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What is a sporting director in football?
They do not play and they do not coach, but they largely shape the club’s sporting future.
Their role
The sporting director links the club’s management, the head coach, the players and the agents. They build the squad with the coach, negotiate transfers and contracts, follow the academy’s youngsters and make sure the sporting project fits the budget set by the board.
The title varies from club to club: director of football, technical director, head of recruitment. The duties overlap.
Their day-to-day duties
- spotting and signing players, with the scouting teams
- negotiating with agents and other clubs
- proposing and following contract extensions
- liaising with the coach, the chairman and the press
- preparing the transfer window and managing the club budget
Playing one in a game
Shadow Director puts this daily life into play: you receive messages from all these people and have to choose how to reply. To understand the game, read how to play or the game situations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a sporting director and a coach?
The coach runs the team on the pitch. The sporting director builds the squad and handles the link with the board, agents and other clubs.
Does the sporting director pick players alone?
Rarely. They work with the coach and the board, who approve signings.