A high-quality coach-athlete (C-A) relationship improves athlete well-being and performance but has been underrepresented in formal coach education. Eleven football coaches, working in some of the highest profile positions in England, were interviewed. We investigate to what extent their formal coach education experiences influenced their understanding of the C-A relationship. We explore their perceptions of the knowledge, relating to the C-A relationship, that could be included in formal coach education courses. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 coaches. Inductive reflexive thematic analysis generated the following five themes: (a) an incongruence between the importance of the C-A relationship and its prominence in coach education, (b) interpersonal competencies and a progressive approach to the C-A relationship, (c) understand the unique needs of high-performance athletes, and (d) build a culture conducive to high-quality C-A relationships. Findings demonstrate the C-A relationship is underrepresented in the main English FA Coaching Pathway and provides insights into the knowledge that could be incorporated into courses to meet the needs of coaches. Future research should explore the athlete`s perspective, relating to the knowledge coaches require to develop high-quality C-A relationships within high-performance football settings.
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