How to Perfect Your Football CV and Stand Out from the Crowd

In today’s issue, I’m going to teach you how to create a professional football CV that will set you apart from the competition.

A well-crafted CV is the gateway to new opportunities in football, whether you’re applying for analysis, scouting, or any football-related role.

If you want recruiters to take you seriously and ensure you don’t end up overlooked, a concise, professional CV can make all the difference. It demonstrates your attention to detail and professionalism, two qualities that are crucial in the football industry.

Unfortunately, many aspiring football professionals fail because their CV is either poorly formatted, too long, or doesn’t highlight the right skills for the role they’re applying for.

Your CV is one variable you can fully control, it's in your power to make the right impression.

The most common mistakes with football CVs:

• Overloading the CV with irrelevant details.
• Not tailoring the CV to the job description.
• Failing to measure your
• Forgetting to include up-to-date contact details or key references.
• Making the CV more than two pages.

The good news is that by avoiding these mistakes, you can dramatically improve your chances of success.

Here’s how, step by step:

Step 1: Keep it concise and focused—no more than two pages.

Recruiters often sift through dozens of CVs for every role, so a short and well-structured CV grabs their attention. It also shows that you can communicate efficiently—an essential skill in football.

Make sure your CV is no longer than two pages, formatted professionally with a clear font (size 10-12), and contains no blank pages or unnecessary spillover. Your CV should focus solely on relevant experience, cutting out any unrelated jobs unless they provide unique value.

Example: If you worked as an analyst for a youth academy, summarise the key responsibilities and results, like “Led on the pre and post match analysis presentations for the U21s.”

Step 2: Tailor your CV to the role you’re applying for.

Football roles vary, and what a recruiter for an analysis position looks for will differ from what a recruiter for a scouting role needs. A generic CV doesn’t highlight your specific strengths.

Read the job description thoroughly, highlight important keywords, and reflect these in your CV. This is particularly crucial as some clubs use automated systems to scan CVs for certain terms.

Example: If applying for an analysis role, make sure terms like “Python,” and “Sportscode” appear in your CV, and match them to your previous experience.

Step 3: Create a separate section for football-specific skills.

Many CVs lack a dedicated section for skills that directly relate to the football industry. This makes it harder for recruiters to immediately see how well-suited you are for the role.

Dedicate a section to list out key football-related skills, such as coaching licences, scouting certifications, tactical analysis, or player development. Be specific about your qualifications, particularly any football certifications like UEFA Coaching Badges or FA Talent ID.

Step 4: Include measurable achievements to demonstrate your impact.

Recruiters want to see how you’ve made a difference in your previous roles. Numbers and specific results make your CV more compelling and demonstrate the impact you’ve had.

Wherever possible, quantify your achievements. Include metrics like win ratios, improvements in player performance, or specific outcomes from your work.

Example: “Increased team win ratio by 20% over two seasons by implementing new tactical systems.”

Step 5: Ensure your personal profile aligns with the role.

Your personal profile is the first thing recruiters read, and it needs to make an immediate impact. A strong profile introduces who you are and how your skills align with the role, making the recruiter want to read further.

Write a concise personal profile tailored to the job. Mention key achievements that directly relate to the role you’re applying for and include relevant qualifications. Keep it high-level but specific enough to draw interest.

Example: “A passionate and detail-oriented football scout with 5+ years of experience, specialising in youth development and tactical analysis. Proven track record in leading teams to success, including a 20% improvement in win ratio. Holder of a UEFA B Licence and FA Level 2 Talent ID certification.”

By following these five steps, you can create a CV that not only looks professional but also showcases your skills and experience in a way that will resonate with football recruiters.

With the right structure and focus, you’ll be one step closer to securing that next opportunity in football.

I hope that helps you on your football journey.

Liam

Whenever you’re ready there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. The Online Portfolio Blueprint - My flagship course for helping new, current and aspiring football professionals. We give you the blueprint on how grow your knowledge, network and opportunities in football by writing online through an online portfolio.
2. Pro Scout Edge - Our scouting tool has be created by professionals and tested by experts in football. It’s the ultimate online scouting database you need for your scouting journey. It forms an all-in-one system for player and team scouting, with templates, dashboards and more.