The General Index of the Complete Psychological l Works of C G Jung contains not a single
reference to football.
This is greatly reassuring, as Jung’s Analytical Psychology is increasingly informing the world
of sports coaching, and of football coaching in particular. As Jung had wished, his ideas and
discoveries have traveled well beyond his seminal work.
So what does Jung’s work have to do with football?
Our colleague, Dave Burston (clinical psychologist) regularly travels from Los Angeles to
London to work with the Tottenham Hotspur Football youth section to work with them using
Jungian methods.
O’Brien and O’Brien recently completed and published a three year Jungian research project on
the analytical psychology of football for international summer camps in Eastern Europe
providing best-in-class training for children and youths, including outstanding facilities for
inclusion of children with disabilities.
The results of this research, led by Professor Dr Trebjesanin, are highly compatible with the
research themes of Sophie Jowett (Loughborough, UK) who emphasises the importance of the
relationship between the trainer/coach and young athlete.
The footballer, former Ajax player, and current US clinical psychologist, John O’Brien, is
currently researching footballer’s dreams for publication.

In the U.S., Fred Engh, created the National Youth Sports Coaches Association (NYSCA) in
1981 because he was deeply concerned about the emotional and physical damage volunteer
coaches were causing to children they were coaching, often without even realizing it. He has
since spearheaded and overseen programmes in more than 3,000 cities nationwide and on U.S.
military bases worldwide. Engh cites Jung, The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived lives of his parents.
It is a succinct summary of Jung’s exact words, Nothing exerts a stronger psychic effect upon the human environment and especially upon children, than the life which the parents have not lived. (CW15, para.4)

Bill Beswick, the renowned British authority on sports training and Peter Lowe, former Head of
the youth academy at Manchester City Football club, both emplacing the importance of teams
with soul, and the coach/player relationship made valuable contributions to the Routledge
publication, Analytical Psychology of Football: Professional Football Coaching (O’Brien &
O’Brien Eds. 2001). Significant academic/practical contributions were made by Professor
Clifford Mayes, founder of Archetypal Pedagogy, and Coach Scott Pilkey. The book was
described by Steve Means, Defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons, Super Bowl Winner, as:
Soul Coaching Practice: A must read for football and soccer coaches around the world.