Hey Reader,

If I wanted to break Into Football Recruitment in 2026. Here are the 12 actions I'd start with.

Not theory. Not someday. Starting Monday.

1. Pick One League That's Streamed Online

Find a league you can watch consistently. Segunda División. USL. Gambia.

Not the Premier League everyone else watches. Something accessible where you can build genuine expertise.

Watch matches. Utilise YouTube and FIFA+ for fully streamed leagues.

2. Sign Up to the Free Workshop on Breaking Into Football Recruitment

I'm hosting a free workshop on how to change your career and work in football recruitment in 2026.

I'll reveal the exact roadmap to break into football, without risking your current income or wasting time on courses that don't lead to opportunities.

You'll discover the four key pillars that actually get you hired.

Register here: https://workinfootballrecruitment2026.carrd.co/​

3. Attend One Conference or Event in Person

Training Ground Guru. Hudl Insights. Football networking events.

Live is much better than virtual or even DMs.

Go with a plan. Five specific people you want to meet. Questions prepared. Follow up the next day.

In-person conversations create opportunities that LinkedIn messages never will.

4. Complete the FA Talent ID Level One

It's online. It's free. It's here (if you need it).​

It gives you baseline knowledge of how identification systems work.

Most people skip this because it seems too basic. That's exactly why you do it.

It proves you understand the fundamentals before claiming expertise.

5. Learn Python If You're Serious About Data

Not because every analyst needs Python. But because the ones who progress fastest usually have it.

Start by learning the basics. Move to data manipulation. Build towards visualisation and pick up data scraping.

Thirty minutes daily for six months beats weekend binges that go nowhere.

6. Read Three Books on Football Data and Scouting

Start with the foundations. Understand how data is collected, what it measures, what it misses. How to watch players.

Don't just read them. Apply the concepts. Test the ideas against what you're watching.

Some of my favourites include anatomy of a football scout, how to win the Premier League, and Scout Stories' (yes I am in this one!)​

7. Connect With Three Industry Experts Per Week

Not random people. Specific professionals whose work you respect and whose career path makes sense for you.

Comment thoughtfully on their posts. Share relevant insights. Add value before asking for anything.

100 meaningful connections in a year beats thousands of crap LinkedIn connections.

8. Find Three Peers on the Same Journey

People at your level. Same ambition. Different networks.

Create a WhatsApp group, twitter DM group. Share what you're learning. Hold each other accountable to weekly actions.

The compound effect of four people hunting together beats one person hoping alone.

9. Share Two Pieces of Work Per Week

Scout reports. Data visualisations. Match analysis. Player comparisons.

Post them publicly. Every week. No exceptions.

Your portfolio builds while everyone else is still "getting ready" to start.

10. Join The Recruitment Room Membership Community

Yes, it's mine. But it blows other education else out of the water.

Get 1:1 mentorship. Learn the exact technical skills clubs want. Build your online portfolio. Grow your network and land opportunities working in football.

Start here: https://www.recruitmentroom.co/start​

11. Post What You're Learning Monthly

Not what you already know. What you're currently figuring out.

The process matters more than something perfect. People follow journeys, not highlight reels.

This separates you from people who only share when it's perfect.

12. Use Data From FBref and WhoScored

Free resources. Publicly available. No excuses needed.

Learn to pull data systematically. Clean it. Analyse it. Visualise it.

Stop waiting for someone to hand you proprietary databases. Start with what's accessible.

All of these steps sound simple, but combine them together, and it's incredibly effective to start your journey in football recruitment analysis or scouting this year.

Liam