Unveiling the Art of Scouting: A Journey into Football’s Hidden Profession
Have you ever pondered who could potentially replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool? Perhaps you find yourself in a local pub, passionately debating which player your club should sign to fill the void left by a striker who has squandered golden opportunities. Or maybe you’re one of those who confidently suggests a centre-back plying his trade in the French second tier, convinced he has the potential to become the next Virgil van Dijk. This is often the initial spark for many who enroll in courses offered by the Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA), aiming to delve into the intricacies of scouting and secure qualifications that serve as an entry point into this enigmatic industry. The PFSA boasts a diverse alumni network, including senior recruitment personnel at prestigious clubs like Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Newcastle United.
According to Paulo Araujo, Barcelona’s director of scouting, these courses provide invaluable insights, stating that they “relate directly within the industry, giving users an understanding of how operations unfold in an elite environment.” Andy Howe, assistant head of recruitment at Newcastle, took a level two course while at Bournemouth and emphasizes that he “can’t recommend [it] highly enough.”
I embarked on a journey to scout school to uncover what seasoned professionals and enthusiastic novices aspiring to break into this field are taught. I aimed to discover emerging trends, conflicting perspectives, and what lies ahead for a role that is both fundamental and elusive in the world of football.
Exploring the Diverse Landscape of Scouting
The group participating in the course includes individuals from various countries, including Portugal, Italy, Germany, and the United States, as well as an agent and local professionals. Many attendees juggle their day jobs while nurturing a passion for football, seeking to pursue their dreams before time runs out.
Kevin Braybrook, one of the tutors with two decades of experience in coaching and scouting, shared with The i Paper that they are increasingly witnessing a surge of entrants from business and finance sectors who may possess invaluable skills in today’s football landscape, which now features sporting directors with advanced degrees and clubs on the lookout for “scout scientists.”
- “There’s a market now for many new people who come on our courses,” he notes.
- “Many older scouts may not be as comfortable using technology or compiling data.”
- “Some candidates with minimal football experience, aside from their passion for the game, still possess key attributes such as proficiency in presentations, numbers, and finance management.”
Braybrook adds, “It will be fascinating to see how the landscape evolves in the next five years. You have veterans who are traditionally ‘eyes-and-ears’ scouts, which is immensely valuable, but clubs are also leaning toward data-driven scouting methods, looking for candidates with a scientific background in scouting.”
Before class, scouting hopefuls are assigned homework to practice video scouting, selecting a player from Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash against Barcelona in 2021 to produce a comprehensive report. The scope of scouting is broad, encompassing opposition analysis and technical scouting, yet this level 2 course emphasizes talent identification.
The Creative Side of Scouting
The participants split into two groups, taking turns to present their findings within a ten-minute timeframe. The presentations display remarkable diversity, with ample creativity within the basic guidelines.
Despite some technological hiccups—one participant’s laptop malfunctioning, forcing them to revert to pen and paper—others present their analyses with professional flair, incorporating radar charts, diagrams, detailed analysis, video clips, and tactical boards filled with dotted lines and moving arrows. For a bit of fun, many choose to analyze players from their favorite clubs. One participant examines whether Sergino Dest could serve as a backup for Conor Bradley at Liverpool, while another explores whether Frenkie de Jong would enhance Manchester United’s midfield alongside Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Bruno Fernandes.
The group offers advice, shares tips, and supports one another, while tutors provide constructive feedback. Dean Whitehouse, another tutor, assures them, “I’d be happy to forward some of the reports I’ve seen for people in the game to review.” With 23 years of experience at Manchester United, Whitehouse joined Blackpool’s academy in 2023, bringing a wealth of knowledge.
Braybrook, who has worked with clubs like Liverpool and Newcastle, shares a crucial insight: scouting is not solely about personal opinion. In the initial stages, it’s about gathering facts. He recounts an instance where he provided an opinion on a player, only to be met with a demand for concrete data instead. “When presenting to someone, a manager might say it’s not your job to express a preference. They want to know A, B, or C. They want facts. What supports your assertions?”
Only later, after establishing trusted relationships, does personal opinion come into play. When dissected by the tutors, scouting reveals itself as surprisingly straightforward. The PFSA offers a basic scout report template, and each club typically operates within its own preferred format.
The Paradox of Scouting
Watching players and analyzing their attributes involves scoring various facets of their game. However, the paradox lies in the challenge of excelling at scouting. While most fans can assess passing, shooting, heading, or tackling skills—over 20 attributes in the template—few can identify a player who will yield a £100 million profit within two years. Mastering the basics is paramount at the outset.
Whitehouse emphasizes the importance of crafting clear and concise reports, stating, “We must ensure reports are readable and visually appealing. I’ve encountered scouting reports that mention a player’s physique with vague terms like ‘good body.’ Good body compared to whom? Arnold Schwarzenegger?”
- Pace: “I’ve seen quicker.” Usain Bolt is quicker? Or a slug is quicker?
- Work rate: “Not bad.” What does that even mean?
- Attitude: “Not the best.” Why?
He continues, “Intelligence: ‘Couldn’t tell.’ Take Wayne Rooney—he may not be academically intelligent, but his football intelligence was extraordinary. If you highlight a player’s great game intelligence, back it up with specific examples.”
This evokes the story of a young Cesc Fabregas skewing a pass during an Arsenal youth match and a coach realizing that the teenager had spotted a pass that few could envision. The scouts who discover hidden gems are invaluable, yet their contributions often go unnoticed.
For instance, the youth scout who recommended Liverpool sign a teenage Raheem Sterling from Queens Park Rangers for £600,000 generated a staggering profit of £43.4 million just five years later. Similarly, Paul Winstanley, head of recruitment at Brighton & Hove Albion, secured a 19-year-old midfielder from Ecuador for £4 million, which ultimately netted the club a profit of £111 million when Moises Caicedo was transferred to Chelsea.
“Can you imagine generating tens of millions for your employer in a single transaction?” Whitehouse reflects. “Scouts are priceless. They have the capability to create multimillion-pound assets through their diligent work.”
Although multiple voices contribute to transfer decisions, those with a stronger track record of successful recommendations tend to rise through the ranks. Winstanley now serves as Chelsea’s co-director of football, a role that wields significant influence in the sport.
However, Whitehouse points out the often-overlooked contributions of scouts who recommended players to youth squads, noting that those in higher positions frequently take credit when players flourish into first-team stars. For those who may not receive the financial recognition they deserve, there are anecdotes of retired professionals rewarding the scouts who discovered them with generous financial gifts to assist in purchasing homes after their first significant paychecks.
The Evolution of the Football Scout
The PFSA was conceptualized by Dave Hobson, who established it in the early 2000s while working as a scout at Manchester United. “He’s quite eccentric, but a lovely person,” Whitehouse says. “He’s one of those individuals who comes up with 20 ideas a week; 19 might be utterly wild, but one could be brilliant.”
Frustrated with the lack of recognition for scouts, Hobson initiated the PFSA, creating courses, engaging scouts, and ensuring they received compensation reflective of their contributions, rather than being rewarded with trivial gestures like a pork pie, a new coat, and meager travel expenses.
The landscape of football has undergone profound changes in the past 25 years, and the PFSA continues to adapt to the latest developments while retaining the fundamentals at its core. “The game today is unrecognizable compared to even 10 to 15 years ago,” Braybrook remarks. “Systems, styles, and laws have evolved, including the introduction of VAR. We must remain open to embracing these changes. If there are tools that can enhance traditional scouting, we should leverage them.”
“The most essential scouts are still those who can intuitively feel the game and its players, but we must also recognize the value of data. If you can integrate data analysis into your scouting methods, you’ll make more informed decisions,” Braybrook continues. “Top clubs might not always have the best recruitment strategies, leading to incorrect decisions.”
Data has emerged as a significant influence in the profession recently. During the course, participants view a segment from Sky Sports’ The Art of Scouting, highlighting the ongoing debate between traditional scouting and data-driven approaches—eyes and ears versus laptops and algorithms.
Whitehouse elaborates on how differing opinions can arise from these two methodologies. In previous courses, he would ask participants to vote on who they considered the superior player between Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, two iconic England midfielders. Most would choose Gerrard, yet statistics often favor Lampard.
The overarching lesson is that a blend of both approaches is essential today. If you lack proficiency in data analysis or the latest technology, you may struggle to keep pace with the evolving demands of the role. Whitehouse shares his experience of transitioning from using Microsoft Windows at Manchester United to being handed an Apple Mac at Blackpool, a frustrating adjustment that slowed his productivity for weeks.
He also reflects on the transformative impact that scouts and analysts can have. While Blackpool’s academy had limited analytical resources, the arrival of a talented analyst from Liverpool drastically improved their scouting capabilities, providing comprehensive insights within a matter of weeks.
As I conclude my observations, I express my long-standing interest in the data debate surrounding scouting and inquire about the future of this dynamic industry. Braybrook believes artificial intelligence, already under exploration by clubs, represents a significant frontier that will complement data analysis.
Whitehouse mentions being part of an exclusive global scouting WhatsApp group, where a recent discussion centered on the average time players spend on the ball—merely three minutes per game. The consensus emerged that off-the-ball actions are increasingly critical due to the complexity of modern tactics, emphasizing that recruitment is beginning to focus more on players’ off-the-ball capabilities.
During the course, two attendees dedicate significant effort to assessing the off-the-ball performances of De Jong and PSG’s Idrissa Gueye, who had the challenging task of marking Lionel Messi. They note that Gueye’s ability to neutralize Messi after receiving a yellow card in the 20th minute showcases remarkable resilience.
Participants commend one another for noting the impact of pitch conditions and attendance figures on player performance. These intricate details can prove vital in identifying the next multimillion-pound player. And who knows? Perhaps the PFSA has just uncovered the next scouting gem right here.
