Scouting: From fantasy to reality

Just like in life, football has its twists and turns. In '98, I received a gift that I never imagined would change my life: "PC Fútbol." This game sparked my love for tactics and strategy. It had a comprehensive database that included scouts, who helped find promising players to sign. I spent hours searching for players to strengthen my team. I remember signing Shevchenko for Gimnasia y Tiro de Salta from a Ukrainian team. Unknowingly, I was beginning my journey into scouting through play. Without a doubt, this game left a mark on many people, including Víctor Orta, the current sporting director of Sevilla.

Years later, "Football Manager" emerged, a game I frequently consult and which is now the most realistic football simulator. It features an extensive database with leagues and divisions worldwide, countless players, coaches, scouts, staff, and even agents. Increasingly, clubs are using this simulator to observe players and detect future stars. One of the most significant cases was Roberto Firmino, who played for Figueirense in Brazil's second division when a Hoffenheim scout was impressed by his attributes in the game. Following proper scouting, he was signed.

There are several similar situations. The most notable and perhaps "viral" in recent times was Ben Brereton Díaz, a player born in England, who was called up by the Chilean national team. Interestingly, Chile realized they could call him up thanks to a Chilean streamer who discovered his dual nationality in the game, sparking a campaign for Ben to represent Chile. Later, he received the official call-up from the federation.

Another case is Will Still, who currently manages Racing Club de Lens in France's Ligue 1. He has often acknowledged that his passion for coaching began with the game. In his words, he attests to the game's importance in his life as a coach: "I never thought the game could influence my real-life career, but it clearly has. I became obsessed with Football Manager, and it ignited my passion for coaching."

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney also declared that he used the popular simulator to scout players when he was managing DC United in the United States. He even mentioned that the club had alliances with several talent scouts involved in producing and evaluating ratings within the game.

For those of us who have followed and played this game for years, the story of Nathan Owolabi was impactful. At 23, he participated in a contest organized by the game and XBOX, offering the chance to join Bromley Football Club as a tactical performance assistant, and he won. His contributions were fundamental, helping the team ascend from the National League, a semi-professional league, to EFL League Two, a professional fourth division in England. The young gamer demonstrated that video games could be a platform for developing real-life applicable skills.

These games marked my first steps without knowing what destiny had in store. In 2016, I had the opportunity to accompany Gaby Ruiz to a Bundesliga match, who was then a scout for Middlesbrough. Later, I discovered he was one of the creators of that life-changing gift, PC Fútbol.

For that 10-year-old boy, these games were just a pastime spent hours in front of the computer. Today, they represent a valuable tool in his work. These stories show us that often, even without all the proper tools, we can find a way.

Pérez Santellán Juan Pablo