Wimbledon. Sammy shares exciting news about his upcoming book, “Finishers,” which explores his coaching philosophy and the future of substitutions in football. Additionally, find articles and interviews featuring his work in outlets such as Sky Sports, BBC Sport, The Athletic, Tifo Football, and Training Ground Guru.
Join us for this engaging conversation that reshapes how we view the bench and its players.
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Sammy's X: https://x.com/sammy_landerr
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro + First Soccer Memory
02:23 Blindness in Right Eye
05:14 Transition to Coaching and Analysis
09:36 Weymouth: A Career Shift
13:13 Inspirations for Coaching and Analysis
16:25 Role of a Substitution Coach
21:25 Understanding Expected Impact (xI)
25:35 What Makes a Super Sub?
27:45 AFC Wimbledon Experience
29:30 Sharing Valuable Information
33:00 Coaching Around the World
36:22 Educating Players and Building Trust
40:58 Revamping Warm-Up Routines
42:52 Finishers, Not Substitutes
45:32 Psychology of Substitutes
47:00 Player Workload and Subs
48:44 Social Impact of Substitutes
52:25 Influential Figures in Sammy’s Career
53:45 Overcoming Setbacks
55:00 Relating Subs to Life
56:50 Sammy’s Future Outlook
58:57 Quick-Fire Questions
1:01:08 Outro
#sammylander #substitution #analyst
