{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/675f8ef164b31a6479635833/68db30826d92c33f9c0cca44?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Soccerish | Ep 7 |How Kansas City Current Won the NWSL Shield — with Freya Coombe","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/675f8ef164b31a6479635833/1759379652614-b14f023f-88c7-4f94-ab90-deee555f29fe.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Kansas City Current assistant coach <strong>Freya Coombe</strong> joins <strong>Christina Unkel</strong> and <strong>Lori Lindsey</strong> to unpack the culture, detail, and day-to-day standards behind KC’s runaway <strong>NWSL Shield</strong> season. Freya also shares the now-legendary story of the <strong>Rolling Stones</strong> concert that almost derailed an early coaching opportunity—and what that taught her about preparation and accountability. We dig into why moving from <strong>head coach</strong> to <strong>assistant</strong> changed player dynamics (“<em>they hate me less now</em>”), and we answer a listener’s question on soccer’s “mysterious numbers”: what a <strong>6/8/9/10</strong> actually do, with KC examples.</p><p><strong>What you’ll hear</strong></p><ul><li>KC Current’s blueprint: culture &gt; clarity &gt; ruthless game management</li><li>“Standards don’t sleep”: <strong>work, don’t whine</strong>—and <em>double down after you win</em></li><li>The assistant’s lens: relationships, selection pressure, and set-piece/defensive detail</li><li>Positions explainer: clear, simple breakdown of <strong>6 / 8 / 9 / 10</strong> (no jargon)</li></ul><p><strong>Chapters (mm:ss)</strong></p><p>00:00 Cold open — Stones night, dawn flight, and a first-impression test</p><p>02:00 Stakes — KC’s Shield in September; why this season is different</p><p>05:20 Origin beat — the MetLife concert story and what it changed</p><p>10:10 Why KC win — standards, rotation, and game-state control</p><p>17:10 Inside the staff — defensive detail under Vlatko; clean-sheet mentality</p><p>19:30 “They hate me less now” — assistant vs. head coach dynamics</p><p>33:20 Culture rules — train like champs; <strong>work, don’t whine</strong></p><p>36:57 After the Shield — “now is when we <strong>double down</strong>”</p><p>41:40 Listener letter — what a <strong>6/8/9/10</strong> actually do (KC examples)</p><p>47:50 Wrap — playoff look-ahead + where to find more</p><p><strong>Guest</strong></p><p><strong>Freya Coombe</strong> — Assistant Coach, <strong>Kansas City Current</strong>; former head coach at <strong>Gotham FC (Sky Blue)</strong> and <strong>Angel City FC</strong>.</p><p><strong>Watch &amp; follow</strong></p><p>• All episodes on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SoccerishPodcast</p><p>• Show notes &amp; clips (Substack) → https://www.soccerishpodcast.com/</p><p>• Shorts playlist → https://www.youtube.com/@SoccerishPodcast/shorts</p><p>• IG/TikTok/YouTube: @SoccerishPodcast</p><p><strong>Hosts</strong></p><p><strong>Christina Unkel</strong> (CBS/ITV rules analyst; FIFA referee) &amp; <strong>Lori Lindsey</strong> (CBS/Amazon/Apple analyst; former USWNT).</p><p><strong>Contact / bookings</strong></p><p>info@thesoccerpodcastusa.com | Red Card Productions</p>","author_name":"Red Card Productions"}