What Does a Football Scout Do from September to January?

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Scouting

Many people believe that football scouts only work during transfer windows, but the reality is quite different: outside these periods, there's still plenty of work to be done. First, it's important to remember that some transfer windows only close after September. A good example is Australia, where the window only closes in mid-October. I like to think of the market as a funnel, starting from a broader approach to a more specific one. The next big window is in January, and it's crucial to understand how to operate in each of them. In the US and Brazil, for example, the January window is a time for restructuring clubs, when many players are released to make room for new signings. Therefore, it's important to start presenting your players as early as October and November. This is usually a busy window, with many negotiations, including major signings. In Europe, the January window is more focused on adjustments. It generally serves to offload players who didn't meet expectations, either permanently or on a six-month loan, and for specific signings – such as replacing injured players or taking advantage of market opportunities. It's typically a colder window with restrained spending. After understanding the window scenarios, the next step for a scout is to define their area of operation and work on strengthening their network. If the area is Europe, it's important to be ready to converse in English, Spanish, Italian, and French to expand connections across various leagues. If the focus is on the South American market, there are many opportunities to build contacts. In the São Paulo state championship alone, from Serie A1 to Serie A4, there are over 60 clubs to connect with. The third step is to study the leagues where you operate, even if you're already a specialist. Changes can happen at any time, such as the dissolution of Bordeaux in France. A good scout needs to know these changes and have a well-defined career plan for their players. It's essential to know in which leagues your player can perform, what the next step is after a good season, and which markets are stronger and make more signings. After studying the leagues, it's crucial to study the clubs with which you have relationships, understanding their specific squad needs. A recent example is PSV (Netherlands), which lost both of its left-backs to injury and urgently needed to sign a new one. It's much more effective to approach the club with a solution, such as "I have a left-back who can help," rather than just asking, "What do you need?" Therefore, the scout's work never stops: it's essential to constantly maintain and expand networking, study leagues, clubs, and players, and always be ready to present assertive solutions. I hope the last transfer window was great for everyone. I wish you an excellent period of study and see you soon!


P.S. For 2 months, the ScoutDecision team collected testimonials from scouts in our network about their jobs, the tools they use, etc. Now you can read the results for free here: Football Scouting Survey 2024

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