CoachTalk: Interview with Dino Maamria

Dino Maamria was appointed head coach of then-League One side Burton Albion in September 2022, having previously served as the club’s assistant manager. In his first season in charge, he successfully secured the team’s place in the league. Before that, Maamria had managed clubs such as Oldham Athletic, Stevenage FC, and Southport FC. In our interview, Dino talks about his time without a coaching role and the experiences he gained through various internships, his spell at Burton Albion, and his approach to the game.

How do you currently keep yourself up to date as a coach? Do you actively seek exchanges with other clubs or colleagues, attend events or coaching courses to gain new ideas and impulses? Since your last role, have you developed insights or ideas that you’d like to bring into your next coaching job?

Dino Maamria: This has been the first time in my career that I’ve not been directly involved as a player or coach, so I’ve used it as an opportunity to broaden my knowledge and gain new perspectives. I’ve spent this period visiting Premier League and top European clubs, engaging with coaches, and exploring different high-performance environments. At Brentford, I gained valuable insights into Thomas Frank’s game model and their innovative, data-driven approach. At Leeds United, I exchanged ideas with Daniel Farke around building a high-performance culture and managing the expectations of a big club. I also studied leadership and resilience at the Royal Military Academy, learning how principles of character, knowledge, and action translate directly into football. Beyond football, I visited Bath Rugby to understand their treble-winning culture and the way rugby’s clarity of vision and unity under pressure can inspire football environments. In Spain, at Valencia and Villarreal, I saw first-hand how possession football shapes their identity, while in Germany with Dortmund, Leipzig, and Frankfurt, I explored their high-intensity playing philosophy and talent development structures. I also took part in the DFB’s International Trainers Congress, covering new ideas in talent development, performance diagnostics, and sports psychology. This immersive period has sharpened my managerial approach, enriched my tactical ideas, and reaffirmed my passion for continuous improvement. I’m now eager to bring these fresh insights, global perspectives, and renewed energy into my next coaching role.

At Burton Albion, you moved from assistant coach to head coach. How did that step change the way you worked with the team? What kind of adjustments do you need to make when you were already part of the staff before – and what was particularly important to you in those first weeks? What did you focus on most?

Dino Maamria: My transition at Burton was smooth because I’d already experienced both roles before. Stepping up, I knew the team needed belief and confidence more than anything — we were bottom with one point from nine games. My first focus was the mentality: rebuilding confidence, creating a culture of effort before skill, and making players enjoy the process of improving again. From there, it was about simple organisation, fitness, and clarity in how we played — the building blocks that gave us quick impact. Already knowing the players helped me connect with them straight away and meet their needs. That combination of experience, clarity, and trust turned results around and gave the team a new energy.

If someone had to recognize your team purely by its style of play – regardless of the kit or the badge – which characteristics and principles would stand out immediately? In other words: what defines a Dino Maamria team?

Dino Maamria: Relentless, fearless, and intense — that’s my DNA. I believe in fluid positional play, building from base shapes like 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, and adapting dynamically into 3-2-5 or 2-3-5 to dominate every phase of the game. A Dino Maamria team plays with relentless intensity, fast, powerful, and fearless. Attack with purpose, using vertical and positional play, organised high pressing, tactically flexible In and Out of possession, built to dominate transitions and exploit every moment with pace and power and a big emphasis on Set-Plays.

Do you miss the daily work with a team on the training ground? Where do you see yourself in the near future – back in England, or are you also open to opportunities in other countries? And what conditions would a club need to meet for you to consider taking on a role there?

Dino Maamria: I definitely miss the day-to-day on the training ground, that constant process of improving players, building a team, and creating an environment where everyone can push their limits and thrive. That’s the part of the job that gives me the most satisfaction. Over the years I’ve coached and managed at every level, from academy to first team, and worked within different cultures and footballing environments. Being multilingual and adaptable has allowed me to connect with people wherever I’ve been, and that’s something I value deeply. I’m open to opportunities anywhere in the world, as long as it’s the right project, one with strong values, a clear direction, and a genuine commitment to development and success. For me, it’s always about being part of something that’s building towards lasting progress.

Thank you very much, Dino, for your time!