New Training Course on Scouting and Talent Identification in Soccer
Supervised by recognized professionals in the field of recruitment(scouts, recruitment managers, and sporting directors), this university degree program was designed to meet the growing demands of both professional and semi-professional soccer clubs, as well as player agencies.
Delivered in a hybrid format over 200 hours, the course includes three in-person seminars and is designed for those who wish to become soccer player recruiters. It prepares participants to join recruitment teams within various organizations:first teams, post-academy programs, or youth academies of clubs in Ligue 1 (L1), Ligue 2 (L2), National 1, or National 2.
Working closely with professionals currently employed by professional clubs, this program offers hands-on experience through a mandatory internship in a scouting department, ensuring that the training is aligned with real-world conditions.
Objectives
- Understanding of the game and its environment
- Develop a methodology and tools to observe, analyze, and identify players based on the team’s needs.
- Write and submit match or player reports in French and English
- Understand the regulations and legal framework (transfers, various contracts, LFP Charter)
- Use of Digital Tools and Data
- Building interpersonal skills: Building and maintaining a network (in France and abroad) and adopting an appropriate approach within the team
Target audience
- Candidates with a university degree in sports.
- Elite athletes in a career transition program.
- Candidate with experience in recruitment and training.
- Employees of professional sports clubs who wish to pursue further training.
- Soccer coaches and technical advisors.
- Player agents or agency staff.
- Sports directors or sports managers at amateur clubs.
Prerequisites: Applicants must have a good knowledge of soccer as well as a basic understanding of Windows and Mac OS systems (installation, file management, and windows). They must also know how to access digital work environments or online learning platforms.
Teaching staff
This training program is led by a team of expert instructors:
- Thomas Maurin: Scouting Manager at the HORIZON player agency
- Romain Decool: Sports Coordinator and Head of Recruitment, US Dunkerque
- Sébastien Larcier: Sporting Director, formerly with Dijon, Angers, and Nîmes
- Tarik El Adi: Scout, Clermont Foot 63
- Rachid Boulbab: Educational Engineer
- English Teacher
Expert Insights: Different Perspectives on Training
Beyond their backgrounds and expertise, we wanted to give a voice to the people who bring this program to life. Two members of the teaching team agreed to share their vision, their commitment, and their approach to teaching. Through these conversations, discover what drives them and what they impart to their students.
Thomas MAURIN
Thomas Maurin, 34, is originally from the Hérault region and has been working in the recruitment industry for over a decade.
A former regional-level player and youth coach, he began his career at AS Béziers before moving on to Toulouse FC, the Manchester United Academy, Olympique de Marseille, Clermont Foot, and finally Olympique Lyonnais, where he has been involved in both domestic and international markets, working in youth and professional scouting.
Since October 2024, he has been working as a freelancer with a recruitment agency, handling recruitment and performance monitoring projects in France and Côte d’Ivoire.
Drawing on his diverse experience—ranging from semi-professional soccer to Europe’s top clubs—he will share with students a practical insight into the role of a scout: its demands, realities, decision-making processes, and strategic challenges.
Using real-life examples, he will provide an in-depth understanding of modern scouting, emphasizing the essential skills needed to succeed: attention to detail, game analysis, an understanding of the football business, emotional management, and the ability to work discreetly.
Sébastien LARCIER
A former professional player for Dijon Football Côte d’Or (DFCO), Sébastien Larcier saw his athletic career come to an end in 2008 due to cardiac hypertrophy.
He quickly shifted his focus to the behind-the-scenes side of professional soccer by establishing the DFCO’s scouting department, eventually becoming its head and then director of scouting until 2020.
He then went on to serve as sporting director at SCO Angers (2020–2022) and later at Nîmes Olympique (2023–2025).
Drawing on his extensive experience—from the field to strategic leadership roles—he now shares his expertise in recruitment methodology, talent identification, and the management of transfer processes, both in player acquisitions and sales, providing students with a practical and operational perspective on professional soccer.
Training session
A training session is scheduled for this year:
- from October 20 to June 30, 2027
Are you interested in this training course?
To apply, please fill out the form below.
Since space is limited, please submit your application byAugust 31, 2026.
A promise of an internship with a club’s recruitment department or a player agency will be an asset when applying to the program.
Do you have any questions? Please contact the training coordinator, Aurélie MERLE: aurelie.merle@umontpellier.fr.