Hey Reader,

Most people get it wrong.

They obsess over their Tableau skills, spend months perfecting Python code, or chase another qualification. Meanwhile, someone with half their technical ability walks into the role they wanted.

I’ve seen it happen repeatedly. Brilliant minds with impressive portfolios sitting at home whilst others with seemingly less on paper are thriving inside football clubs.

Here’s what clubs actually look for - and it’s not always what you think.

The Communication Paradox

Your analysis is worthless if nobody understands it.

I learned this the hard way during my first analyst internship at Leeds United. I’d spend hours creating detailed reports, proud of the depth and complexity. Then I’d watch coaches glance at them for thirty seconds before moving on.

The problem wasn’t my work. It was my inability to make it matter to them.

You can possess every technical skill imaginable, but if you can’t translate your findings into actionable insights that coaches can use, you’re essentially invisible. This isn’t about dumbing things down - it’s about speaking their language.

Communication develops through practice. Start presenting your work to friends who don’t know football. If they can’t follow your logic, neither will the coaching staff.

The clubs that hire consistently? They prioritise candidates who can make complex simple.

Trust: The Currency That Matters

Trust isn’t given. It’s earned through small, consistent actions.

During a recent Recruitment Room session with David Sumpter, he mentioned something that stuck: the best analysts take things off their manager’s plate, not add to it. They make lives easier, not more complicated.

This means delivering exactly what you promise, when you promise it. It means formatting reports so they’re easy to read. It means understanding your audience well enough to communicate insights at their level.

But here’s the deeper truth - trust comes from admitting what you don’t know.

I remember being asked about a player I’d only watched once. The easy option was to offer a vague assessment. Instead, I said I needed more time to form a proper opinion. That honesty built more trust than any rushed analysis could have.

Clubs work in high-pressure environments where wrong decisions cost money and jobs. They need people they can rely on completely.

The Confidence Balance

Football moves fast. Hesitation kills opportunities.

When you’re in a recruitment meeting and someone asks your opinion on a player, “I’m not sure” isn’t helpful. When your report shows average data but provides no recommendation, you’ve created confusion, not clarity.

Confidence means being direct when you have enough information. It means saying “don’t sign him” when that’s your assessment, even if others disagree.

But confidence isn’t arrogance. Sometimes the most confident thing you can say is “I don’t have enough information to form a reliable opinion yet.”

The worst situation for any club is ambiguity. Better to have a clear wrong opinion that can be discussed and challenged than no opinion at all.

This skill develops through experience and self-awareness. Start practising by taking definitive positions on players in your portfolio work.

Technical Skills: The Entry Fee

Here’s the reality - you need the technical foundation.

For analysts, this might mean Python, SQL, Tableau, or creating dossiers. For scouts, it’s report writing, data interpretation, and agent relationships.

But here’s a practical approach: find three job postings for roles you want. Copy the requirements into ChatGPT and ask it to identify the common themes. That’s your learning roadmap.

The key is showcasing these skills consistently. Your online portfolio should demonstrate competency across the technical areas that matter for your target roles.

Don’t aim for perfection before you start applying. Aim for competence that you can build upon.

Experience: Breaking the Catch-22

“How do I get experience without experience?”

This question comes up in every conversation about breaking into football. The answer is simpler than people make it.

Experience doesn’t have to mean working for Manchester United. It means demonstrating your ability to do the work consistently.

Publish scout reports regularly. Create analysis pieces. Work with local clubs, player agents, or even individual players. The setting matters less than the consistency and quality.

Your first opportunity changes everything. Once you have something football-related on your CV, the next door becomes easier to open.

Focus on transferable skills from these experiences. Problem-solving, meeting deadlines, working under pressure - these matter regardless of the level you’re working at.

The Shift That Changes Everything

Most people approach football careers backwards. They focus on what they can offer rather than what clubs actually need.

The successful candidates I’ve seen think differently. They study the problems clubs face and position themselves as solutions.

They communicate clearly because coaches don’t have time for confusion. They build trust because clubs can’t afford unreliable people. They show confidence because decisive environments need decisive people.

Your technical skills get you in the room. These five qualities determine whether you stay there.

Start developing them now, not when you get the job.

Have a great week and go well.

Liam

Whenever you’re ready, there are two ways I can help you: ​Free 1-2-1 Breakthrough Call - Frustrated trying to break into football recruitment? Tired of rejection after rejection? No idea how to get your first role in professional scouting or analysis? Get your free Football Career breakthrough Call to create a clear pathway to reach your goals in the football industry. ​Recruitment Room - My online membership community helps aspiring and new football professionals secure jobs working in recruitment. Master the four pillars of scouting, analysis, online portfolio, and employment. Learn from industry experts through our workshops, hot seats, and live sessions.