In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Rod Underwood, a seasoned leader in global soccer with experience spanning the Portland Timbers, Sacramento Republic, Montego Bay United, and Chattanooga FC.

With decades of experience as a head coach, technical director, and academy architect, Rod shares a deep, practical perspective on what it truly takes to build sustainable, high-performing football clubs across different markets.

This is a decision-grade conversation focused on leadership, infrastructure, and long-term club development.

Key Topics Covered:

How Rod Underwood got started in the game and witnessed soccer’s evolution in the United States
Leadership principles that translate across clubs, cultures, and levels
Why emotional intelligence is the most important skill for modern leaders
Building a fully integrated club model across technical and business operations
Lessons from launching and scaling academies with a clear youth-to-pro pathway
How player development connects directly to business outcomes and revenue
The role of data in modern football and where clubs often misuse it
What investors, owners, and operators must prioritize to build sustainable clubs
Why community, culture, and infrastructure drive long-term success

This episode is built for investors, operators, and decision-makers looking to understand how professional soccer clubs are actually structured, financed, and scaled.

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Reach out directly via email to Kareem Rae: kr@onesoccernation.com

One Soccer Nation Website: https://www.onesoccernation.com/

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DISCLAIMER: Kareem Rae runs One Soccer Nation (OSN) all views expressed by him and the guests on his podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the views of One Soccer Nation. You should not treat any opinion expressed by Kareem or his guests as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of his personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only.

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The information contained herein is provided for informational and discussion purposes only and is not intended to be a recommendation for any investment, service, product, or other advice of any kind, and shall not constitute or imply an offer of any kind. Any investment opportunities and/or products or services shown here will only be completed pursuant to formal offering materials, a letter of intent, and/or any other agreements as determined by One Soccer Nation containing full details regarding risks, minimum investment, fees, and expenses of such transaction. The terms of any product, service, or particular investment opportunity, including size, costs, and other characteristics, are set forth in the applicable constituent documents for such product, service or particular investment opportunity and may differ materially from those presented in this presentation. Such terms are subject to change without notice. Quotes included in these materials related to One Soccer Nation’s services should not be construed in any way as an endorsement of One Soccer Nation's advice, analysis, or other service rendered to its clients/investors.

rod underwood