If you are passionate about football and dream of spotting the next Messi or Ronaldo, becoming a professional football scout might be your perfect role.
It is a path that many football enthusiasts and former players aspire to take, but it can be hard to figure out where to start and what qualifications you need to become a scout.
If you are asking yourself, ‘How can I become a football scout?’, you have come to the right place as, in this guide, we take you through the different types of scouts and the qualifications, skills, and steps you need to do to break into football scouting.
What are the different types of football scouts?
Football scouts are known for their observational skills, but there are different types of scouts:
- Talent scouts – Focus on scouting young or amateur players with great potential who could make it in the professional game.
- Data scouts – Using statistics and performance data to evaluate player performance and to unearth players at other clubs that could benefit your team.
- Tactical scouts – Analysing opponents to help teams prepare for matches.
- Recruitment scouts – Identify players who fit a club’s playing style and budget.
What steps must you take to become a football scout?
- Develop a deep knowledge of football
- Watch more games to gain experience
- Network with clubs, agencies and coaches
- Ensure you understand the use of data in modern scouting
- Learn more about writing scouting reports
Develop a deep knowledge of football
One of the primary skills a football scout must possess is to have a wealth of knowledge about the game.
You must develop an in-depth knowledge of football and understand player positions, formations, playing styles, and tactical systems.
Being a scout means you will need to learn how to analyse an individual player’s performance in different matches, and part of this process might involve studying reports from other scouts and looking at performance data on a player.
There are excellent resources online that you can read to help develop your football knowledge, such as the England Football Learning website and S4 Scouting, which offer information and workshops about scouting and football in general.
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Watch more games and gain practical experience
If you want to get into the world of football scouting, it is vital that you show you have experience, and this can be obtained by watching live matches at different levels.
Whether it is a youth game, a non-league game or a professional match, these experiences will help you on your journey.
During these matches, you should take notes on player attributes such as how good technically they are, their physical ability, attitude, and decision-making skills.
If you are watching a non-league game, you can always look to compare players to professionals to see how they match up.
You could also offer to scout for your local team, academy or scouting agency, and by doing this, you can build a portfolio of scouting reports and analysis videos.
Isaac Felizardo from the Scout Decision blog says it is important you watch as much football as you can: “Watch as many games as possible, at all levels. Learn about different playing styles, tactics, and player roles. Volunteering with local teams or football clubs can also provide valuable insight and experience.”
Network with clubs, agencies and coaches
Something else that spiring football scouts need to do is to network. You can gain valuable insights and share ideas and knowledge by speaking to clubs, agencies and professional scouts.
You can speak to football scouts on social media sites such as LinkedIn, X, and Facebook. You should also approach non-league clubs and academies to volunteer, as this will increase your networking opportunities and help you gain more experience.
There are conferences, events and workshops specifically for football scouts that you can attend, which will offer great networking opportunities:
- A.F.C.A.S – Professional football – recruitment & player scouting workshop: This two-day, seven-hour, fully interactive workshop is designed for new and experienced football scouts to enhance their skills and development.
- UEFA Elite Scout Programme: This is a foundation programme for professional scouts in the football industry, and it provides attendees with extended knowledge and techniques to uncover new talents and perform state-of-the-art recruitment.
Ensure you understand the use of data in modern scouting
As a budding football scout, you not only need to possess the skills of talent identification and have a keen eye for a player, but you also need to make sure that you understand the use of data in football.
You must learn about key metrics such as expected goals (xG), pass completion rates, defensive actions, and other metrics.
There are platforms like Wyscout, InStat, and StatsBomb that you can use to analyse performance data, but you will need to create an account to use them.
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Learn more about writing scouting reports
Just like a coach would need a football session planner to organise training, being a football scout will involve writing up detailed reports on players and teams, and it is vital that you learn about what should go into these reports.
Reports on players should include information on their strengths, weaknesses, tactical awareness and overall potential. Professional clubs will be expecting structured and objective reports with clear recommendations.
Scouting reports on opposition teams should also include a similar format with information on their strengths and weaknesses and some data from their recent matches.
Every club might have different templates for reports, and it is essential that you check what exactly the club is looking for before heading off on your scouting mission.
What qualifications do you need to become a football scout?
There aren't any formal qualifications to become a football scout, but you will need a strong understanding of the game, analytical skills, and experience in talent identification.
Many football associations like the FA and UEFA offer scouting courses. These are some of the best ones you could consider taking:
- The Professional Football Scouts Association (PFSA) Courses
- FA Talent Identification Courses
- UEFA Scouting Courses
- Football Scouting Worldwide Courses
Frequently asked questions about football scouts
How does football scouting work?
Football scouting involves identifying and evaluating potential players for a club, often through observing games, analysing data, and building relationships with coaches and other scouts.
How old do I have to be to pursue a career as a professional football scout?
To become a professional football scout, you must be at least 18. You do not need any football scouting experience, but it is worth completing some courses.
How much does a football scout get paid?
Football scout salaries vary significantly based on experience, role, and club level. An average salary for a football scout generally ranges from around £18,000 to £30,000 per year for entry-level positions, with senior roles potentially earning over £100,000 annually.
Do you need a DBS check to become a football scout?
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service), formerly known as a CRB check, must be completed by every football scout before they can work with children.
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Becoming a football scout
This guide has informed you about the courses you can attend and the pathway you can take to become a football scout. Becoming a football scout can be challenging, but with the above skills and steps, it is achievable for any football enthusiast.
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