131: Being Champions Ain't Easy

Joe is joined by SCOUTED's resident youth football analysts and arguably the world's foremost UEFA Youth League experts Stephen Ganavas and Llew Davies to go over the 2023/24 edition of the competition, won by unfancied Greek giants Olympiacos. Standouts, 'Finals Weekend', Names to Remember, English clubs' performance and plenty more. Listen, share and subscribe now.

Joe is joined by former DC United Technical Director (2016-2023) Stewart Mairs on the SCOUTED podcast. Topics of conversation include: the difference between scouting and recruitment, signing Wayne Rooney, the evolution of MLS, early work with pioneering data and video analysis company Prozone, as well as what it's really like to be a sporting director. Listen, share and subscribe now.

On this edition of SCOUTED Weekly, Tom Curren is joined by Phil Costa and Stephen Ganavas to discuss the flag #discourse, Endrick's rise, whether Germany are any good or not and what the hell Didier Deschamps is smoking. Plus Watchlists, This Week On Notebook and, of course, Handbook History. Read our work: scoutednotebook.com

Joe Donnohue is joined by former Olympique de Marseille Performance Director Matthieu Bouchépillon to discuss the particulars of the role at one of France's biggest clubs, developing an advanced football analytics operation for use in player recruitment and development as well as anecdotes from some of OM's recent high-profile transfer pursuits from the perspective of those within the club. Listen, share and subscribe now.

SCOUTED Weekly returns after a brief hiatus. This week, Tom, Steve and Joe talk about whipping their shirts off, terrible free kicks, Handbook History and serious stuff too: the European draws, some watchlist picks and analysis of Amad's future at Manchester United. Notebook The annual U-17 World Cup is good, actually What will Valentin Barco bring to Brighton? (Video essay)

Joe is joined by former Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale to discuss his life as an elite level coach, a look back on his playing days and what the world of scouting and consultancy has brought since pivoting away from day-to-day management. Listen now for insights into giving Ollie Watkins and Ethan Ampadu their big breaks, player development, how clubs are recruiting in 2024 and much, much more. A fascinating conversation. 

Perhaps the most thrilling and story-laden Africa Cup of Nations in recent history, of course we've dedicated an episode of the SCOUTED podcast to it. Joe is joined by Sky and talkSPORT broadcaster Kweku Afari to recount the highs and lows - but mainly highs - of this year's AFCON. Featuring a former Premier League striker spinning tunes behind the decks, Simon Adingra's coming-of-age, yet another Génération Foot alumnus starring for Senegal and plenty more. Listen, share and subscribe now. Powered by SkillCorner.

SCOUTED Weekly is here and Tom, Phil and Steve discuss Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton and England's future, as well as Kai Havertz, Chelsea and eating mints with celebrities. Also: Handbook History is a spice fest. 

The names Kévin Denkey, Mohamed Amoura and Igor Thiago might not mean an awful lot outside Belgium right now, but they certainly will in the months and years to come. At SCOUTED, we pride ourselves on getting in on players early and that's exactly what this week's episode does. Joe is joined by Belgian football consultant and podcaster Scott Coyne to discuss the aforementioned trio currently tearing up the Pro League, Union Saint-Gilloise's scouting dossiers, as well as Belgium's top two divisions harbouring one of the largest Japanese diasporas in the footballing world. Listen now.

Today on SCOUTED Weekly: Steve Ganavas and Joe Donnohue join me to talk the differing fortunes of two champions elect: Bayer Leverkusen and Girona. Plus, Joe makes his Handbook History bow against Stephen, the current leader.