10 ways to showcase talents domestically and position players for international opportunities
It could be argued that outside of the top professional teams globally, every club is a feeder club, with the best and most known players often making their way to the top of the game through a series of transfers, manufactured moves and manicured career paths by agents, coaches and club directors.
Because of this, it should be no surprise that every club in the Oceania region is also a developer club. For both male and female players, these clubs should be seen as a platform to enable them to either play at the highest level of amateur national domestic football within the Oceania region or to assist with the transition into professional football with international clubs and other organisations.
For clubs transitioning players into new environments, whether that be from a youth team to senior level, amateur to professional or from one tier league to another, there are a variety of areas that will require keen focus to ensure this is successful. These should be planned with the ultimate aim of ensuring each player plays at the highest possible level, establishing as much market value as possible.
In developing nations including the Oceania region, football players must be of a standard whereby recruitment is a worthwhile option for clubs and coaches around the world. Our players are competing against a fierce global market whilst overcoming several environmental issues which many of their global counterparts may not face. There are also other limiting or detrimental factors such as a lack of understanding of their sporting and/or financial value due to the local disconnect from the global transfer market.
10 ways to showcase talents domestically and position players for international opportunities:
- Establish a strong playing foundation by integrating players into club first-team environment to help bridge the competitive gap. Playing experience at the best level possible will be important to help ensure players are prepared for the next step. This may involve including youth players in senior squads, providing valuable training exposure and playing time in competitive fixtures.
A further illustration of this can be found in articles such as ‘Player Experience During the Junior to Senior Transition in Professional Football: A Longitudinal Case Study’ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7363945/
2. Showcase the potential of your club’s players by promoting and encouraging international age group activity with member associations U15, U17, U19, and U21 national teams. Ensure that coaches, scouts and selectors are aware of the talent in your club, as it can be challenging for them to identify every player. Help your players be seen and seize the opportunity to showcase their skills on an international stage.
Playing age-group international football can increase a player’s exposure to scouts and coaches from other clubs and international teams which can help them secure professional contracts and national team selection. The more exposure a player has on a global stage, the more likely they are to attract attention from top-level clubs and national team programs, which can be vital for their development as player.
3. Your club can arrange showcase events whereby you invite overseas observers or scouts to the club. Direct scouting and exposure can be an excellent way to showcase players and allows the players to be seen in their natural environment. The scouts form a pivotal figure in the player transformation process, particularly from talented to elite athlete, and could be the person that helps make the life-changing decision to help move a player on. There is a more in-depth explanation of the role and importance of scouts in the player development process here:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343837214_Role_of_football_scouts_in_player_transformation_process_From_talented_to_elite_athlete
4. Sporting Directors, Technical Directors or similar should actively engage with overseas clubs and organisations to arrange trialling opportunities. There are of course logistical challenges to overcome but the frequency of this situation is becoming more commonplace. The economic realities of travel can make it difficult for players to participate in these opportunities and many teams may not have the financial resources to do so regularly, especially for young players and smaller clubs. However, with support, this can be possible through financial packages, the correct advice and expert guidance on crafting these next steps.
- This is one of the many roles of the Technical Director, the rest of which can be read in my most recent article “10 responsibilities of a club Technical Director. https://medium.com/@stevenleedillon/10-key-responsibilities-of-a-club-technical-director-91e199b59e88
5. Profile your players online through extensive and high-quality produced media packages. Actively build marketing and branding around players that clubs think have genuine potential. Consider the commercial value you can add not only to the player profile/purchase price but also to the value that their association can create for the club when they are signed. For example, the content generated in their media packages can expose players to broader markets and fanbases which can increase awareness and interest. Remember, you have to be seen to be known.
6. Develop relationships with overseas organisations and clubs through strategic alliances on a club to club basis. Formal or informal links can lead to player opportunities as well as other commercial and off the field relationships. Whilst there will be plentiful examples of this occurring already, an example of this in action is New Zealand striker Alex Grieve from Birkenhead United who transferred to St Mirren in Scotland. This was made possible following a strategic partnership between the two organisations. (https://birkenheadunited.org.nz/latest-news/birkenhead-united-form-strategic-partnership-with-st-mirren)
7. When identifying placement locations, consider visa-free countries or those with fewer limitations for existing passports (e.g. Australia, Europe). This relates to my initial point to make sure clubs are aware of all the regulations, limitations, and opportunities available worldwide, even in some leagues that may not seem initially available. Many leagues have visa limitations on squads and these should be considered when planning which country a player could go to next. For example, within the Australian A-League there can only be a maximum of 5 foreign visa players per squad.
8. Ensure the player has applied for any new passports that he/she may be entitled to (i.e through heritage, ancestral or descent). Individuals could consider dual nationality should the eligibility rules permit. There are also possibilities for players to change their eligibility to represent associations should these changes be permitted under the FIFA RSTP. https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/b98d35fc16dc274b/original/elcthdgwfgx7dcxdenas-pdf.pdf
9. If mainstream federation/association leagues are proving to be difficult, consider educational options, such as universities in America that can expose players to a different region while furthering their education. This could be an intermediary step before moving on to other league systems in the professional game and may expand the number of options available initially while the player is still developing. This mechanism is well established and many domestic organisations have the expertise to help facilitate these types of moves.
10. Utilise historical relationships and connections to assist with relationship maintenance. There may have been previous players who have played for a club and maintained positive relationships. These connections, whether direct or indirect, can be helpful in the future. For instance, New Zealand GK Jamie Searle reconnected with Barnsley FC GK Coach Thomas Fawdry, who had previously worked in New Zealand. Searle is the latest of several Kiwis to have graced the hallowed Oakwell turf including Rory Fallon, Chris Wood, and Leo Bertos. https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/news/2022/june/searle-interview/
The journey of a player from the youth team to the first team and beyond should be a delicately managed process overseen by a multidisciplinary group of experts, including those in sporting, medical and commercial roles that can impact the player's future. Other factors that need consideration include timing, the pace of transition and the support made available to the player throughout the process.
Clubs, Sporting Directors, and Coaches should ensure that all decisions made are in the best interest of the player in both the short and long term, and are made with genuine intentions.
For a previous article on my ’10-step guide for best practice coach recruitment’ click here: https://medium.com/@stevenleedillon/a-10-step-guide-for-best-practice-coach-recruitment-bd178b411419
For many other Football Management articles, follow me on Twitter @stevendillon
