Average week of Football Analyst

What does a football analyst actually do?

Well, that's a great question and differs greatly as to whether you are working in the first team or academy, what league you are in, whether you focus more on data or video plus much more.

In this article, I have described what an average week might look like for a solo analyst working within the football league. By that, I mean someone who looks after the whole first team analysis department, which is quite common for many Football League teams.

It is often spoke about how busy a football season can be and so in true fashion, this average week is based around having a game on the Saturday, as well as the Tuesday. Something many will be used to if you have ever worked in football.

The first decision was which day to begin the week with and I eventually figured it may be useful to start on a Saturday match day, but as you will find out, a full week, especially with more than one fixture, can be a big blur!

Saturday

Match Day. This will involve meeting with the team nice and early to going through the pre-match meeting and eating with the team. This may be at the stadium, training ground or nearby hotel.

After this, straight to the stadium to get this ready for the game. When here you will have to:

• Get cameras and laptop ready for the game
• Organise the changing rooms with any screens, reports, projectors
• Film the game and be on hand to provide feedback on half time
• Show some clips after the game and eventually code the game from home

Sunday

A lot of the times you may have this is day-off in a normal job, but what this means for you is that you can usually do your Sunday work from home. The Sunday is there for you to get a head start on the week and make sure you are ready for the post game debrief on the Monday.

So, on this Sunday you will be:

• Finish any of your coding from yesterday
• Create the post-match presentation
• Look over your next opponents game from yesterday and finish the Tuesday 'pre-match presentation.

You will have typically watched the last 3 games of your next opponent and so if you are on top of things, you will have already done the last 2, and just have the one game from yesterday to now look over and finalise everything.

Monday

Yep, it's Monday already. Time for the post-match presentation with the team and there may also be a separate meeting with the coaching staff.

Although the games come thick and fast and it is important not to dwell on games too long, it is still important to understand what went well and be aware of things that can be put right for future games.

Other tasks you may have on a Monday include:

• Film training and share/backup on relevant systems (Hint! In-Play Online!)
• Show certain clips to some players and coaches who may request to see certain things from the weekends game.
• Finalise everything for Tuesday (Pre-Match presentation)

Tuesday

In this example we have Tuesday as another game day, but more specifically, a long away day!

Therefore this will probably start with you meeting at the stadium or training ground to jump on the team bus. If you work at a top club you may well jump on a plane but for many Football League clubs, that just isn't viable. Therefore, you better get comfortable for a 4 hour bus journey!

As for the pre-match presentation, this could be delivered when you arrive or at a nearby hotel (or even before you travel). Then once you are at the game, the same applies from a usual match day (see above, on Saturday).

The main difference, you will get back late, possibly in the early hours of the morning. You may well do some work on the way back (so you have less to do tomorrow) or you can treat yourself to some sleep!

Once home... sleep

After you finish reading this article, you may find value from the video below in which I chatted with Kal, who as a first team analyst, has a schedule very similar to this one. Kal gives advice and shares his journey so far. Well worth a listen:

Wednesday

This may well be your day off, but in true analyst fashion, you will probably still do some bits and pieces. But at least you can probably have a lie in after a late night.

This day is an opportunity to finish the coding you didnt do on the journey home but also to be on hand for the manager or coaches who may request some video or some tasks based on how the game went.

As before, you will have a post-match meeting tomorrow, and you will be able to finish the next pre-match presentation after getting the last game of your opponents (who also played last night). You don't have to finish it all today, but the more you do, the less you have to o tomorrow as you never know what may get thrown your way!

Thursday

Another day. Let's go.

On this day I have included some odd jobs including updated internal spreadsheets and databases as well as video libraries (another hint! In-Play Online!).

You may have to show some clips to players and coaches again but you will mainly be finishing your next pre-match presentation (and making a start on the one after).

A big skill you must have when being an analyst is time management and organisation. The more you can keep on top of things and get ahead in certain areas, the more likely you can pick and choose times to relax at certain times (after a game, travel days etc.).

Friday

This day could be you filming training in the morning and then travelling down (for an overnight stay) ready for an away game the next day.

Then guess what?! It's Saturday again and you get to do it all over again!

I did actually do a video on this over on my YouTube channel where I go into slightly more detail. You can check that video out here: