One of Ollie Watkins' former youth coaches said he taught him the "touch and shoot" technique that saw the striker score the goal which booked England's place in the Euro 2024 final.
Mark Taylor, from Farnham, Surrey, said his phone "exploded after the goal", with people messaging him: "Your boy has done it."
Mr Taylor managed Watkins between the ages of 7 and 11 at Buckland Athletic, in Newton Abbot, Devon.
Watkins 90th minute winner in Wednesday's semi-final against the Netherlands has led to England being in the final stage of the tournament against Spain later.