The document discusses the importance of scouting opponents in football. It recommends observing at least 3-4 of an opponent's games to identify patterns in their game model, including offensive and defensive organization and tactics. Key data to collect includes team statistics, individual player details, and analyses of strengths, weaknesses, and tactical schemes like set plays. The goal of scouting is to understand the opponent well so a team can take advantage of their weaknesses and eliminate their strengths when the teams play.

1. Football Scouting
Method
Observation of the Opponents
“TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WEAKNESSES/ELIMINATE THE STRENGTHS”
Mauro Jerónimo - Portugal

2. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Important notes about the Scouting
 Observation of the opponent Away or Home; Number, names and position of
the Squad.
 Find a pattern of the Game Model, 3 , 4 or more games of observation (if
possible);
 1 observer and other assistant observer (one of them if possible, speak the
country language);
 Direct observation (stadium) or Video. If we have both its perfect;
 Written resume report for the Head Coach using images as well. Video
resume report for the Players or small written notes about the opponent;

3. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Statistics Data
• Number of games played;
• Defeats;
• Winnings
• Goals Conceded
• Goals Scored
• Age
• Height
• Weight
TOTAL
HOME
AWAY
• Yellow cards
• Red Cards
• Number of Injured
Players(Who)

4. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
GAME MODEL OF THE
OPPONENT
• Offensive Organization;
• Defensive Organization;
• Defensive Transition(after losing the possession of the ball)
• Offensive Transition( after winning the possession of the
ball);
• Tatical Schemes ( Set Plays(Corner Kicks, Free kicks) Trow
ins);
• Pattern play and Offensive Combinations;

5. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Offensive Organization
• Tactical System used;
• Method of Attack( Counter attack or Organized /Positional attack). Type of pass
short or long. Both.
• Collectivs patterns from de 1ªphase of offensive construction until Finishing;
• Reference Players ;
• Positive and negative points;

6. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Offensive Organization
EXAMPLE: Tactical System image- 1-4-3-3

7. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Offensive Organization
Collectivs
Patterns
1st phase
EXAMPLE: 1-4-3-3

8. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Defensive Organization
• Positioning on the field( Low, medium or high block);
• Methods of Defending ( men –men, Zone, Pressuring Zone, Mix);
• Defending Attitude (aggression, passivity);
• Pressure zones and moments of pressure;
• Positive ande negative points;

9. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Defensive Organization
EXAMPLE: “Alain exposes defense in deep”

10. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Defensive Organization
EXAMPLE: “High block and pressure on the sides”

11. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Defensive Transition(after losing the possession of the ball)
• Behaviour of the team(immediate pressure or recover positions using a
player to delay the attack;
• Positioning mistakes of the team/players;
• If they use technical fouls to stop the attack:
• Open spaces left by the team;
• Positive and negative points;

12. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Defensive Transition(after losing the possession of the ball)
EX: “left side expose, left defender and left wing dont recover at time”

13. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Ofensive Transition (after winning the possession of the ball)
• Attitude of the team( dynamic, agressive and fast, or prefer to
keep the ball and organize the attack.
• Type of pass (short, direct);
• 1st references players in the transition;
• Goalkeeper transition (fast and direct, or let the team rise and
organize;
• Positive and negative points;

14. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Ofensive Transition (after winning the possession of the ball)
EX: Dynamic with direct
cross to the penalty area

15. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Tactical Schemes
• Set plays for and against( Corner Kicks, free kicks outside the area,
free kicks from sides;
• Set plays against – Method of defending;
• Set plays for - find patterns of movement and passing; which
players participate; reference players;
• Negative and positive points;

16. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Tactical Schemes
EX: Set plays against – Positioning in the Corner kick(With short
corner the players are out of positioning)

17. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Tactical Schemes
EX: Set plays for – movement in the Corner kick- short corner

18. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Tactical Schemes
EX: Set plays – free kicks for – short and powerfull kick

19. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Pattern play and Offensive Combinations;
EX: “ Short build from de goalkeeper”

20. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Pattern play and Offensive Combinations;
EX: “ Goalkeeper fast combination with the striker and wing”

21. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Pattern play and Offensive Combinations;
EX: “ direct combination in the medfielder, to the striker in deep”

22. Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents
Other informations
• Changes in team behavior during the game if( conceded goal, score, or
substitution).
• Opponent coach information ( past, style of game, is behavior during the
game)
• Some important psychological behavior of some players during the game;
• Individual analyze of the players;
• Pitch size and conditions of the grass;
• Referee information;
• Prediction of climacteric condition;

23. If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear
the result of a hundred battles.”
“If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory
gained will also suffer a defeat”.
“If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will lose
every battle. “ Sun Tzu
Football Scouting
Observation of the Opponents