The ProPlayer Podcast

“Welcome to The Pro Player Podcast, where we dive deep into the journeys of elite athletes and coaches—those who’ve stepped into the spotlight, carved their paths, and now share their stories. I’m your host David Gough and today I’m thrilled to introduce someone who embodies transformation, ambition and the drive to lead.

Samuel Fagerholm is not your typical coach. Born on the Åland Islands and armed with a UEFA Pro License, Samuel has coached at the highest level across Scandinavia, and now finds himself blazing a trail in Italy with the women’s game. From playing as a defender in his early days to managing champions and rebuilding teams, his story is one of resilience, adaptability and vision.

His coaching career took a defining turn when he took over his hometown side, Åland United in Finland in 2018. Under his stewardship, in 2020 the club captured both the national league and the cup — a feat described as nearly “impossible” by the sporting director given the club’s remote island status. One favorite line of his: “We set up for a journey to become the best team in Finland … this year we managed to win” — a quote he shared on LinkedIn to mark the end of that breakthrough season.

Today we’ll explore Samuel’s philosophy: how he builds a winning mindset in teams, how he handles pressure, how he cares for the human side of performance. Whether you’re a player, coach or just someone chasing excellence in your field, there’s something to learn from his path.

So settle in, press play, and join us as Samuel Fagerholm draws back the curtain on the world inside the technical area—the high-stakes moments, the turning points, the setbacks and the breakthroughs. Let’s get into it.”