The Sport Data Forum 2025 Addresses the Evolution of Data-Driven Sporting Directorates

The development of young prospects is a fundamental aspect of any strategic plan within a sporting directorate. Romeo Jozak, technical director of Future Falcons, is well aware of this. Speaking at the Sport Data Forum 2025, he highlighted the significant investment that will be made in the coming years to foster the growth of young footballers in Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that the country has immense potential but that it is crucial to educate these players professionally in Europe.

Jozak also mentioned the challenges of managing information in such a vast country and how they are working on data organization to optimize player performance. In this regard, he stressed the great career opportunities for young Spanish analysts, who can contribute their expertise in data analysis and football development.

One of Future Falcons’ main objectives is to identify and distribute talent to elite leagues, with the goal of having 30 competitive players in the national team over the next 10 years.

The Balance Between Technology and Experience

Eduardo Covelo, former head of methodology at RC Celta de Vigo, took the stage to emphasize the importance of correctly interpreting data within the sporting context. He pointed out that data and technology should complement, rather than replace, experience and intuition. For Covelo, success lies in striking a balance between these two factors, avoiding an excessive dependence on analytics.

He also stressed that while technology has made talent identification faster and more efficient, the real challenge today is not only spotting talent but also developing it. He predicted that, over time, many intangible aspects of football would be measured with precision, creating new opportunities in sports management.

Another speaker, Luis Helguera (sporting director of UD Las Palmas), explained that the divide between data analysis and subjective interpretation of the game no longer exists. In his view, the real challenge is finding professionals who can handle data but also understand the game from within.

For this reason, he encouraged data specialists to expand their knowledge by taking coaching courses and learning traditional football methodologies. This, he said, would allow them to interpret analytical information more effectively. He also emphasized the difficulty of finding hybrid profiles, individuals who can combine technological expertise with a deep understanding of the game, a growing need in club sporting directorates.

The three experts agreed on several key points regarding the evolution of data-driven sporting directorates, particularly in their belief that data is essential, but without passion and context, it loses its true value.