You see a position at a Company, you apply.
Your CV, for some reason you don’t control, get’s selected.

You are interviewed.

You were nervous, perhaps thought the other person was relaxed and in power of the situation.

Is this familiar?

Because nowadays, being positioned on the other side of the table, this is not the case anymore.

In my head, or experience, it’s not.

Well, at least part of it.

The hidden part of any successful Business, or Company, is the Recruitment.

It’s really a crucial element if one wants to succeed.

I believe that it’s not right to say that people are part of the Company, or the Company is composed by people,

No.

In my world, in my head, the Company is the reflex of the people that are there.

No more, no less.

What does it mean, specially in times where people have several jobs and positions at different companies and that younger generations seem to appreciate different leadership styles, different attachment levels either to their role or the company’s values?
We are in a different reality, when compared to a few decades ago.

And I’m (still) not old enough to have that mentality of “we knew it better back then, almost depreciating the context and educational tools that young people have nowadays.

Nothing compared to that.

Actually, I see it as an opportunity to learn.

What are they seeing that I can’t perceive now?
Why are they reacting this way?
Why are they asking this or that?
What are the role models they’re following, or benchmark with?

Many questions pop my head every time an interview happens, even more when an offer is rejected.

However, to try to guide you through my thinking process, there are 5 Elements I consider to be crucial when Recruiting for Football Clubs:
. Values and Personality

. Technical Ability and Tactical Understanding
. Cultural fit for the Context proposed

. Long-Term Plans, Potential and Development

. Fitness Levels

1. Values and Personality

A Coach’s Values and Personality shape how they interact with Players, Staff, and the broader Community. The impact is immense. As a Leader, they must align with your Club’s Core Principles—whether that’s fostering a Winning Mentality, Promoting Inclusivity, or emphasizing Hard Work and Resilience, or any other. They must embodied that Culture, and that is very hard to teach, or learn. Your intentions matter a lot. But is really, really challenging to understand someone based on a few talks, a few hours probably. Most of the time, there’s no right or wrong answer, and a Coach with strong Character, Integrity, and a Passion for Developing Players can have the potential to drive the Success of a given team, but it might not be the right fit for you. Intentions play a major role here. Given the limitations we all have in knowing someone, if I would to choose something crucial is the hunger one have to take the role. Hunger can play a decisive role in your career if your intentions are correct.

1. Technical Ability and Tactical Understanding

This is a must, and there’s different ways to understand this. Coaches must not only have a deep Understanding of the Game but also the ability to Communicate Tactical insights clearly to Players. Their Knowledge should extend beyond Basic Drills, they should have a well-rounded Understanding of Modern Football Tactics, Match Analysis, and Player Development Strategies.  Depending on the context, you may find different ways to evaluate this, but nowadays, you can easily access to relevant information about someone’s knowledge and composure. Or, alternatively, you can request, videos of past Training Sessions, Session’s Planning, and open questions as well. The ability to Adapt Tactics to different Situations and Challenges is crucial, as is the Capacity to Read the Game and make Adjustments throughout. Normally, the capacity to Adapt is transversal to other elements of life, which will be definitely helpful for your specific context, so keep a close eye to this characteristic. Technical skills are important, but the Tactical Awareness of how to Develop and implement a Strategy should be the centre of any Recruitment Process.

1. Cultural Fit for the Context Proposed

Every Club has its own Culture, its own way of doing things, and its own style. More than that, your region, city, country will have an impact on everything involving a Recruitment Process – from the Offer to the Expectations and Deliveries. When Recruiting Coaches, one thing is certain, it’s essential to ensure they are a Cultural fit for your Football environment. Here, again, your control can vary, depending on where are you Recruiting to, if it’s someone used to the Region or not, what kind of expected reality that Coach is used to, etc. A Coach must Understand and Embrace your Club’s identity, from the Methodology, Philosophy and Tactical perspectives, but essentially, this alignment must be broader, guaranteeing that the Coach can work in harmony with the rest of the Team, add true Value and bring out the best in the Players. Moreover, a Coach who Understands the Club’s values will also be more committed to the Long-Term Vision and Success. 

And Team Sustainability is a key element to improve any Club deliveries.

1. Long-Term Plans, Potential, and Development

Following the last point, Understanding Future Plans, Expectations, the Vision of each Individual is crucial when establishing a Team of Coaches. A Coach’s ability and willingness to grow alongside your Club is just as important as their current Skillset. Coaches who are committed to Long-Term Development—both for themselves and for the Players they oversee—are valuable Assets, those that you should always keep close to you if their intentions are right. Look for Coaches who are willing to continue Learning, attend Seminars, and evolve with the changing Landscape of Football. More than that, support that Learning Stage and Exposure. This ensures that they can Adapt to New Coaching Methodologies, Technological Advancements, and Player Needs, helping the Club stay Competitive and Progressive. Coaches with Long-Term potential are invested not only in immediate results but in the overall trajectory of the Club’s Growth.

1. Fitness Levels

This one might be controversial, it’s ok. I got it. The mentality of “You don’t need to be an Ex-Player to be a Football Coach” is very true and I completely agree with it. Does it help to have field experience as a player, even if not of great level? That is also undeniable. However, this point is deeper than that. Football Coaching requires not just Mental Acuity but Physical Stamina. Naturally, at different levels of exposure and demands from the Head Coach’s involvement at the Training Sessions – we can’t imagine Carlo Ancelotti running around to explain positioning, right? But someone does for him. However, generally speaking and specially for Youth Teams, Coaches need to Lead Training Sessions, Demonstrate Drills, Positioning and be active on the Field during Match Preparations. More than that, a Coach works as an example to all, and personifies a key element of a broader message that the Club is giving to the Community, and Stakeholders. A Coach’s Fitness Levels should be high enough to maintain Energy and provide the right message to everyone involved. A Coach’s Physical Readiness can Impact their overall Effectiveness in Managing Training Sessions and guiding Players through Physically demanding parts of the Game.

As you can see from the above, we all have a limited control over things.
Most importantly, we must all understand that “Football World is of the size of the little fingernail” and your good intentions, behaviors and character can take you far.

But they can also limit the chances of better opportunities or success.

In all cases, you’ll most likely lay on the bed you made for yourself.

Keep that in mind at all times.

You never know what’s coming next, or who’s looking at you, talking to you, and where that can lead you to, but if there’s anything you control is how you present yourself, how knowledgeable you are about the important subjects for your area and, even more important, your intentions.