The art of maximizing resources and building success

In modern football, scouting is not just another tool; it is the heart of any club that aspires to great achievements. This process allows clubs to accurately identify, evaluate and develop talent, aligning sporting needs with available resources to achieve short, medium and long-term goals.

Talking about scouting is a precise mix of observation, strategy and intuition. Before setting out to find talent, it is crucial to understand the internal and external context of the club. The initial diagnosis defines where we stand and what is the best path to follow. But before evaluating, we must establish clear and achievable objectives, covering sporting, economic, quantitative and qualitative aspects. These objectives must be realistic and clearly communicated to all parties involved.

With clear objectives, we can develop strategic maps that guide our process. A budget map allows us to prioritize investments and ensure that we do not exceed financial limits. The sports map analyzes the present and projects the future of the squad, identifying needs and potential emerging talents. And the style manual defines the ideal characteristics of the players according to our tactics and philosophy, ensuring that each signing fits perfectly with our vision.

Scouting is based on the perfect combination of technology and human observation. Platforms such as Wyscout or SAP Sports One have transformed hours of analysis into minutes, allowing clubs to handle large volumes of data with precision. These tools offer advanced metrics such as percentage of successful passes, kilometers traveled and performance under pressure, which help to identify patterns and project the potential of players.

However, numbers are not everything. Human observation remains indispensable to capture what statistics cannot measure: mentality, resilience, team communication and leadership ability. An experienced scout knows that behind every number there is a story, and it is that story that can make the difference between a good player and a potential star.

Scouting is not just about seeing who has talent, it is also about finding that player who fits perfectly into the team's machinery. What good is a star if later, within the scheme, he does not fulfill the necessary functions? What you look for when you watch a game or closely follow a young talent is not only whether he does a great trick or whether he has an impressive shot. The important thing is that he understands the game, knows where he has to be and reads the plays before they happen. It is vital to find those players who, although they do not stand out for spectacular skills, have the ability to cover spaces, recover balls and do the dirty work that many times no one sees but which is key for the team.

The player you are looking for must adapt to the club's philosophy and its style of play. He must be the one who, when you see him play, you say: "This kid plays as if he had been here all his life." That is the magic of scouting. It is not just about finding talent, but about finding talent that serves and works in the machinery that is already in motion. A team is not just talent, it is a group that works together, with a common goal, and the player that arrives has to be a piece that fits into that puzzle.

Once the talents have been identified, the scouting process does not stop there. It is crucial to integrate these players effectively into the squad, ensuring their development and maximising their potential. This involves meticulous planning that anticipates up to three years of team evolution, including youth projections and future needs.

Video analysis is another essential tool that complements the scouting process. It is not only used to evaluate the performance of rivals, but also to closely monitor the progress of our own players. Specific and updateable video clips allow a constant review of the strengths and areas of improvement of each player, facilitating informed and strategic decisions.

Squad management goes far beyond initial recruitment. The need to give movement dynamics to a roster with expiring contracts, performance differences, different business potentials and a well-formulated line of succession, invites constant re-evaluation and adjustment. Planning must foresee, to the greatest extent possible, what may happen to the squad in the next three years. The possibility of generating business with players whose replacements are already in the squad, finding an optimal business with footballers whose contracts are about to expire or giving participation to athletes through loans, implies the need to activate actions through contacts to offer different types of agreements depending on the case.

Promotion must be flexible, adapting to different types of business without losing the balance between need and benefit. Presenting innovative proposals and creative solutions allows us to take advantage of opportunities and maintain long-lasting business relationships.

Artificial intelligence and predictive models are opening new frontiers in scouting. These tools allow us to anticipate trends and project player development with greater precision. However, the success of scouting does not depend only on technology; Scouting requires detailed planning, a skilled team and a solid blueprint to support every decision. The combination of strategic vision, rigorous analysis and adaptability is what makes scouting a vital process for any club aspiring to sustainable success.

In short, scouting is a blend of science and art, technology and human observation. It is a continuous and dynamic process that, when done correctly, propels clubs towards sustainable success, helping them achieve their goals and leave an indelible mark on the world of football. From spotting promising youngsters to integrating these talents into the main team, every step of the scouting process is designed to maximise the club’s potential and ensure its competitiveness on the global stage.

Arismendi Ignacio

editor created with artificial intelligence