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A decade ago, Anthony Barry featured in League Two. Currently, he's dedicated supporting the head coach secure World Cup glory in 2026. His path from player to coach commenced as an unpaid coach with the youth team. Barry reflects, “Nights, a small field, tasked with 11 vs 11 … poor equipment, limited resources,” and it captivated him. He realized his calling.

Metoric Climb

The coach's journey has been remarkable. Starting with his first major job, he built a name for innovative drills and excellent people skills. His club career took him to Chelsea and Bayern Munich, while also serving in international positions for Ireland, Belgium, and Portugal. He's coached legends including world-class talents. Currently, in the England setup, it’s full-time, the peak in his words.

“Dreams are the starting point … But I’m a believer that dedication shifts obstacles. You have the dream and then you plan: ‘How do we do it, day-by-day, step-by-step?’ We dream about winning the World Cup. Yet dreams alone aren't enough. We must create a structured plan enabling us to have the best chance.”

Obsession with Details

Obsession, especially with the smallest details, defines Barry’s story. Toiling around the clock day and night, the coaching duo challenge limits. Their strategies involve mental assessments, a strategy for high temperatures for the World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and building a true team. Barry emphasizes the England collective and avoids language such as "break".

“This isn't a vacation or a pause,” Barry says. “It was vital to establish a setup that attracts the squad and they're pushed that going back is a relief.”

Driven Leaders

The assistant coach says and the head coach as “very greedy”. “We aim to control all parts of the match,” he states. “We seek to command the entire field and that’s what we spend most of our time to. Our responsibility not only to stay ahead with developments and to lead and innovate. It’s a constant process to have this problem/solution-finding mentality. And to simplify complexity.

“We get 50 days together with the team prior to the World Cup. We need to execute a sophisticated style for a tactical edge and explain it thoroughly in our 50 days with them. It’s to take it from thought to data to understanding to action.

“To develop a process enabling productivity during the limited time, we have to use all the time available from when we started. When the squad is away, it's vital to develop bonds among them. It's essential to invest time in calls with players, observing them live, understand them, connect with them. If we limit ourselves to that time, we have no chance.”

World Cup Qualifiers

The coach is focusing ahead of the concluding matches of World Cup qualifiers – against Serbia at Wembley and in Albania. England have guaranteed a spot in the tournament by winning all six games and six clean sheets. Yet, no let-up is planned; on the contrary. Now is the moment to strengthen the squad's character, for further momentum.

“We are both certain that the football philosophy must reflect all the positives of English football,” he comments. “The physicality, the flexibility, the strength, the honesty. The England jersey needs to be highly competitive but comfortable to have on. It ought to be like a superhero's cape and not body armour.

“For it to feel easy, we need to provide an approach that enables them to operate similar to weekly matches, that feels natural and encourages attacking play. They should overthink less and focus more on action.

“There are emotional wins for managers in the first and final thirds – building from the defense, attacking high up. But in the middle area of the pitch, those 24 metres, we believe play has stagnated, especially in England's top flight. Coaches have extensive data currently. They know how to set up – mid-blocks, deep blocks. We are focusing to increase tempo in that central area.”

Thirst for Improvement

The coach's thirst for development knows no bounds. While training for the top coaching badge, he felt anxious regarding the final talk, especially as his class included stars such as Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick. To enhance his abilities, he entered difficult settings he could find to practise giving them. One was HMP Walton in his home city of Liverpool, where he also took inmates for a training session.

Barry graduated as the best in his year, and his dissertation – focusing on set-pieces, in which he examined 16,154 throw-ins – became a published work. Lampard was among those impressed and he hired Barry on to his staff at Chelsea. After Lampard's dismissal, it was telling that the team dismissed virtually all of his coaches but not Barry.

Lampard’s successor at Stamford Bridge took over, within months, they secured European glory. When he was let go, the coach continued under Graham Potter. However, when Tuchel returned at Munich, he brought Barry over of Chelsea and back alongside him. English football's governing body view them as a partnership akin to Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland.

“I’ve never seen anything like Thomas {in terms of personality and methodology|in character and approach|