Jobs4Football meets Ross Maciver

Jobs4Football spoke to Ross Maciver, who is looking to put his knowledge and experience of data analytics, scouting and coaching to good use as he looks to pave a career for himself in the world of football.

Maciver has also played the game at a respectable level when he was the captain of the junior varsity team whilst studying at university in Florida and was a futsal club member whilst at the University of Kent, and he his hoping to use his expertise to create a successful career in the sport.

When discussing his experience, Maciver said “Whilst I was in America I helped my university coach with coaching for his local U19s team, so that was my first real experience in coaching, and I managed to pick up a lot of knowledge that I will take with me going forward.

“A lot of my background in work up until now has been in data analytics and finance, and so I have a fairly extensive background in this subject. These are two vital aspects to football clubs, especially analytics which in recent times has become massive for clubs across the world and it is only going to get bigger in the future.

“As well as this I’ve also done a bit of scouting and I’ve obtained my scouting certificates, so this is just another area for me that could be a potential pathway. I want to keep adding new skills and experiences so when I do enter the footballing world I will be best equipped for the role I am in.”

Whilst at university in Florida and Kent, Maciver achieved a Bachelor of Science in both Business Administration and Economics, whilst also majoring in Criminal Justice Management. To add to this he has also completed his FA level 1 and 2 in coaching whilst also boasting being bilingual, speaking English and Scottish Gaelic fluently and being able to hold basic conversations in Russian and Portuguese.

He is also a part of the mentoring programme run by Jobs4Football as he looks to continue to expand on his skills.

“I haven’t had a lot of experience with it yet but even from the short time I have been a part of it I can see I’m being provided with the right information to help better myself and progress so that I can attract the right opportunities when they come. It’s still early but I’m really looking forward to continuing on the course and picking up important advice along the way.

“A lot of my previous roles, even those that weren’t football related, have given me important skills which are going to be vital if I’m to succeed in this industry. Things such as building teamwork in an organisation or group in order to succeed and get results. My education, which was obviously fundamental, has created a sort of competitive edge in me through wanting to achieve certain goals in my exams, and this has therefore helped me build a more ambitious personality.”

Going forward Maciver has all the tools and determination to succeed in football and having just turned 24 he is still keeping his options open for the future.

“I would say I’m pretty open at the moment because I have an interest in a lot of different subjects like analytics, recruitment, coaching so I’m pretty flexible and with any opportunity that arises I will be open to it.

“Another passion of mine is learning languages and experiencing different cultures, so I’m definitely open to working pretty much anywhere if the opportunity is good for me and will help me develop. That’s probably one of my biggest strengths that I can adapt easily whilst also wanting to test myself wherever possible because that’s the only way I’m going to improve.”