For the 10th year in a row, I’ll be trying to raise some money for Movember. I’ve raised £2,694 in that time. Most of it came when doing a 62km walk to my dad’s grave last year. I’ve been scared about matching that feat. This year, I’m running at least 3km every day.
The future of football is Africa. Discovering which clubs and countries have become trailblazers in investing and developing talent from it can get teams ahead in the transfer market. We have consistently looked to do exactly that.
In 2021, we published the incredible story of Right to Dream in Volume X. We told the Mali story in 2024. While the secrets of Scandinavia don't feel so secret any more. But there is a new pathway emerging, one that demanded we take a closer look.
Nigeria is quickly becoming the most popular foreign nation in the Czech First League. Now that SK Slavia Prague have formalised their relationship with the continent through the Right2Win Academy, it may happen soon.
But what can we learn about the profile of player Czech clubs are scouting in Africa? What type of talent are both top-flight and second division clubs developing? Why have Slavia removed the middle man and established a link straight to the source?
@SkillCorner data suggests that explosiveness is the key. Find out how that translates to in-possession and out-of-possession profiles in our latest analytical investigation: https://t.co/rYXmCFuBDZ
Don Howe was a ‘Master coach’ was one of the most influential coach developers who passionately shared his knowledge - his sessions were so simple, clear & realistic
The thread below contains notes from Don’s session on defending crosses 🧵
https://t.co/PkCvxyOeNQ
🚨 Barcelona make proposal to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United. Bid for 25yo #NUFC winger €80m + bonuses; no agreement yet as talks over England int’l continue. Interest of other clubs ongoing but #FCBarcelona + #FCBayern strongest @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/MvUHXko2r0
No less than 20 of Morocco's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were either born in or represented youth teams of other nations such as Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Canada.
A complete overhaul of domestic infrastructure, player development and coaching is integral to Morocco's burgeoning reputation on the global football scene, but the reform of scouting abroad was just as significant. A concept not usually associated with international football, completely revamping Morocco's approach to recruitment ensured the national pool was enriched by their diverse diaspora.
Dual national players are now scouted much earlier. Reaching them before they represented their country of birth was ideal, convincing them to join Moroccan academies even better; early adoption of the project's central values was key. As a result, scouting and recruitment became aggressive. Morocco operated like a club.
Osian Roberts, Technical Director of the Morocco national team from 2019 to 2021, explained the set-up when speaking to Ed Aarons for The Guardian in 2022: "We had full-time scouts in Holland, Germany, France, Spain and Scandinavia that are monitoring these players on a regular basis. There was a database for all of those who were eligible for Morocco in all those countries... it was necessary given the amount of players living overseas. That department has been extremely important."
The new remit was again based on the model of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, with dual nationals now scouted intensely from the age of 12.
Find out more in Tiwizi Dreams: The Morocco Story, an epic @JakeEntwistle essay featured in Volume I: https://t.co/hXl8NrqNtD
2026/27 Premier League season shaping up to be one of the most difficult to predict. Surprise clubs in Europe gives some big clubs reduced fixture list. Chelsea and Spurs should be aiming as high as possible. United riding high but now have three matches a week. Can’t wait.
How much of a disconnect has there been with the level of anxiety and nerves compared to finishing the season potentially seven points clear at the top? Ridiculous.