What does a sporting director do at a small football club?
At a small football club the sporting director plans the squad, finds and signs players, agrees their contracts and works with the head coach on who plays where. Below the top tier there is rarely a scouting department behind them, so one or two people often do all of the recruitment themselves.
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The job in short
- Plan the squad for the next season: who is leaving, who is out of contract, which positions need filling.
- Find players, through agents, contacts, video and data where the club has it.
- Agree terms and contracts within the budget.
- Work with the head coach on the profile of player each position needs.
- Handle departures, loans and contract renewals.
Is a sporting director required?
In some leagues the licence requires one. Italy's national licence for 2026/27 asks Serie B clubs for a sporting director, but not for a scout (FIGC, Manuale Licenze Nazionali 2026/2027). Denmark's 1st Division licence asks for neither (Divisionsforeningen, Klublicensmanual 1. division 2026/2027).
Why the job is hard below the top tier
A small club may replace a large part of its squad every summer, on a tight budget, with no analysts and no scouts. The sporting director usually has to rely on the agents and contacts already in their phone. Good players outside that circle are easy to miss.
Ways to make it easier
- Write down each position's needs before the window opens: level, age, salary and contract length.
- Share that need with more agents at once, rather than one call at a time.
- Use free tools to check a player's record and level quickly.
- Keep a shortlist for each position all season, not only in the window.
Post the position. Agents propose the player.
Say what you need once: the position, the salary, the contract length and your rules. Your club is never named. Free, with no subscription.
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Questions people also ask
Is a sporting director the same as a technical director?
Not always. The titles vary by club. A technical director often oversees coaching and the academy, while a sporting director focuses on the first team squad and signings. At small clubs one person may do both.
How can a small club recruit without scouts?
By stating exactly what it needs and letting agents and players come to it, for example by posting a request on FTBL Exchange, and by using free data to check candidates.