Beep, beep, beep, beep. I sheepishly wake up to my alarm going off at 5:30am Monday morning.
I get up out of bed, make my double black coffee and start getting ready for work. While rushing out of the house, I have a mini heart attack as If I’ve forgotten something.
Watch, wallet, sun glasses, Airpods, two mobile phones, and a laptop with multiple batteries – I think I’ve got everything. Time to get to the office like everyone else and prepare my presentation.
Hi, my name is Andy and I’m a football scout.
I have been a scout for 19 years, working my way around the world with summers in Australia and winters in Serbia, Russia and Romania trying to find the next superstar. I currently scout players across multiple groups (between the ages of ten to 18) in South Australia.
Scouts can be freelance, work for a club or through an agency that will offer their scouting services to multiple clubs. There are different types of scouts; some will be searching for talent, others will be doing their homework on opposition clubs.
My work mobile phones contact list includes high school, amateur league, NPL and youth team managers, parents and fellow scouts. I also use social media to help with the search for new talent.
In a standard week, I can watch over 40 hours of football (from training to matches) in Adelaide and also be expected to provide detailed written and video analysis of a player’s skillset and my opinion on their strengths and weaknesses. All this information can be pre-defined by what a club is searching for, as well.
Each club has different traits they are looking for, depending on the area and type of player that position attracts.
Hunger for the ball, control and enthusiasm are the non-negotiables, but it’s the thinking outside the box in the final third in terms of awareness and imagination that can result in a player being recommended or looked over.
(Tony Feder/Getty Images)
It can be very draining work; as there are players you scout over the course of several years only to have a club advise they are no longer interested.
Even your own intuition can let you down – I have advised clubs to pass on players because they were too small, argued with the ref too much or weren’t vocal enough in a match.
Some of these players have gone on to play in the A-League and for the Socceroos.
For all the many dead ends, there has been success stories. Two players I recommended went on to play in Scandinavia, a third played in Holland and all three have played for the national team.
Multiple players I have scouted have made their way to the A-League. It’s the little wins that make the job worth it and also the hunger for KFC…
I was watching a high school match in Adelaide over 15 years ago and had to leave the match early, but there was a particular player of interest who I felt could be an A-League-level player for Adelaide United in the coming years.
He was playing as a defender but he had all the skills to play as a winger or a forward.
Because I left early, I wasn’t able to speak to the player or his parents, but by chance, later that evening I had gone to KFC to get a zinger burger.
Who served me at the drive-thru window? The kid from the match!
We then had an awkward conversation as I tried to explain I was a scout – he in turn thought I was some weird guy who had his laptop open and stroked his beard for most of the match looking in his direction.
This cheeky, pimple-faced teenager went on to play for Adelaide United, have a career in Europe and also play for the national team.
A lot of scouting can have elements of luck in it; sometimes it can just be a grumbling stomach in need of a zinger burger that leads to signing the next bright prospect.
Cryssie
Guest
Can I ask where about you scout. My son is 9 and very adamant that he will be a professional soccer player. We currently on the hunt for a soccer club but not sure where is the south of Adelaide. (Christies beach) Look forward to your response
scouser4life
Roar Rookie
i agree on the asian imports. we need to integrate as much as we can with those in our conference. i like watching the young japanese fellow at the Roar.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
1. i think the import numbers are fine however i would tweak it so that 1 of the spots would be an asian player capable of starting. The a league is one of the biggest gambled on sports in asia, we need to take advantage of that with asian players in the league. 2. i have looked into becoming an agent, i think id be quite good at it because i care about players. However my negotiation skills would need work haha. I have nik mandic, van der schaft, grimaud and quite a few of the biggest management groups on my work mobile. Joe Gauci is one of mandics latest clients and hes assembling a good list of a league players that he manages. Alot of the bigger management companies check in pretty frequently in terms of upcoming players and wanting to represent young players, some of these companies are great because they value the player; some are not and just want to make a quick buck
scouser4life
Roar Rookie
AA, This was a cracking article. i hope you keep writing some more. i have 2 questions 1) should the a league limit imports to ensure more aussies get a go - i have been real interested in this years games with the young guys turning out 2) did u ever think about becoming an agent as well to help some of these young guys take the right path when they head offshore
MFCboy1985
Roar Rookie
AA thanks insight and have great weekend.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
I was aware of hollman during his time at the NSW training centre, however he was not on my list or in my more wider database. You need to realise i cant get keep data on every single player, it all depends on what clubs contract me for; or what information gets passed my way from contacts. Just because a players name doesnt come my way, doesnt mean they wont be succesful. Ive had plenty of misses and will have plenty more yet lol. I dont think sydney were even too concerned about promoting him to the first team, due to the OAPs in front of him and sydneys awful record of promoting youth. Good for him for leaving the club (like more sydney fc youngsters should do) to actually play first team football. i have not watched a lot of macarthur matches ( as i cant stand the cow bells and am not a fan of the slow defensive possession based game they play). But he's done well, nothing amazing; but he has been consistent. I think it helps playing in a very high possession based style as macarthur do; it gives him plenty of time to be on the ball. macarthur are a very old team and the way they play is not exactly exicting either (unfortunately for their fans) I have been particularily critical of macarthur this season lol, but im not a coach; just a rival fan lol
MFCboy1985
Roar Rookie
Hopefully he gets more game time next season. What are your thoughts on Hollman? I have liked what I have seen of him. Thanks AA
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i like the look of ruhs, he could be a future midfielder
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
im not sure, i dont follow AFL or know too much about the sport to even try and give you an answer lol. there are many facets with being a goalkeeper. People assume its as simple as keeping goals out, thats the main element, but its also distribution that is just as important Then theres the physical attributes (height and weight) teams are not looking for goalies under 6 foot, i can guarantee you that. effective communication in terms of organizing your defence. its a very cerebral position, you have to be strong mentally to be a keeper. How do you react when you make a mistake? its always a fun position to recruit for though lol
titch
Guest
Thanks AA for your informative article. I've always wondered why AFL players aren't lured into goalkeeping. They would be naturals I would think.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
most of the time they are angry rants, i dont purposely try to rile up other posters. Everyone is fiercely loyal to there own club and thats great. Several neutral posters seem to agree with a lot of my views on certain players and clubs though, so i cant be that evil and wrong haha. you cant bait as much as you want haha. Just remember i hit harder than a muscat tackle lol
Grem
Roar Rookie
I'm really disappointed Andy! After reading your article and your responses I have even more respect for your football knowledge and admiration for all your previous comments, which I used to think were just angry rants! It makes it near impossible to try and bait you because I will now read everything you write in a new light. Keep up the great work with your scouting and I look forward to future posts and stories.
Midfielder
Roar Guru
Very true what you say about some parents
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
jamie mac is a player who was not on my list, but i had him in a wider database. That green gully side he was part of that won that absurd amount of matches (think it was like 30 or 40 in a row from memory) was a very good team and jamie wasnt even the best player in that team in my opinion. He is at his peak now as a footballer and if city dont win it this year, i’d think about moving on. Germany was not the right move for him, he did ok with hibs and i’d be looking to head back to the uk if i was him or his agent. I could see him at a mid to upper tier championship team
Punter
Roar Rookie
Yep Towser I agree with you & AA, young players should stay & dominate before thinking they can conquer Europe. Look at young MacClaren, he is by far the best Aussie striker in the A-League & has twice tried Europe without success.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
city are the real vultures of this league, offering young players and there parents/agents a lot more money to sign with them over other clubs. i mentioned Koul a few posts further down. I have no issues with the mariners and how they conduct any of there business; in particular youth. There position on the ladder is another story though lol
NoMates
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't call clubs that pickup unwanted youth vultures not in Wellingtons case anyway, CCM picked up a unwanted Kuol and i would consider them a vulture club.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
i hope im wrong, he has a great back story as well. I want any young australian footballer that goes overseas to make it. I want every club that has been involved in there development to be compensated appropriately. But not everything is as clear cut as it seems. i dont know who his agent/s is/are, i dont know what cut they got from this deal or if they poorly advised him to leave purely for the $$$$
Towser
Guest
AdelaideAndy Thanks for the detailed info on Kuol. Unfortunately I hold the same sentiments as yourself on young Alou Koul, a quick turnaround in the European football jungle, survival of the fittest land. I hope we are both wrong for the player, Australia and the Mariners who I hope have a sell on clause. The Suns also as you say deserve some compensation.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
superstar was perhaps the wrong word to use, i dont see australia producing a messi/ronaldo/mbappe/neymar player. A lot of that in my opinion is due to the football curriculum that is taught in this country and also the poor coaching. i do believe though that alot of australians players are more than capable of playing in respected leagues like holland, belgium, portugal and upcoming leagues like denmark and norway. The premier league or la liga are not the be all and end of all of leagues. I think my views on transfer fees in relation to a player’s development are well known on here. His formative years were spent at the suns, they should be entitled for some form of compensation for his development; not just the mariners Kouls details were actually forwarded onto me while he was a junior with the suns from a colleague in melbourne to have a closer look at. He was not on my "list" at that stage At that age he was an absolute handful for defenders. I made a comparison between him to an ostrich; in terms of he was all legs but was quite majestic looking when the ball was in his vicinity lol. cardio was an issue and he didnt really seemed fussed at tracking back when he turned the ball over, it was almost like he was saving energy (whether that was a coaching tactic or just the player i wasnt sure) but they were concerns I know the melbourne based a league teams had a real hard look at him and he played in some trial games, but there interest went no further. One teams loss is another teams gain, good on central coast for taking a punt on him and good for the player to keep persevering. He still struggles to run out games (so i was right in that at least haha) but that’s also because there’s a visa player that central coast have to play up front. the move in my opinion is too early, he needed at least 2 more seasons in the league (2nd year to be consistent, 3rd year to excel) mariners got a mid 6 figure for him which is the going rate for australian youngsters unfortunately. I dont see it working out well for him in germany, i'd be expecting him back in the country before his contracts up at a club like the wanderers