The Hidden Side of Football: Why Player Care Is Crucial for Career & Mental Health | Beyond Football

Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ-nwR5edMODelU3OsaVTNA/join In this episode of the Beyond Football podcast, we explore the overlooked yet essential world of player care in football. Joined by my co-host Tobi Sho-Silva, we sit down with Hugo Schechter — founder and managing director of The Player Care Group — to unpack how supporting players off the pitch can transform careers and lives. From his experiences at Southampton and West Ham to building player care systems from scratch, Hugo shares insights into the emotional and practical challenges players face, especially in high-pressure environments. We discuss: * The rise of player care and mental health awareness post-COVID * How off-pitch distractions impact performance * Cultural adjustment challenges for foreign players * Resistance from traditionalists in the game * Why identity beyond football is crucial * The need for support in lower-league and academy football * Whether clubs truly “care” — or just want results Hugo also reflects on the tension between being a good person and a successful player — and how ambition, selfishness, and support all play a role. Whether you're a player, coach, or fan, this episode will reshape how you view the people behind the game. https://www.playercaregroup.co.uk ⬇️ REMEMBER TO LIKE & SUBSCRIBE TO US ON SPOTIFY HERE ⬇️ https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondfootball/subscribe REMEMBER TO LIKE & SUBSCRIBE! The Beyond Football Podcast PART OF EUROPES #1 SPORT SOCIAL PODCAST NETWORK 🧠 Insight to the journeys of Ballers 🚀 Having an Identity Beyond Football®️ 🎙️ @daniel.jinadu @tobisho_ 👨‍💻 @beyondfootball.uk AVAILBLE ON YOUTUBE, SPOTIFY, APPLE PODCASTS AND MOST MAJOR PLATFORMS! 🎙️ SEARCH 'THE BEYOND FOOTBALL PODCAST' FOLLOW MY SOCIALS: ➡️Instagram // https://www.instagram.com/daniel.jinadu/?hl=en ➡️Twitter // https://twitter.com/danieljinadu1 ➡️TikTok // https://vm.tiktok.com/ZS3d6QXF/ CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE 👨🏾‍💻 ➡️https://www.beyondfootball.uk OUR MISSION: To ensure every player has a second Plan A, creating an Identity Beyond Football™️ that is beneficial, necessary, and possible. ​ #BeyondFootball™️ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices