Short Form Insights
Building Value - Sporting Charleroi
what is it about Charleroi – the squad, the recruitment, the game model/style – that makes a coach like Rik such an interesting proposition?
The aim of this piece is simple:
- Work out what actually makes Rik, in this moment, attractive to high‑level Belgian projects.
- Use Charleroi as a lens: how they build the squad, what they value, and how that shows up on the pitch on a medium‑sized Belgian budget.
Building Value - RAAL
With 13 games gone, the Jupiler Pro League is slowly starting to take shape. I've been immensely impressed by how RAAL La Louvière has acclimatised to the league, considering their quick ascension which has been well-documented with back-to-back promotions from 1ste Nationale.
Scouting in Africa - Afriskaut
Scouting in Africa - Afriskaut
Work done at Afriskaut regarding how and why to recruit in Africa & the qualitative & quantitive data behind it.
Stade Reims
African Coaches - Bridging the Gap
Scouting in Africa - Afriskaut
The below document delves into certain pieces of the clubs, despite some on-pitch challenges, Reims remains a club with one of Europe’s youngest squads (average age: 23.8) and one of Ligue 1’s most future-secure teams, with over 68% of contracts extending beyond 2026. Their growing reliance on African talent mirrors Ligue 1’s broader trend, where African players now make up over 30% of the league—an increase from just 23% two years ago.
Bafana Bafana Progression
African Coaches - Bridging the Gap
African Coaches - Bridging the Gap
The ever-polarizing Hugo Broos has ruffled a few feathers over the years with his candid comments about local coaches, the league, and Western perceptions of South African football. However, one thing is undeniable: off the back of a 3rd place finish at the recent AFCON and a resounding 5-0 victory over Congo, including a rocket from South Africa's €5 million man Teboho Mokoena, Broos has steadily improved the national team's performance and global standing.
African Coaches - Bridging the Gap
African Coaches - Bridging the Gap
African Coaches - Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap: African Coaches in European Football
The landscape of African football coaching has dramatically shifted in recent years, with a significant increase in indigenous coaches leading national teams. This trend was highlighted at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where all five African representatives were led by African coaches. The continental success has raised questions about when we might see more African coaches breaking through to Europe.
Case Studies
Goalkeepers in South Africa
In the 2024/25 PSL season, for example, the average age of South African goalkeepers is 31.4 years, with none under 27 years old currently getting minutes. This is starkly different from other developing leagues like Japan's J1 League, where 18 of 23 first-choice goalkeepers are Japanese nationals, and multiple goalkeepers under 25 receive substantial playing time, with Yohei Takaoka, Seung-gyu Kim and Zion Suzuki move to Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Al Shabab and Sint Truiden respectively.
African Club Strategies
This case study examines the dynamic landscape of African football, highlighting recent high-profile managerial and executive changes across various clubs, while also analyzing lesser-known teams that employ innovative strategies in player development and value creation, as measured through metrics such as player appreciation, development efficiency, continental exposure, and return on investment
Mercury 13
Enter Mercury/13, an MCO led by Victoire H. Cogevina Reynal, which aims to rip up the blueprint and transform the landscape of women's football through multi-club ownership in a startup-like fashion. Alongside new investor Giorgio Chiellini, their mission is to leverage commercial influence to reach a massive, yet often underserved audience: female football fans.
Atlanta United
Atlanta United FC finds itself at a critical juncture, experiencing a rollercoaster ride over the past few seasons. After their initial meteoric rise, the club has faced a period of stagnation, barely clinching a playoff spot this year. Their trajectory mirrors rapid expansion followed by market correction.
African Club Market
This case study explores the dynamic African football market, highlighting its growth potential, significant player exports to Europe, and presents three intriguing investment opportunities: a club led by Nigerian legend Kanu Nwankwo, a Moroccan powerhouse, and a club known for efficient youth development
PSL Network Analysis
This case study analyzes the South African Premier Soccer League's transfer window, highlighting key player movements, record-breaking deals, and the overall transfer network dynamics, with a focus on club impacts, transfer values, and player development pathways
The Chase
The Chase
The Chase
The case study examines the potential narrowing of the competitive gap in South African football, focusing on how Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are working to challenge Mamelodi Sundowns' dominance in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) through strategic improvements in coaching, player transfers, and continental participation