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There are 4 modules in this course
This course explores how football analytics is applied in real-world professional environments, moving from theory to practice across performance analysis, scouting, club strategy, and media. Learners will follow the workflows used by elite analysts, from pre-match preparation and in-match evaluation to post-match reporting, and understand how clubs build data-driven processes to support coaching and decision-making.
Through detailed case studies, the course examines how scouting databases are designed, how key performance metrics and ranking systems are built, and how clubs integrate qualitative evaluations with advanced models such as xG, xT, packing, clustering, and weighted scoring systems. Learners will also analyse how clubs assess team performance using Expected Points, Monte Carlo simulations, phase-of-play analysis, set-piece modelling, squad planning, ageing curves, and contract evaluation.
Finally, the course explores how analytics influences football media, from radar charts to real-time broadcast overlays, and the psychology behind numbers, helping learners recognise common misinterpretations and build stronger data-driven arguments. By the end, learners will understand how analytics supports tactical insights, recruitment, forecasting, and storytelling across the football ecosystem.
Delve into the full cycle of match analysis, from pre-game scouting reports to comprehensive post-match evaluations. Learn how data-driven insights inform coaching decisions and discover how long-term analytical studies can revolutionize training methodologies and team development.
What's included
4 videos4 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 18 minutes
The Language of Analysis: Creating Effective Pre-Match Reports•5 minutes
From Data to Decisions: Opponent Scouting That Drives Performance•4 minutes
After the Game: Post-match Reports to Enhance Coaching Staff Evaluation•5 minutes
The Art of the Overlooked: How Data-Driven Insights Revolutionize Football Fundamentals•4 minutes
4 readings•Total 90 minutes
Welcome reading•5 minutes
Complementary Resources on Preparing for the Game – Pre-Match Reports and Opponent Scouting•20 minutes
Complementary Resources on After the Game: Post-match reports to enhance coaching staff evaluation•30 minutes
Complementary Resources on Long-Term Studies – How Data Can Transform Football Methodologies•35 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Performance Analysis: Understanding the Game•30 minutes
Performance Analysis: Understanding the Game•30 minutes
Scouting and Player Evaluation
Module 2•5 hours to complete
Module details
Uncover the tools and methods that power modern football scouting. This module covers the centralization of player data, the use of key metrics and ranking systems, and effective ways to visualize and assess player performance—helping clubs make smarter, more sustainable recruitment decisions.
The Digital Revolution in Scouting: Building Centralized Football Databases•5 minutes
Structuring Your Scouting Database: Architecture and Implementation•6 minutes
Beyond Goals and Assists: Understanding Key Performance Metrics in Football Scouting•5 minutes
From Data to Decisions: Ranking Systems and Player Classification in Football•4 minutes
The Art of Visualization: Using Spider Charts to Evaluate Football Players•4 minutes
Beyond the Numbers: Sample Size and Performance Sustainability in Player Evaluation•3 minutes
3 readings•Total 175 minutes
Complementary Resources on Data Centralization: Storing qualitative and quantitative info in a database•45 minutes
Complementary Resources on Data Utilization in Football Scouting: Key metrics, ranking systems, and player classification•105 minutes
Complementary Resources on Evaluating Players with Data in Scouting: Visualization, sample size, and sustainability•25 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Scouting and Player Evaluation•30 minutes
Scouting and Player Evaluation•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Scouting and Player Evaluation•10 minutes
Club Strategy and Decision-Making
Module 3•5 hours to complete
Module details
Explore how analytics underpin strategic decisions at the club level. You’ll analyze long-term team performance, assess alignment with club philosophy, and dive into squad planning through data on minutes played, contract management, and depth charts to guide the future direction of the organization.
Beyond the Table: Evaluating Football Team Performance Using Advanced Metrics•5 minutes
Set Pieces and Prediction Models: Specialized Analysis for Football Success•6 minutes
Style and Identity: Measuring on-pitch performance to align with club philosophy•3 minutes
Age Curves and Playing Time Analysis: Strategic Talent Management•5 minutes
Contract Management and Depth Chart Analysis: Building Sustainable Success•5 minutes
3 readings•Total 225 minutes
Complementary Resources on Long-Term Performance: How well is the team performing? Are set pieces a strength? Will the team qualify for international competitions?•75 minutes
Complementary Resources on Style and Identity: Measuring on-pitch performance to align with club philosophy•50 minutes
Complementary Resources on Squad Planning: Evaluating minutes played, contract decisions, and depth chart analysis•100 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
Club Strategy and Decision-Making•30 minutes
Club Strategy and Decision-Making•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Club Strategy and Decision-Making•10 minutes
Analytics in Media
Module 4•5 hours to complete
Module details
Examine the growing influence of analytics in sports broadcasting and journalism. Learn how to communicate complex data through tools like xG and spider charts, build persuasive arguments with numbers, and spot the pitfalls of misleading analytics that can shape— or distort—public narratives.
Founded in 2006 and ranked among the top by Forbes and Deloitte, RealMadridUE blends academic excellence with world-class sports insight. Celebrated as the "Best Fútbol Club of the 20th Century" (FIFA, 2000), and offering exclusive access to Real Madrid CF’s business and innovation strategies, our institution provides a unique, practical education that prepares students for successful careers in the global sports industry.
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.