In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the former New Zealand international to trace one of the most well-travelled goalkeeper careers in the women's game. Erin talks about growing up as the only girl in a boys team, being cut from youth national teams for lacking confidence, and how discovering Hope Solo on YouTube changed her mindset ahead of a U20 World Cup where she was named the starting goalkeeper on the day of the opening game.

We move through the ten years that followed. Erin is candid about her first professional contract at Sky Blue in the US that lasted three weeks before she was sent home, signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 alongside Wendie Renard and Sarah Bouhaddi, and the moves that followed to Bordeaux, Reading, Umeå IK in Sweden, and Bayern Munich. She talks openly about losing her mum while playing in France, the reality of missing weddings and birthdays as a New Zealand-based player in Europe, and how her identity became tied to being a goalkeeper.

We also cover her move to Sydney and UNSW FC in the NPL, her honest assessment of Australian women's football, and Your Story, the pilot program she is launching in Sweden in January 2027 to support elite athletes navigating retirement.

Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look at the reality of a decade in European women's football and the challenges that come after.

IN THIS EPISODE

▸ Starting in goal at 9 and playing on a boys team in New Zealand
▸ Being cut from youth national teams and how Hope Solo changed her mindset
▸ Getting cut after three weeks at Sky Blue in the US
▸ Signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21 alongside Wendie Renard and Sarah Bouhaddi
▸ Moving through Bordeaux, Reading, and Umeå IK in Sweden
▸ Losing her mum while playing in France
▸ Two World Cups, the Rio Olympics, and 85 caps for the Football Ferns
▸ Signing for Bayern Munich after almost retiring in Sweden
▸ Facing Alex Morgan, Eugénie Le Sommer, and the US national team
▸ Moving to Sydney and signing for UNSW FC in the NPL
▸ Why the Matildas' success isn't reaching the A-League Women
▸ Your Story: her program supporting athletes after retirement

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
00:43 Welcome and meet Erin Nayler
03:53 Starting in goal at 9 and playing with the boys
06:39 Hope Solo, mindset shift, and going to the U20 World Cup
08:51 Cut after three weeks at Sky Blue in the US
11:18 Signing for Olympique Lyonnais at 21
14:08 Bordeaux, COVID, and moving to Reading
19:06 Coping with challenges and family loss
21:34 The reality of being far from home as a professional
24:13 Playing in the snow in Sweden
30:13 The best football culture: England, Sweden, or Germany
31:12 The best players she faced, from Alex Morgan to Le Sommer
32:19 Retiring at 34 and what comes next
34:11 Moving to Sydney and signing for UNSW FC in the NPL
36:52 How NPL football actually compares to Europe
40:08 The young Australian talent she thinks can play in Europe
41:46 Why the Matildas' success isn't reaching the A-League Women
44:15 Your Story: her project supporting athletes after retirement
50:16 Stoppage Time Questions
52:57 Advice for young footballers

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In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the former professional footballer to trace one of the most unlikely paths in Australian football. Danny talks about growing up in Blacktown as a rugby league fan, wearing his dad's work socks to play at Marion FC, getting cut from Blacktown Demons at 14, and how a highlights reel his mum burned onto a CD ended up landing him a trial at Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.

We move through the eight years that followed. Danny is candid about being 18, jet-lagged, and crying outside the Dinamo Zagreb stadium after a horrible first trial, the daily grind of morning and afternoon training that became his football education, and the reality of five years as a professional with no money to his name, chewing gum so his stomach thought he was full. He talks about being captain at 21 in Croatia, breaking his leg and fighting back to play Europa League and Champions League football in the same season.

He is honest about the moment the Champions League anthem hit him playing in front of 60,000 fans, what it felt like to line up against Eden Hazard, and why every Australian player thinking about Europe needs a serious reality check before they go.

We close with his message for young players thinking about quitting, the honest truth about agents, and what he tells parents who dream of their kids playing overseas.

Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is one of the most honest conversations on this show so far.

IN THIS EPISODE

▸ Growing up in Blacktown, Marconi, and being a rugby league fan first
▸ Being cut at 14 and finding his own way back into the game
▸ The highlights reel his mum burned onto a CD that led to Dinamo Zagreb
▸ Crying outside the Dinamo Zagreb stadium after his first trial at 18
▸ Five years pro with no money to his name and chewing gum to feel full
▸ Captain at 21 in Croatia and signing for Steaua Bucharest in Romania
▸ Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax
▸ Signing for Melbourne Victory and winning three titles in one season
▸ His honest truth about agents in football
▸ The reality check every Australian player needs before Europe
▸ His message for young players thinking about quitting

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
01:28 Welcome and meet Daniel Georgievski
04:06 Growing up in Blacktown, Marconi, and being a rugby league fan
06:49 Pele on cassette, backyard training, and his parents' approach
12:20 The highlights reel that took him to a Dinamo Zagreb trial
15:04 What Croatia's daily training taught him about football
18:34 His first pro contract and captain at 21 in Croatia
21:45 Signing for Steaua Bucharest
23:46 Champions League nights against Chelsea, Schalke, and Ajax
25:49 Signing for Melbourne Victory and winning three titles
30:52 What he would do differently if he could go back
33:19 His hard truth about agents in football
36:35 The Champions League anthem moment he'll never forget
40:08 Retiring the day his son was born
42:27 Learning to coach Australian kids after playing in Europe
45:12 What John Toshak and his Croatian coaches taught him
49:32 The reality check every Australian player needs before Europe
57:05 "Don't give up" - his message for players thinking about quitting
59:13 Stoppage Time Questions

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And remember:Enjoy the journey!

In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the 29-year-old German professional to trace a path through one of the most competitive development environments in world football. Alex talks about growing up in Munich as a Bayern Munich fan, getting scouted by 1860 at eight after winning a tournament playing up an age group, what daily life looked like inside the academy's specialised football school, and the U17 and U19 years when serious knee injuries nearly cost him everything.

We move through his rise to a first professional contract with 1. FC Nürnberg, his Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin, and the experience of playing in front of 80,000 fans at Signal Iduna Park. Alex is candid about the spiral that followed when Nürnberg started losing games, the impact of social media criticism at 21, and how it pushed him to start studying psychology while still playing professionally.

He opens up about the tools that now anchor his approach to the game, including journaling, habits, controlling the controllables, and preparing the brain like a muscle. We also cover his move to Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga, the hip injuries that have shaped much of his recent career, and what kept him coming back after surgery on both hips and over a year on the sidelines.

He closes with his advice for young players chasing the dream, the 1860 Munich teammates who went on to play for the German national team, and what his six-year-old self would say about the journey so far.

Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look at what it actually takes to survive in the German football pathway.

IN THIS EPISODE:

▸ Growing up in Munich as a Bayern fan and being scouted by 1860 at eight
▸ Inside the 1860 Munich football school and a five-times-a-week training schedule
▸ Knee injuries through the U17 and U19 years and how the club waited for him
▸ Teammates Felix Uduokhai, Florian Neuhaus, and Benny Henrichs who reached the German national team
▸ Signing his first pro contract with 1. FC Nürnberg
▸ His Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin and playing at Signal Iduna Park
▸ Why he started studying psychology while still playing professionally
▸ Journaling, habits, and the tools he uses to control the controllables
▸ Moving to Austria Klagenfurt in the Austrian Bundesliga
▸ Surgery on both hips and the long road back to the pitch

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro
01:17 Welcome and meet Alex Fuchs
03:09 First touches at SV Lohhof and being a Bayern fan in Munich
06:52 The tournament that got him scouted by 1860 Munich at 8
10:40 Inside the 1860 Munich football school
19:03 What he wishes he had done differently in the youth academy
24:33 Signing his first pro contract with 1. FC Nürnberg
29:09 The coaches and parents who shaped him
31:48 His Bundesliga debut at Olympiastadion Berlin
35:27 Why he started studying psychology while playing pro
38:31 Journaling and the habits that build mental toughness
42:15 Moving to Austria and signing with Austria Klagenfurt
44:21 Hip surgery on both sides and the road back
50:14 His advice for young players chasing the dream
51:06 Stoppage Time Questions

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And remember: enjoy your football journey.

In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the 24-year-old Australian winger and the show's first female guest. Kiara talks about growing up in an Italian-Australian family with no football background, idolising Cristiano Ronaldo, and playing in all-boys teams until she joined Bankstown City Lions at 13.

We move through her climb up the NPL Women's ladder at Inter Lions, MacArthur Rams, Sutherland Sharks, and five seasons at Sydney Olympic alongside Matildas internationals including Courtney Vine, Jada Wyman, Teresa Polias, and Courtney Nevin. Kiara is candid about the Sydney FC preseason chances under Ante Juric, how COVID delayed her breakthrough, the Mark Torcaso call that took her to Western United, and the FaceTime that delivered her first professional contract in the A-League Women's.

She opens up about what changes when football becomes your job, the reality that almost every female pro in Australia juggles a second job, and where the women's game is heading.

Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this is a rare look inside the realities of being a professional female footballer in Australia today.

IN THIS EPISODE

▸ Growing up in an Italian-Australian family with no football background
▸ Idolising Cristiano Ronaldo and trying his step overs in the backyard
▸ Playing in all-boys teams until 13 and joining Bankstown City Lions
▸ The NPL Women's ladder through Inter Lions, MacArthur Rams, Sutherland Sharks, and Sydney Olympic
▸ Training alongside Matildas at Sydney Olympic including Courtney Vine, Jada Wyman, Teresa Polias, and Courtney Nevin
▸ Sydney FC preseason training under Ante Juric and how COVID delayed her breakthrough
▸ The Mark Torcaso call that took her to Western United
▸ The trial match and the FaceTime that signed her first professional contract
▸ Why almost every female pro in Australia juggles a second job
▸ Her advice for NPL Women's players when A-League stars come back

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro
01:16 Welcome and meet Kiara De Domizio
02:25 The Cristiano Ronaldo obsession and a family with no football background
09:24 First training sessions and joining Bankstown City Lions at 13
14:14 Dreaming of being a pro when there was no women's pathway to follow
17:13 Moving up to NPL2 with Inter Lions
23:36 NPL1 at MacArthur Rams, Sutherland Sharks, and Sydney Olympic
25:02 Training alongside Matildas at Sydney Olympic
30:11 The Sydney FC breakthrough that COVID delayed
34:20 The Mark Torcaso call that took her to Western United
37:09 The trial match and the FaceTime that signed her first pro contract
39:01 Moving cities, going pro, and balancing work
44:13 How women's football in Australia is evolving
47:20 Her advice when A-League stars come back to NPL teams
49:57 Stoppage Time

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Leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram if you have a question.

And remember: enjoy your football journey.

GUEST
Kiara De Domizio, 24-year-old Australian winger. Came through Bankstown Sports, Inter Lions, MacArthur Rams, and Sutherland Sharks before five seasons at Sydney Olympic. Signed her first professional contract with Western United in the A-League Women, where she's known as the "clutch queen" for scoring late and decisive goals.

In this episode of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan Schmidt sits down with the 20-year-old Australian winger to trace a career that has already taken him across three countries. Marcus talks about growing up in a football family in Sydney, joining the Western Sydney Wanderers Academy at 12, and losing nearly two years of football to a string of injuries between the ages of 14 and 16 before going from U18s to an A-League debut inside a single year under Marko Rudan.

We move through his first professional contract at the Wanderers, the decision to leave the A-League for a year on loan at PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch Eerste Divisie, and the unexpected coach change at Brøndby IF in the Danish Superliga that turned a dream start into months on the sidelines. Marcus is candid about how hard it is to live and train alone in a foreign country at 20, and what it taught him about the side of professional football nobody talks about.

He closes with a breakdown of his breakout loan at Melbourne City FC, including the 93rd-minute AFC Champions League Elite winner against Ulsan that sent the club through to the knockouts. He shares his read on the Socceroos heading into the 2026 World Cup, the advice that changed how he approaches his game, and what he would say to the 11-year-old version of himself just starting at the Wanderers Academy.

Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation is full of perspective on what the journey actually looks like.

IN THIS EPISODE_

▸ Growing up in a football family and learning from backyard battles with his older brother
▸ Joining Western Sydney Wanderers Academy at 12 and the nine years that followed
▸ Two years lost to injury between 14 and 16 and how he came back stronger
▸ Going from U18s to an A-League debut in 12 months under Marko Rudan
▸ Signing his first professional contract at 18 with Western Sydney Wanderers
▸ Why he chose PSV Eindhoven over staying in the A-League
▸ The reality of being a foreigner inside a Dutch second team
▸ The Brøndby IF coach change that derailed a perfect start
▸ Coming home to Melbourne City FC and finding form again
▸ His 93rd-minute AFC Champions League Elite winner against Ulsan
▸ Why life outside football matters more than young players realise
▸ His read on the Socceroos heading into the 2026 World Cup
▸ His best advice for young players still chasing the dream

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Intro
01:06 Welcome and meet Marcus Younis
03:30 Backyard battles in a football family
06:15 Joining Western Sydney Wanderers at 12
08:28 Two years lost to injury between 14 and 16
11:08 From U18s to A-League debut in 12 months
13:32 Signing his first professional contract at 18
16:03 What he wishes he had known breaking through
20:00 Why he chose PSV over staying in the A-League
22:49 The Brøndby coach change that changed everything
26:15 Coming home to Melbourne City
28:22 Why life outside football changed his game
31:21 The World Cup, the Socceroos, and his own ambitions
36:18 The one thing he would do differently so far
37:23 Stoppage Time
40:06 His best advice for the next generation

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And remember: enjoy your football journey.

In this episode, Josh sits down with Jan to trace a path that took him through six different countries. He talks about growing up as a hyperactive kid sent on Bondi Beach runs by his dad, the long drives to Blackburn Rovers with his mum, and the first real "no" when the club decided not to renew him at 14. We move through eight years in Germany, the Turkish coach at Fortuna Düsseldorf who convinced him to sign, and his under-17 World Cup in Chile where Australia beat Argentina to make the quarter-finals.

Josh is honest about the harder parts of the journey too. Two years lost to ankle injuries at the exact moment he was knocking on the door of the first team. Negotiating his first professional contract on his own from a COVID quarantine hotel. The reality of warming up on a cricket oval at Wollongong University. And the gamble he took at the end of his Wellington years, flying back to Europe with two suitcases and sleeping on a friend's sofa until the unexpected call came from Grasshoppers Zürich.

Having now finished his playing career at 28, Josh shares what he wishes he had known earlier and the one piece of advice he would pass on to every young player still on the path.

Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this episode is full of perspective on what the journey actually looks like.

IN THIS EPISODE:

▸ Growing up in Sydney and being trained by his dad on Bondi Beach ▸ Trialing at Manchester United, Everton, and signing for Blackburn Rovers ▸ Being released at 14 and processing the first real rejection ▸ Eight years in Germany, the language barrier, and the intensity of German youth football ▸ Switching from Scotland to Australia and the U17 World Cup in Chile ▸ The ankle injuries that cost him two years at Fortuna Düsseldorf ▸ Negotiating his first professional contract from a COVID quarantine hotel ▸ What pro football actually looked like in Wollongong during the pandemic ▸ Sleeping on a sofa in Europe and the call out of the blue from Grasshoppers Zürich ▸ The advice he would give to every player still chasing the dream

CHAPTERS

00:00 Joshi's First Touch

05:34 Dreams of Professional Football

10:17 Trials with Teams in the UK

15:16 Finding the Right Environment in Football

16:43 Moving to Germany

20:01 The Intensity of German Football

26:25 Changing from Scotland to Australia

28:02 U17 World Cup with Australia

33:01 Injury Setbacks During a Crucial Time

35:48 New Opportunities in Australia

40:02 Starting with Wellington Phoenix

43:23 Going Back to Europe for Trials

44:04 The Offer from Grasshopper Zürich

46:59 Stoppage Time Questions

Subscribe so you never miss an episode. If a question comes up while listening, leave a comment or send us a text on Instagram. @firsttouchtofirstteam

And remember: enjoy your football journey.

GUEST Joshua Laws, former professional footballer with Wellington Phoenix, Grasshoppers Zürich, and Western Sydney Wanderers. Born in Glasgow, raised in Sydney, developed through academies at Blackburn Rovers and Fortuna Düsseldorf, and represented Australia at the U17 World Cup in Chile.

In this episode, Nico sits down with Jan to trace his path from First touch to First team. He opens up about being released by Eintracht Frankfurt as a youth player for being "too small," the early-morning phone call from a head coach while working at Audi that launched his professional debut, and the one cup-game moment that changed everything. We talk through the long, patient years in reserve-grade football, his breakthrough season under Thomas Tuchel at Mainz, and what it really takes to go from signing a first professional contract to becoming undroppable.

Now head coach of the Macarthur Bulls Academy, Nico shares his perspective from both sides of the white line: how he develops young Australian talent, the differences he sees between German and Australian football culture, and why he believes the pathway to a professional career in Australia is more open than many people realise. His message to every aspiring player is simple but hard-won: Enjoy the game, work as hard as possible, and never give up.

In this episode:

• Growing up in Germany and the family sacrifices behind the four-day-a-week commute to Frankfurt's academy
• Being released as a youth player and why it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened
• The reality behind a first professional contract and the patience it demands
• His breakthrough under Thomas Tuchel and his call-up to the German national team
• The move to the A-League and adapting to Australian football
• Transitioning from professional player to academy coach
• Honest reflections on developing young Australian players and the gaps still to close

Whether you are a young player chasing the dream, a parent supporting one, or a coach shaping the next generation, this conversation is full of practical insight and genuine inspiration.

🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode. If a question comes up while listening, reach out to us through our channels. @firsttouchtofirstteam

And remember: enjoy your football journey.

In episode 01 of From First Touch to First Team, host Jan sits down with Will to walk through the full journey: the early influence that pulled him into the game, the youth development years that demanded everything, the transition into senior football, and the unpredictability that defines almost every professional career. Will shares the lessons he kept, the ones he learned the hard way, and his advice for the next generation of players trying to make it.

A podcast for youth players, parents, coaches, and anyone who has ever wanted to know what the road to professional football really looks like.

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