1.) Dear Raul. You’ve been working with your team at AILITE for quite a year with COACHINSIDE and you’re supporting to build the largest and strongest coach database in professional football. What’s your impression of COACHINSIDE today?
Coachinside is a unique tool that offers outstanding qualitative and quantitative information that allows you to know a coach in depth and consequently make decisions with the maximum possible information. Coachinside is constantly evolving. It is an organic solution that is constantly evolving, with new functionalities, metrics, and solutions that respond to the needs of the industry. Coachinside is an incredible tool that in the coming years will be the essential tool for all clubs, federations and organizations in the world of football.
2.) Your team have analysed hundreds of head-coaches from many different leagues. What has stuck with you the most when you look at the international coach market?
We have examined numerous coaches from various countries and concluded that making general rules for them would be unfair. However, we did notice some interesting trends.
Younger coaches tend to understand the game better and are more innovative tactically. They prefer their teams to take the initiative in the game. On the other hand, veteran coaches are excellent at managing their teams and typically opt for more practical solutions during the game. They tend to play longer, avoid taking risks in the build-up, and focus on second balls.
In Europe, there is a tendency to dominate the game by taking the initiative in the play and quickly recovering the ball through counter-press when lost.
In South America, there is a mix—there is everything. From veteran coaches using classic game systems such as 1-4-4-2, focusing on offensive verticality and defensive intensity and order, to coaches who are former players who have a different idea of the game and greater tactical knowledge.
New young coaches are emerging in South America, especially in countries like Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay. Chile and Peru are also trying to follow this trend, giving opportunities to former player coaches with more profound knowledge of the game. These coaches are succeeding since many teams in these leagues need more criteria and tactical solutions.
As for tactical systems, it must be said that defences with four defenders (1-4-3-3, 1-4-2-3-1, etc.) are played more than defences with 3 or 5 defenders (1 -3-5-2, 1-3-4-3, etc.). Portugal is an exception since, in that country, it is expected to find teams playing with a line of 3 or 5 defenders.
As for the national coaches, the bet is on veteran and experienced coaches. One of the reasons is that the national team seeks to optimize time with simpler and clearer ideas since there is no time to work with the team and establish a new work methodology.
Finally, seeing the coaches' projections in their media interviews is interesting. In Spain, the coach can talk about his playing philosophy; this type of interview is common. This also happens with prestigious foreign coaches who arrive in new leagues. Brazil is another country where there is interest in the media about the philosophy of the game. On the other hand, in Portugal, the media is focused on each week's match. In other countries, especially South America, the media and coaches talk about external issues, focusing on the fans and "the luck" or even resorting to mysticism, "God gives us the strength to win."
3.) There are currently no other relevant systems for data-based coach scouting on the market. How important is the work of COACHINSIDNE and data analysis in the field of coach selection for decision-makers in professional football?
We are living in the age of data. Nowadays, humans don't base their decisions solely on intuition. Whether buying a new apartment or a car or planning our next vacation, we are constantly seeking information and data to assist us in making the best choices.
In football, selecting the right coach is one of the most critical decisions an organisation can make, even more important than choosing a good player. A coach's abilities can either make or break a team, ultimately leading to success or failure. However, it's important to note that CoachInside's analysis of a coach is not the most important factor. Decision-makers' interpretation of the analysis is crucial. Combining a coach's analysis with expert soccer knowledge ensures the best possible decision. Decision-makers must know what they want for their team, and CoachInside will provide them with the best options. A good interpretation of the analysis is key. Making a decision based on external information, intuition, or pressure when selecting a coach is very risky and can have a significant impact on the club.
Coachinside minimizes errors regarding one of the most important decisions an organisation must make today.
Thanks a lot Raul!
Comments