This episode we are joined by Matt Smith, striker extraordinaire! Feared by defenders, coaches and fans across the land, his unique journey is a triumph of opportunity, persistence, practice and knowing what you excel at - and doing it! 

Having recently completed his MBA and on the back of hanging up his boots after a prolific 25-goal season at his final club Salford, Matt has scored goals everywhere he's been; Leeds United, Millwall, Fulham, Bristol City, QPR and so on. But his roots are in the non-league having been spotted at University and investing in beer-money for nights out! But then things changed... 

And now as he embarks on the next stage of his career with SEQUEL, an investment platform for athletes to support early stage start-ups, he gives us some insights into how that all came about - as his academic life completes its full circle and he blends both careers - pro sports and buisness - into an exciting new venture! 

Join us as we have a great discussion with Matt on Breaking Lines with... 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

08:26 Transition from Non-League to Professional

12:02 Challenges and Successes at Various Clubs

20:30 The Impact of COVID-19 on Football

25:17 Exploring Different Training Philosophies in Football

26:18 The Trailblazing Coaching Methods of Slavisa Jokanovic

29:17 The Evolution of Playing Styles in Football

30:44 The Importance of Repetition and Practice in Scoring Goals

35:07 Reflecting on a Memorable Hat-Trick Performance

36:34 Honesty and Respect in Conversations about Playing Time

43:30 The Role of Data in Football: Balancing Information and Intuition

49:19 Transitioning from Football to the Business World

Keywords: Matt Smith, football, career, non-league, professional, Oldham, Leeds, Fulham, Millwall, COVID-19, training sessions, football, training philosophies, coaching methods, scoring goals, practice, playing time, honesty, respect, data, intuition, business world, Sequel