Talent, Analytics & Performance

Talent in football is often defined as a natural aptitude or skill, a gift that people are born with. In fact, it is something nurtured and developed, dependent upon a combination of technical, educational, cultural and environmental elements. Creating and honing formulas for spotting and developing talent is ever more important and lucrative in global football, and requires holistic techniques on and off the pitch. The “Talent” section of this issue shares behind-the-scenes insight from two of the best in the world at creating such environments. We analyse Bilbao outfit Athletic Club’s Basque-centric philosophy, which prioritises local identity and loyalty, and look at Portuguese giants Benfica’s enriching approach to building well-rounded players, rooted in both tradition and futurology.