EUGENE BOBROV

IDP Football Coach
UEFA B
MSc Performance Coaching
Ex-Pro Futsal Player
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01 — About Me

"Believing in yourself alone is not enough. The players need to have a challenging yet supportive environment around them. The coach plays a crucial role in creating it."

Childhood

Born in 1987 in Ukraine, I entered a world where football wasn't just a sport, but a way of life. It was as if my love for the game was passed down through generations. At 10, I joined a youth football academy that focused solely on 11-aside football. It was a tough "sink-or-swim" football environment where only resilience, perseverance and devotion to football could keep you afloat. All the obstacles couldn't affect my determination. So I was constantly chosen to play for some local youth selections, but not higher than that.

Adolescence

After leaving the academy at the age of 15 due to health issues, I shifted my focus to education. During my time at university, I discovered futsal, which is known for playing a significant role in developing technically and tactically superior players for 11-aside football, especially in countries like Spain and Brazil. Within 4 years, I reached a decent level of play in futsal in Donetsk. Thus, I was invited to play for some semi-professional clubs, where I had the opportunity to witness different coaching approaches, methodologies, and styles. Most importantly, this experience prompted me to reflect on how increased involvement with the ball and small-sided games could benefit me during the early stages of my football development.

Education

I always found that learning through experience was a powerful coaching tool for me. While I am open-minded and curious to try new innovative coaching approaches and perspectives, I have come to realize that football experience alone is not enough for learning. To be an expert coach requires intentional reflection based on theoretical knowledge, which informs the reflector's experience and is used to process feelings and actions. Therefore, I invest a lot of time into formal learning as well. In 2017, I was awarded the UEFA "B" coaching license. 2023 was another important milestone in my life. Completing my master's degree in performance coaching was full of effort, doubts, sacrifices and lots of coffee. Nevertheless, it was done. And as the cherry on the cake, it was done with distinction.

Moving to China

In 2014, the war in my Homeland brought a lot of changes in my life. I moved to China where I had an opportunity to develop myself as a coach and make my dreams come true. When I turned 35 in 2022, I made my debut as a player in professional sport participating in the CFA Futsal Super League. Honestly, it was a bumpy road experience along with the terrifying news from Ukraine and struggles to keep up with my studying. Nevertheless, I’m proud and happy for taking this challenge and having a chance to compete with many great players.

Coaching Path

For almost a decade, I have dedicated myself as a coach to promote and develop football in China, assuring my expertise and effectiveness in working with different age groups and abilities. For more than 5 years, I was working within a youth football academy FC Shenzhen Greenfield, which is a highly respected club in Guangdong Province. The academy set its central identity around focusing on developing home-grown players and securing its competitive level participating in the regional and national tournaments despite the local grassroots status.

Transition to a Professional Football

In 2026, I joined FC Shaanxi Union as a Transition Coach, a role that aligned with my core belief that every player has the potential to grow. My primary responsibility was to help maximize each player’s potential in both performance and lifestyle. I also designed, managed, and delivered Personal Development Plans (PDPs) tailored to positional roles and the team’s playing system to ensure targeted development.

02 — Coaching Zone

"I want to share some of my thoughts to stimulate the discussion about players' development. Also I present the materials that showcase my coaching approach."

01 Sep 2024 · Article · Tactics

How do the formations of my teams align with the style of play?

Who we are defines how we play. The team formation isn't about sticking a player to a specific area on the pitch; that's not important. But the style of play and the approach to the game are.

Explore my approach →

31 Dec 2023 · Video · Voting

Who should win the award for "The Best Goal of 2023"?

FCG U10 had a remarkable year, displaying significant improvements as a team and individually, scoring some great goals that should be remembered.

Choose the best goals →

03 Sep 2023 · Video · Interview

How do pro athletes look at the football development in China?

I interviewed professional futsal player Zhuang Juanfa to learn about his sports achievements and get his thoughts on youth football development.

Watch the interview →

18 Jul 2021 · Video · Skills

How can we determine if a player has truly mastered a specific skill?

The most crucial aspect of mastering a skill is demonstrating it in real match scenarios. Watch the young players' skills and compare them to the best examples.

Learn more about the skills →

10 Jul 2021 · Article · Science

Do you get a job because of what you know or who you know?

Luck, commitment, or connections? I strived to shed light on the ongoing debate about the most crucial quality for coaches to advance in their careers.

Download the article →

29 Apr 2019 · Article · Interview

How Shenzhen become my home?

The summary of my first five years working in China. The interview was conducted by Shenzhen Daily newspaper in 2019 and describes the obstacles and challenges the coaches can face in China.

Discover more about me →

03 — Playing Zone

"The best way to understand the game is by actually playing it."

"Killing the player inside me" was something I never worried about after I decided to become a youth coach at the age of 27. It's much more important to overcome your ego that prevents you from reflecting and learning as a coach. On the contrary, my relatively short and late professional career, which began when I turned 35, serves as compelling evidence for the players I coach, validating the seemingly trivial words: "Nothing is impossible."

I still play and work out regularly, in addition to my full-time coaching commitments. I strive to stay in good shape, serve as a role model for my players by demonstrating football skills, and gain new playing experiences, which could help me in my coaching as well. Moreover, playing football is the best communication tool in the football environment, isn't it?