Starts in June 2025 in Cologne & November 2025 in Vienna
Starts in June 2025 in Cologne & November 2025 in Vienna
EXCLUSIVE, LIMITED CERTIFICATION “FOOTBALL SCOUT & SQUAD PLANNER
Do you want to become the most important contact person for your club, association, board or coach when it comes to soccer transfers? Do you want to prove your nose for talent? Then take the opportunity to become a trained and recognized person with expertise in scouting and squad planning.
Scouting is the magic word behind systematic work when it comes to evaluating and categorizing players.
Thanks to the unique semi-virtual study concept (e-learning and attendance phases), you can complete the modern training and further education to become a scout & squad planner while working. However, the offer is limited to a small group of participants.
Therefore, it is best to register immediately for the next certificate course!
TOP LECTURERS FROM THE SCOUTING INDUSTRY
TIMON PAULS
Leiter Scouting & Kaderplanung Hertha BSC
JOHANNES SPORS
Sports Director 777 Partners Football Group
DR. KARSTEN SCHUMANN
Science. Advisor to Matthias Sammer
MARTIN JEDRUSIAK-JUNG
Freelance Coach to Coach Bayer 04 Leverkusen & Sports Scientist (Dt. Sporthochschule Köln)
LARS MROSKO
former Head of Scouting & Chief Scout NLZ 1. FC Union Berlin and former Scout u.a. FC Bayern München, VfL Wolfsburg
DAVID LEHMANN
Chief Scout SV Darmstadt 98 and Sports Scientist. & UEFA A-Lizenz
TIM MATTERN
Koordination Scouting & Kaderplanung Bayer 04 Leverkusen
MATTHIAS RINGLER
Chef-Scout international FC Zürich
OUR PARTICIPANTS RATE US
Grade 1,50 Ø
Quality of the lecturers
Grade 2,00 Ø
Individual support
Grade 2,25 Ø
Learning Platform/Virtual Phase
Grade 1,46 Ø
Overall impression of the face-to-face event
OUR PARTICIPANTS RATE US
Grade 1,50 Ø
Quality of the lecturers
Grade 2,00 Ø
Individual support
Grade 2,25 Ø
Learning Platform/Virtual Phase
Grade 1,46 Ø
Overall impression of the face-to-face event
OUR ADVANTAGES AT IFI
Even in professional soccer, soft skills, i.e. personal experience or gut feeling, often predominate in the selection of players. However, well-founded arguments are the most reliable decision-making criteria for every coach and every person responsible in a soccer club or soccer association.
For this reason, in addition to the technical basics of game analysis, detailed requirement profiles and the development of an individual scouting structure are the focus of our training and further education, with which you will stand out from the competition as a scout & squad planner.
SHORT PROFIL OF CAS “SCOUTING & SQUAD PLANNING”
SHORT PROFIL OF CAS “SCOUTING & SQUAD PLANNING”
TARGET GROUP OF THE CAS “SCOUTING & SQUAD PALNNING”
The CAS is a vocational training and further education course and is aimed at employees who already work as match analysts, scouts or squad planners or would like to work in this field in the future. The content taught can also be of great benefit to professional coaches, amateur coaches, assistant coaches, club managers, sporting directors, employees of youth development centers and player consultants, as it expands their own skills in an important decision-making field.
Active soccer players and students with a keen interest in soccer who are aiming for a career as a talent scout will also benefit from the experience gained
Finding a great talent is a task in soccer that is becoming increasingly important as the market becomes more and more professionalized and transfer fees rise.
Prerequisites for participation in the CAS are a university entrance qualification or completed vocational training in a recognized profession that is conducive to the course, at least three years of professional experience that is conducive to the course, a keen interest in soccer and match analysis and experience in professional soccer. Applicants without a university entrance qualification but with a professional qualification can also be admitted to the CAS under certain conditions. In these cases, an institute certificate is issued instead of a CAS certificate with ECTS points. In addition, the ability to concentrate, interest in statistics, interest in working with people, persuasiveness, analytical thinking and organizational skills are important.
EXPERIENCE REPORTS & GRADUATES’ VOICES
“For me it was important that the theoretical course content was taught in a practical way. Some of the content and topics are of course also valuable for the daily work in scouting at SK Sturm. But an important part of advanced training is also to expand one’s network.”
“The importance of the scouting process, and with it the selection and use of tools and knowledge, is becoming increasingly important for clubs these days. The University Certificate Scouting in Football helps not only by accumulating knowledge and skills, but also by building a national network. It thus offers an ideal platform for scouts who are already active, as well as for career starters, and enables them to exchange ideas with experts.”
“The university certificate Scouting in Professional Football provides both the theoretical basic knowledge and the reference to practice. By looking at the subject from different angles, I was able to gather important insights for my daily work. The intensive exchange of experience and ideas with speakers and participants in the course made for a decidedly positive learning atmosphere.”
“The University Certificate Scouting in Football provides the link between theory and practice.
The excellent speakers, who always talked to us instead of just to us, created a lively exchange from which everyone benefited.
After completing the university certificate in game analyst in professional soccer, the certificate program with a focus on scouting was the ideal complement for me to further my professional education in my field and to make important contacts.”
“A well-structured scouting department that is managed according to plan can be a decisive guarantee of success in the sport of soccer. The university certificate has sharpened my view of this elementary area of professional soccer enormously.
The exchange of experiences with a wide variety of speakers and course participants helped me to create future-oriented ideas, which in turn should provide a suitable path for promising scouting for us.”
“In my day-to-day work as a scout for SV Werder Bremen, it’s all about evaluating and categorizing players in as much detail as possible. The expertise imparted helps me to achieve results faster and more precisely. For me, the university certificate in scouting in soccer closes the gap between sports studies and traditional coaching education.”
“The university certificate Scouting in Football is an optimal opportunity to substantiate the practical work of a scout with theoretical knowledge. A special added value is created by the high practical relevance, which enables the direct transfer of the imparted technical knowledge into everyday work. Top experts from the various specialist areas surrounding the topic of scouting acted as speakers, who were able to provide interesting insights and impart helpful specialist knowledge thanks to both their competence and their openness.”
“In my work as a soccer scout, I have long looked for ways to improve my professionalism. During the Corona pandemic, I came across IFI Online Modules. I was initially impressed by the professional level and therefore decided to take the university certificate Scouting. It all started in October in Frankfurt. The entire process before, during and after was professionally managed by IFI. The lecturers we met had a high professional level and managed to combine theory and practice. In addition, a good atmosphere quickly developed between the other students, in which I experienced an exchange of ideas at a high level. All in all, I’m sure I’m stronger academically and football-wise than I was before. It will definitely have an impact on my everyday life as a scout at FC Copenhagen”
EXPERIENCE REPORTS & GRADUATES’ VOICES
“For me it was important that the theoretical course content was taught in a practical way. Some of the content and topics are of course also valuable for the daily work in scouting at SK Sturm. But an important part of advanced training is also to expand one’s network.”
“The importance of the scouting process, and with it the selection and use of tools and knowledge, is becoming increasingly important for clubs these days. The University Certificate Scouting in Football helps not only by accumulating knowledge and skills, but also by building a national network. It thus offers an ideal platform for scouts who are already active, as well as for career starters, and enables them to exchange ideas with experts.”
“The university certificate Scouting in Professional Football provides both the theoretical basic knowledge and the reference to practice. By looking at the subject from different angles, I was able to gather important insights for my daily work. The intensive exchange of experience and ideas with speakers and participants in the course made for a decidedly positive learning atmosphere.”
“The University Certificate Scouting in Football provides the link between theory and practice.
The excellent speakers, who always talked to us instead of just to us, created a lively exchange from which everyone benefited.
After completing the university certificate in game analyst in professional soccer, the certificate program with a focus on scouting was the ideal complement for me to further my professional education in my field and to make important contacts.”
“A well-structured scouting department that is managed according to plan can be a decisive guarantee of success in the sport of soccer. The university certificate has sharpened my view of this elementary area of professional soccer enormously.
The exchange of experiences with a wide variety of speakers and course participants helped me to create future-oriented ideas, which in turn should provide a suitable path for promising scouting for us.”
“In my daily work as a scout for SV Werder Bremen, I evaluate and categorize players in as much detail as possible. The specialist knowledge imparted helps me to achieve results faster and more precisely. For me, the university certificate Scouting in Football closes the gap between sports studies and the classic trainer education.”
“The university certificate Scouting in Football is an ideal opportunity to substantiate the practical work of a scout with theoretical knowledge. A special added value is created by the high practical relevance, which enables the direct transfer of the imparted knowledge into the daily work. The speakers were top experts from the various specialist areas relating to scouting, who were able to provide interesting insights and impart helpful specialist knowledge both through their competence and their openness.”
“In my work as a soccer scout, I have long looked for ways to improve my professionalism. During the Corona pandemic, I came across IFI Online Modules. I was initially impressed by the professional level and therefore decided to take the university certificate Scouting. It all started in October in Frankfurt. The entire process before, during and after was professionally managed by IFI. The lecturers we met had a high professional level and managed to combine theory and practice. In addition, a good atmosphere quickly developed between the other students, in which I experienced an exchange of ideas at a high level. All in all, I’m sure I’m stronger academically and football-wise than I was before. It will definitely have an impact on my everyday life as a scout at FC Copenhagen”
YOUR LEARNING CONTENTS IN THE FURTHER TRAINING AS TALENT SCOUT & MANAGEMENT PLANNER
The training and further education program is run by the DHGS (German University of Applied Sciences for Health & Sport) and the International Football Institute. Renowned lecturers impart application-oriented knowledge for practical work in the modules.
In the three modules, each with three days of attendance and a virtual learning phase, participants deal intensively with the topics of soccer
and training theory, scouting management, talent scouting, methods of match analysis and training observation as well as scouting in practice. At the end of the certificate course, participants prepare a final presentation, which is held virtually.
Module 1: MODERN SQUAD PLANNING
Module 2: TOP TALENT SCOUTING
Module 3: HIGH LEVEL SCOUTING & RECRUITMENT
**More content can be viewed by clicking on the plus
OUR LEARNING CONCEPT: BLENDED LEARNING
Blended learning is even more than e-learning: it combines the classic face-to-face seminars with various online learning formats, thus making learning more modern, flexible and transfer effective. Due to the semi-virtual concept and the block models, the programs are extra-occupational and can therefore also be carried out alongside sport and family.
The certificate program is therefore much more than an online or distance learning program.
In order to test the knowledge gained, online tests are just as possible as study papers on individual topics.
The innovative learning approach guarantees the compatibility of work, sports and further education.
Lecturers with enormous subject expertise impart practical knowledge at the highest level during the ten days of attendance.
OUR LEARNING CONCEPT: BLENDED LEARNING
Blended learning is even more than e-learning: it combines the classic face-to-face seminars with various online learning formats, thus making learning more modern, flexible and transfer effective. Due to the semi-virtual concept and the block models, the programs are extra-occupational and can therefore also be carried out alongside sport and family.
The certificate program is therefore much more than an online or distance learning program.
In order to test the knowledge gained, online tests are just as possible as study papers on individual topics.
The innovative learning approach guarantees the compatibility of work, sports and further education.
Lecturers with enormous subject expertise impart practical knowledge at the highest level during the ten days of attendance.
CAS SIMPLY EXPLAINED
Extra-occupational training and further education courses that can be completed with a Certificate of Advanced Studies – CAS for short – offer the opportunity to deal with a topic academically and acquire a qualification below an academic degree (e.g. Bachelor). CASs are also assessed according to credit points under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Accordingly, these credit points are also recognized throughout Europe. CASs can be upgraded to a Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) or other academic degree programs by attending further CASs and writing an academic thesis.
YOUR CAREER AS A FOOTBALL SCOUT & SQUAD PLANNER*: SIFTING AND SEARCHING
For many people working in soccer, the word scout quickly passes their lips. The term has become established. However, many people from clubs and associations still find it difficult to outline the exact job description of a scout. Even media companies, people in soccer journalism and soccer scientists do not have a uniform description of the function of a soccer scout.
Scouts are sometimes confused with assistant coaches, tactics coaches, match analysts, video analysts, match observers or even player agents or consultants.
In principle, the scout, who is now usually employed on a permanent basis, has the task of discovering players at other clubs who fit perfectly into their own system. These can be young talents, but also seasoned professionals.Scouts are therefore sighters and seekers.
They look for players in a very targeted manner and search for players in line with the requirements profile of their own club.
Scouts are therefore often the first to get to the talents. Their first look or their first assessment can be decisive in determining whether a transfer is ultimately made. The roles of the special, often also on itself placed Vor- and Zuarbeitenden takes place thereby apart from the public interest. As a rule, only insiders are familiar with the names of the scouts.
Hundreds of scouts are now active in professional soccer, and it is hard to imagine professional soccer without them in the Bundesliga and at the DFB. Their field of activity extends all over the world. The romantic ideal is that they are more often in foreign stadiums than at their own desks. And yet they still have the task of building up a functioning scouting department at their own club, maintaining databases of players, evaluating statistics and keeping up to date with analysis and video software such as Wyscout.
A club’s squad planner is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. Individual players can decide games, but it is the right team composition that is crucial to achieve lasting success. Squad planners often act as a link between the scouting department and the coaching team and should ensure that players who are signed fit into the concept of the club and the coaching team.
THESE COOPERATION PARTNERS TRUST
IN OUR EXPERTISE
By cooperating with us, our partners come into direct and personal contact with decision-makers from the soccer industry who work for us as lecturers or people with expertise.
Partnerships also enable contact with people who already work at clubs or associations and who are already making decisions
about their own collaborations with partners or will be doing so in the foreseeable future.
The early point of contact with current and future managers enables the development of new business areas.
Cooperation partners can also present themselves as attractive employers during excursions.
THESE COOPERATION PARTNERS TRUST
IN OUR EXPERTISE
By cooperating with us, our partners come into direct and personal contact with decision-makers from the soccer industry who work for us as lecturers or people with expertise.
In addition, partnerships enable contact with people who already work at clubs or associations and who are already deciding, or will soon be deciding, on their own collaborations with partners.
The early point of contact with current and future executives enables the development of new business areas.
During excursions, cooperation partners can also present themselves as attractive employers.
STUDY LOCATION COLOGNE
Between carnival, Kölsch beer, the cathedral and many cheerful Rhinelanders, the Cologne campus of the University of Applied Management is centrally located at MediaPark . In modern and inspiring premises and an innovative learning environment, it is possible to study semi-virtually, flexibly and with a high degree of practical relevance – even part-time.
Cologne as a strong economic center and as the heart of the metropolitan region Rhineland with a diverse mix of industries, offers our students great development opportunities in the midst of the typical urban and cosmopolitan lifestyle of Cologne.
VIENNA AS A PLACE OF STUDY
Thanks to the very good connection to the highway and the subway, the campus is easy to reach by car as well as by public transport.
Accommodation is available in all categories in the immediate vicinity in the Urban Lakeside.
FAQ
Contact Cologne
Andreas Giglberger
Head of Education and Training at the IFI
International Football Institute
Steinheilstr. 8
85737 Ismaning
Contact Vienna
Stefan Kramer
Assistant Manager Österreich
International Football Institute
Seestadtstraße 27
1220 Wien
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