Jobs4football meets David Cohen
Welcome to another insightful edition of Jobs4football Meets, where we delve into the journeys and expertise of football’s dynamic professionals. Today, David Cohen, an exceptional football analyst whose diverse career has seen him contribute to the success of clubs such as Bristol City, West Ham, and York City. David’s analytical prowess spans both men’s and women’s football, across different levels from professional clubs to non league and college teams. His unique background, combined with his innovative approach to football analysis, makes it a fascinating insight.
David’s journey into football analysis is as unconventional as it is inspiring. With a background in Middle Eastern Studies, David was initially drawn to the field through his love of football and a passion for the strategic depth of the game, nurtured by years of playing the Football Manager PC game. His path took a definitive turn during the lockdown when he started blogging about football, which led to opportunities in scouting and analysis. His story is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and the importance of perseverance.
From establishing an analysis culture at Taunton Town FC to coding for the management team at the University of Louisville Women’s Soccer, David has consistently demonstrated his adaptability and dedication. His ability to implement data-driven recruitment strategies at York City FC and create best practice libraries at West Ham United Women’s Team highlights his technical skills and innovative thinking.
In this interview, David shares insights into his varied experiences, the challenges he has faced, and the lessons he has learned along the way. He also provides valuable advice for aspiring football analysts and discusses the essential skills needed to succeed in this competitive field.
Join us as we explore the progressive journey of David Cohen,
Q: David, your journey in football analysis has been both extensive and varied. Could you share what initially drew you to this field, especially considering your background is in Middle Eastern Studies?
A: I have a interesting path into the game, to be honest! I’ve never played, but always been a fan. Played Football Manager often since about 10 years old, which I guess got me interested in the analytical side of the game. I kept this interest in football separate from my academics, but it was only during university that I became really interested. During lockdown I was watching so much football, I decided to start blogging. One of my friends from school, Luke Griffin ran a scouting website and said I could start writing about Polish football. I absolutely loved it and that’s where it all started. I wrote a lot about the team I support, Cheltenham Town, which was really enjoyable. I then decided I wanted a career in scouting/analysis so just messaged all my local non-league clubs, where I eventually got in at step 4. It went from there really. I just loved it – worked 3 part time jobs during my final year of University, which was a lot, but it didn’t feel like a job for me. I knew I needed to get experience, especially considering my background.
Q: You’ve worked with both men’s and women’s teams across different levels of football, from professional clubs to college teams. What are some unique challenges and rewards you’ve experienced while transitioning between these different environments?
A: I feel I’m very lucky to have so many varied experiences in the game. I’ve learnt so much from so many different people, learning how clubs operate in radically different games. Taunton Town FC was an exceptional experience, trying to get an analysis workflow out on practically no budget. I then transitioned to working for a D1 College in America in the evening who had a complete set up which was a joy to work with – radically different environments but I learnt so much from both, and I think I’ve become really adaptable as a result.
Q: At Taunton Town FC, you implemented an analysis culture from scratch. Can you walk us through the process of establishing this culture and the key steps you took to integrate analysis into the club’s daily operations?
A: I loved my time at Taunton, and really relished the challenge. We had a subscription with WyScout and a veo camera but that was it in terms of analysis. I had to use software that I borrowed from other clubs to live code, and use various student accounts to access other software. I got some really good buy in from players who were interested in the analysis side of things, but I didn’t force it on them – if they didn’t want clips, they didn’t have to – but they were always available. Even if I made a 1% difference in terms of results, I had done my job. One of my favourite times at the club was helping the attackers with penalties, always felt rewarding when I had done my research on the goalkeeper and we scored.
Q. Your role at the University of Louisville Women’s Soccer involved coding for the management team. How did you ensure the accuracy and relevance of your analysis under the pressure of tight deadlines?
A. I was up at the early hours of Sunday every weekend to watch Louisville play and tag their games, which was obviously difficult for a student! This was especially hard if I had a long travel day with Taunton on the Saturday. But it was all worth it. I worked with a fantastic head coach at Louisville who trusted me and gave very good feedback, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. It was tough work remaining focused whilst being tired but I felt like I did a decent job!
Q. During your internship at West Ham United Women’s Team, you were involved in creating presentations and maintaining best practice libraries. What insights did you gain?
A: At West Ham I did some work on creating a best practice library on SportsCode using previous clips from our games. We split this up into phases of play and related it to the game model – it was important that we did this so the manager could have quick access to pretty much anything we did good within the game model.
Q: As a recruitment analyst at York City FC, you developed identification dashboards and a scoring system for player targets. Could you elaborate on how you tailored these tools to match the team’s playstyle and the impact they had on the recruitment process?
A: I came in at York aiming to help implement data into the recruitment process. I mainly used Tableau to create insightful, easy to use dashboards so we could identify players suited to our playstyle quickly and easily. This involved a complex process of calculations, metric weighting and a lot of trial and error but we eventually got a good system that I felt confident in up and running. I knew that we had certain positions where we wanted particular profiles, for example a CB comfortable on the ball. We created 8 unique attributes from particular metrics that added up to an overall score – so we could then see what players would be the best fit overall – but also go deeper and see which area they really excel at.
Q: Your experience at Football Radar involves analysing games from various leagues under tight deadlines. What strategies do you use to manage time effectively and maintain high standards of analysis, especially when working unsociable hours?
A: Football radar has been a great experience so far. The variety of leagues I watch is just immense. I have gained so much expertise because of this. As its summer at the moment the only leagues in Europe going are in Scandinavia, and I love watching these leagues. We also have to watch other games around the world, so sometimes can be working late/early hours. You obviously have to plan working days in advance and make sure your schedule is set quite early – but it is really enjoyable and challenging watching games, and I thoroughly enjoy it. All worth the early starts/late nights!
Q: The path to a career in football analysis is highly competitive. Based on your experiences, what advice would you give to aspiring analysts looking to break into the industry, and what key skills or attributes do you believe are essential for success in this field?
A:Firstly, no analyst has the same path. Don’t be disheartened by others, comparison is the thief of joy after all! Initially, I would say put your name out there. Message local clubs, publish analysis work online, and connect with others in similar positions. There are so many people at clubs reading analysis work online now. All you need is the right person to see it, and you might have an entry. I had no background at all and did this and have made some amazing connections and had some great conversations with really experienced football people. Believe in yourself and working in football is very achievable.
Q: You’ve worked extensively with various software packages such as HUDL, NACsport, and Statsbomb IQ. Can you provide specific examples of how you’ve used these tools to enhance your analysis and support the coaching staff?
A: As a result of working with so many different clubs, I’ve worked with a massive amount of different softwares. What has been interesting is seeing how different clubs use the same software. I have experienced completely different coding windows and processes on exactly the same program, which has been really eye-opening and exposed me to different workflows. I now feel confident using all these packages in a variety of different contexts, and I know if a new environment was to throw something up, I could adapt quickly.
As we wrap up this enlightening interview, it’s clear that David Cohen embodies the qualities of perseverance, adaptability, and hard work. His journey from a passionate football fan with a background in Middle Eastern Studies to a respected football analyst working with top clubs is truly inspiring. David’s willingness to start from the ground up, coupled with his relentless pursuit of knowledge and improvement, showcases a never-give-up attitude that sets him apart in the competitive football industry.
His innovative approaches, dedication to continuous learning, and ability to thrive in diverse environments serve as a shining light for aspiring analysts. Jobs4football have no doubt that this is just the beginning, and look forward to seeing the heights he will undoubtedly reach in the future.