Health

UNIVERSITY DEGREE | Scouting and talent identification in soccer

  • Training structure

    Continuing Education Department

Presentation

Supervised by recognized professionals in the field of recruitment (scouts, recruitment managers, sporting directors), this University Diploma has been designed to meet the growing demands of professional and semi-professional football clubs, as well as player agencies. 

Delivered in a hybrid format over 200 hours, the training course includes three face-to-face seminars and is aimed at those who wish to become football player recruiters. It prepares participants to join recruitment teams within a variety of structures: first teams, post-training teams, or academies of Ligue 1 (L1), Ligue 2 (L2), National 1, or National 2 clubs. 

With direct links to professionals currently working in professional clubs, this program offers practical immersion through a mandatory internship in a recruitment unit, ensuring that the training is in line with the realities of the field.

Consult the brochure

Read more

The advantages of the training program

A team of teaching experts:

  • Thomas Maurin: Head of Scouting at the HORIZON player agency
  • Romain Decool: Sports coordinator and head of recruitment, US Dunkerque
  • Sébastien Larcier: Sporting director, formerly with Dijon, Angers, and Nîmes
  • Tarik El Adi: Scout, Clermont Foot 63
  • Rachid Boulbab: Educational Engineer
  • English teacher
Read more

Objectives

  • Knowledge of the game and its environment
  • Develop a methodology and tools to observe, analyze, and identify players according to the team's needs.
  • Write and submit match or player reports in French and English
  • Mastering regulations and the legal framework (transfers, various contracts, LFP Charter)
  • Use of digital tools and DATA
  • Developing interpersonal skills: Creating/maintaining a network (in France and abroad) and adopting an appropriate attitude within the unit
Read more

Organization

Knowledge assessment

Knowledge assessment is conducted remotely for each course unit. 

Read more

Internships, supervised projects

Internship

Mandatory

The internship will result in an internship report and an oral defense in June 2026. 

Read more

Program

The University Diploma consists of 7 Teaching Units (UE):

  • UE1 - Tools and methodology for player observation
  • UE2 - Knowledge of soccer: gameplay, systems, and animations
  • EU3 - Legal framework
  • UE4 - Proficiency in digital tools and DATA
  • UE5 - Opening up to the international market
  • UE6 - Peripheral skills of the recruiter
  • UE7 - Internship
Read more

Admission

Registration procedures

As the number of places is limited, please send your resume and cover letter before August 31, 2026

A promise of an internship within a club's recruitment department or a player agency will be an asset for joining the training program. 

Read more

Target audience

  • Candidates with a university degree in sports.
  • High-level athletes in a career transition project.
  • Candidate with experience in recruitment and training.
  • Employees of professional clubs who wish to undergo training.
  • Football managers and technical advisors.
  • Player agents or agency employees.
  • Sports directors or sports managers of amateur clubs.
Read more

Mandatory prerequisites

Prerequisites: Candidates must have a good knowledge of soccer and a basic understanding of Windows and Mac OS systems (installation, file management, and windows). They must also know how to access digital work or online learning environments.

Read more