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What Sporting Lisbon taught me about competition, friendship and moving on
Sometimes in football you make a move and think: this is it. New club. Different country. A great challenge. And then it turns out completely differently from how you imagined... I spent just half a year…
My 1985/86 season at PSV: reaching the top means starting again
There I was, on the pitch at PSV. I had signed a two-year contract and was walking out of the players’ tunnel towards the centre spot. On the way, I literally pinched my arm. Was this…
Investing in yourself opens doors: my third season at FC Groningen
A good season rarely comes down to one big decision. More often, it is the result of small choices: keeping up your training, listening to others, looking after your body and putting in extra work when…
From injuries to Europe: my second season at FC Groningen
My first season at FC Groningen wasn’t easy. I arrived with expectations, but injuries got in the way. I played, I worked hard, but things still weren’t going the way I wanted. Thirteen…
The World Cup has begun. The Next Goal™ looks beyond it.
The World Cup kicked off this week, on 11 June 2026 in Mexico City, at the Mexico City Stadium — formerly the Estadio Azteca. The world is watching football again. Packed stadiums, big names……
Why I chose three seasons at FC Groningen in 1982 over ‘quick money abroad’
A lot changed after my season at Willem II. I’d had a strong year, scored plenty of goals and noticed that people suddenly saw me differently. Not just in the Netherlands, but also from…
What really happened that season at Willem II (1981/82)
Mental strength in football sounds abstract. Something you read or talk about. Until circumstances become unpredictable and put your own choices to the test. Then……
Why my move to Willem II was more than just a transfer
After my first season in the Netherlands, everything seemed to be falling into place. I had adapted to a new country, a different style of play and completely new surroundings. On the pitch, I was starting to find my feet…
Adapt or get left behind
How my move to the Netherlands taught me what it really takes to succeed. Talent may open the door, but adaptability determines whether you stay. Signing a contract feels like a win…
The decision that changed everything.
Why you don’t need to wait for certainty to take a big step. No certainty. Choosing anyway. I took the biggest step in my career when I wasn’t sure it was the right one.…
Why The Next Goal™?
The mission behind the video podcast Why did Rob McDonald start The Next Goal™? Because everyone needs a 'next goal', but talent alone isn't enough! In football and in life, choices ultimately…
Why training alone doesn’t make the difference
Intro Many young players think improving starts on the training ground. More drills, better programmes, better coaches. But the reality is different. In my days as a youth player and later as a professional…
What young footballers don’t learn on the pitch – but do learn in the dressing room
Every footballer dreams of it. That moment when you’re no longer just playing youth football, but opening the door to the real football world. A world of contracts, competition, expectations…
Parents? They can make or break a football career
The biggest decisions in youth football aren’t always made on the pitch. Sometimes they’re made at the kitchen table — quietly, but with consequences that last a lifetime. Where my story…
Rob McDonald (67): Fit, grateful and full of energy – my secret to ageing well
“Ageing well is no accident – it’s a choice you make every single day.” Lately, lots of people have been asking me how I manage to look so fit and healthy. A lovely compliment, of course…
The Next Goal™ – Your Inside Pass to Success in Football
“If you want to get ahead in football, you need to know what really goes on.” I’m Rob McDonald – a former pro, UEFA Pro coach and someone who knows the game inside out. I’ve played, coached……