Using Data to Hire Football Coaches

May 14, 2026, 19:00
EuropeSports

Introduction

Football teams now use data to choose new coaches. In the past, they only chose people they knew.

Main Body

Before, teams hired coaches because of friends. This was often a mistake. Now, teams pay special companies for data. These companies are Hudl, Analytics FC, and MRKT Insights. These companies use numbers to check a coach. They look at how the team plays and moves the ball. They see if the coach is actually good or just lucky. The English FA used this data to hire Thomas Tuchel. They made a list of the best coaches in the world. They chose Tuchel because the data showed he is a great leader.

Conclusion

Teams now use numbers and facts. This helps them find the right coach for their team.

Learning

πŸ•’ The 'Now' vs. 'Then' Switch

In this text, we see a clear change. To move from A1 to A2, you need to describe how things change over time. Look at these two patterns:

The Old Way (Past)

  • In the past...
  • Before...
  • They only chose...

The New Way (Present)

  • Now...
  • Teams pay...
  • They use...

πŸ’‘ Pro Tip: The Logic Flow Past Action β†’\rightarrow Mistake β†’\rightarrow Now β†’\rightarrow Solution

Examples from the text:

  1. Before β†’\rightarrow hired friends (Mistake)
  2. Now β†’\rightarrow pay companies (Solution)

Words to remember for A2:

  • Actually: use this when you want to say something is true, not just a guess.
  • Right: here it doesn't mean 'correct' or 'direction', it means 'the perfect one' (e.g., the right coach).

Vocabulary Learning

coach (n.)
a person who trains or guides a sports team
Example:The coach explained the new strategy to the players.
data (n.)
information that can be measured or analyzed
Example:The team used data to decide which coach to hire.
team (n.)
a group of people working together for a common goal
Example:Every team needs a strong leader to win.
company (n.)
a business that offers services or products
Example:The company provides data analysis for sports teams.
ball (n.)
a round object used in many sports
Example:They watched how the team moved the ball across the field.
leader (n.)
a person who directs or guides others
Example:Thomas Tuchel was chosen because he is a great leader.
world (n.)
the planet Earth or the people who live on it
Example:The list included the best coaches in the world.
list (n.)
a number of items written or spoken in order
Example:They made a list of the best coaches to consider.
choose (v.)
to pick something from a group of options
Example:The team chose the coach who had the best data.
hire (v.)
to employ someone for a job
Example:The club hired a new coach after reviewing the data.