Mark Leyland

For the last decade, Mark Leyland has been one of the foremost analysts in this country – and has gone on to become even more than that.

Starting his career at Everton’s Academy, he went on to work for Burnley, Liverpool and Newcastle. He is one of the few backroom staff to be name-checked by managers, with Eddie Howe describing him as “integral” and Jurgen Klopp saying he played “a big part” in Liverpool’s recent success.

Leyland was a Post-Match Analyst for Liverpool, evolved into a Coach-Analyst at Newcastle and is now the Head of Coaching Methodology for City Football Group. Simon Austin spoke to him in front of a live audience at Hudl’s UK Football Conference at Loughborough University in September.