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How to become a football scout in
Nigeria
A scout is an employee of a football club who attends matches to
watch players or teams and gather information to feed back to
the coaches and/or manager. The scout can watch prospective
signings, future opponents or players who are out on loan at
another team. They assess the players or team in question and
relay their findings back to others at the club. Essentially,
their job is two-fold: to look for things in players that cannot
be seen with statistical analysis, such as personality, and to
save the manager or coaches time by summarising matches for
them.
A scout might go to a match to watch a team in the hope of
spotting someone who stands out as able to play at a higher
level. Alternatively, they might go to watch a specific player,
if the club has heard that that player might be worth signing. A
scout might also go to watch a team to assess their style of
play and try to find possible weak points that can be exploited
ahead of an upcoming meeting.
To become a scout, you will need to complete talent
identification qualifications. The Football Association provides
courses in talent identification – five levels, to be precise –
which need to be completed to move up the footballing pyramid.
As well as qualifications, it is helpful to build up a network
of contacts in the game. Coaching badges and qualifications will
only aid your cause, too.
What skills do I need to be a football scout?
It is important to have a good understanding of the game (which
is why coaching qualifications will be useful), and good
observation skills, too. Being able to analyse football and
identify strong or weak traits is also important, as is an
ability to communicate information effectively and quickly.
Open-mindedness, patience and flexibility can all help, as there
may be plenty of unsociable hours, travelling and waiting
around.
What jobs can I do as a qualified football scout?
With qualifications in talent identification, you could be a
scout at amateur, semi-professional or professional level
depending on your qualifications. With the higher
qualifications, it is also possible to be a chief scout or
technical director. All qualifications in talent identification
will make you more employable if you are also thinking of a move
into coaching or analyst work.
A big part of a scout’s job is attending football matches, so
they will often work evenings and weekends. There may be
opportunities to watch academy matches in the daytime on
weekdays, but this isn’t going to be the norm. Being a scout
will also involve lots of travelling around to games, which will
extend those hours.
Will being a qualified football coach help to be a better scout?
Yes. Coaching qualifications will help you build a better
understanding of the game. That will only help in trying to
assess the ability – or potential ability – of a player, or the
way a team plays and their biggest threats.
The Path to Becoming A Professional Football Scout In Nigeria
So, how does one become a professional football scout in
Nigeria? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
1. Register With The NFF
Your journey starts with registration with the Nigerian Football
Federation (NFF).
This involves submitting your birth certificate, a state-issued
identification card, and relevant academic credentials.
It’s noteworthy that the minimum required academic qualification
is the First School Leaving Certificate.
An application fee is charged, for which a receipt must be
included in your application.
The NFF then conducts a background check to ascertain your
credibility, after which you are invited to take a test.
2. Pass The Required Examination
Under FIFA’s supervision, you will be required to pass a written
examination administered by the NFF. This exam, which consists
of multiple-choice questions, is usually conducted twice a year.
You get up to three attempts to meet FIFA’s set pass mark.
After passing the written exam, you must obtain professional
liability insurance from a reputable Nigerian insurance company
to cover any potential risks that may arise in the course of
your duties.
3. Obtain An NFF License
Before you can officially function as a football scout in
Nigeria, you must acquire a license from the NFF. This license,
however, is only valid within the Nigerian borders.
A successful football scout must be patient, honest, and
competent enough to represent players effectively and secure
beneficial contracts with prominent football clubs.
How much do football scouts earn?
Football scouts earn different salaries depending on a variety
of factors, including the stature of the club they are employed
by and the specific role they carry out. Generally speaking,
scouts are divided into two groups: talent scouts and tactical
scouts. Talent scouts, as the name suggests, are those whose job
it is to identify potential recruits and hopefully unearth a
hidden gem. A tactical scout is usually tasked with analysing a
team and their tactics. As a football scout, your income can
come from a number of sources.
In addition to the regular payment from the club you work for,
you also get a commission, usually about 10% of the contract
cost, for each player you sign.
but the truth is that there is a lot of variation within the
industry. In Nigeria you can earn between N1.5M to 5M Naira per
month
Get our Practical Guide on How to be a football Scout in
Nigeria. This training aims to answer the most common questions
about breaking into football scouting. Whether you’re curious
about the necessary steps, the skills you need, or how to
connect with the right people, we’ve got you covered.
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