Anthony Hudson has carved out a name for himself in the USA after guiding Real Maryland to the play-offs in his first full season at the helm.

This deep-thinking coach is still in his twenties and his attention to detail has been one of the defining reasons behind his success.

The son of former Chelsea and Stoke legend Alan Hudson, Anthony will usurp his father in the coaching stakes and has been keeping himself busy during the close season.

A whirlwind tour of England saw him take on board ideas from a variety of Premier League clubs as he was allowed to watch and discuss training methods and techniques.

However, he has also penned some thoughts on what it really takes to make the grade as a professional footballer and admits he is fed up of hearing bar-room bores.

The following excerpt is taken from his website www.anthonyhudson.us and gives an insight into Hudson’s methodology….

Go to any bar or pub in any footballing country and you’ll come across some of the greatest football players on this planet - that never actually played!

How many of the same conversations are spoken again and again, simultaneously around the world, amongst friends or whoever will stand there and listen – ‘I was a great player you know, I could have played in the Premier League, I could have played in the MLS, I was a better player than him when I was his age!’

Having been brought up in a footballing environment, and like many footballing fans, I have spent so much time in the company of people who thought they could make it in the game.

And what saddens me most, is when I look back and remember all the people that have spoken words similar to these. ‘I could have been this or I could have been that’.

What absolute nonsense!

I see lots of young players who say they want a career in the game so here are a just couple of suggestions that I feel can really help a young player’s development:

Learn From Others

I have always believed that it’s so important to have good role models. As a young player, I used to watch Frank Lampard at West Ham do extra training everyday after the rest of the team had gone home.

He worked harder than everyone. And this has always stuck in my mind – especially when I keep seeing him scoring goals and putting in top performances at the highest level for club and country

I have had the privilege of watching and learning from some top people, but I know it’s not so easy for all young players to get that first hand. I would suggest reading about players, reading players biographies. If you’re a midfielder for example, go and buy Frank Lampard’s book.

It’s as good as sitting down and talking to him yourself – if not better. In those books, players open up, they tell you what they did, how hard they worked, what sacrifices they made, the struggles they overcame. What more could you want?

We all hear young players breaking into the first team at top clubs, and almost all of them say, ‘it helped me so much training with the first team. I learned so much and some of the older players really helped me, giving me advice.’ Well, if you’re creative enough and look hard enough’ - that advice is everywhere.

What you can pick out of a Lampard or a Steven Gerrard book can be so very powerful and can give all the advice and passion you need.

David Beckham is another great role model for young players. For what he has gone through during his career and how he has carried himself, kept his professionalism, worked so very hard and continues to do so, is an example that cannot help but become such a positive influence on a young player looking for a little direction. Go and seek these out – and learn from the best.

Anthony Hudson, Head Coach (Manager) Real Maryland FC – United Soccer Leagues