11 Questions with Kevin Cruickshank

The pursuit of wisdom in any walk of life quickly reveals that what you think you know is not nearly enough to get you to where you want to go. As I'm starting out in my football scouting journey I challenged myself to reach out to those already working in various roles in football to answer a short list of questions. My goal wasn't to get answers but relevant perspectives on the game within the game.

Here is Kevin Cruickshank, Head of International Scouting at FC Nürnberg:

How did your first opportunity in football come about?

Once I finished University I spent some time in the USA before returning to my home town to take up the position of Office Manager at Elgin City of Scottish League 2.  My role there included every job imaginable in a football club as we were a small club with minimal staff but it was a great experience and one I look back on fondly.

What attracted you to scouting?

I guess it started when I was at University and spent many an hour playing Championship Manager.  Due to the lack of social media, exposure to different leagues etc it really felt at the time like you were discovering talent - especially when they went on to do well in real life.  Although I did some scouting at Elgin City my first real exposure to that side of the industry came at Blackburn Rovers when I joined them in 2008 as Scouting Coordinator.

Who is the first player you "found"? What caught your eye?

I would never claim that I discovered him but I would probably say Steven NZonzi who I was involved in bringing to Blackburn in 2009 from Amiens - a team that had just been relegated from Ligue 2 in France.  He had a nonchalance to his game but the way he could glide past an opponent really caught the eye.  Nowadays I'd say it's difficult to "find" a player as such, especially if you're concentrating on senior football with all the tools that are out there and available to everyone.

Who is the player you "missed" on? What did you learn from it?

There are many players I've seen over the years that I didn't fancy and if they do move on and do well you question yourself.  For me though it's more frustrating when you miss out on a player due to the fact that you can't get the Manager and/or Technical Director to buy into a player you've done a lot of work on and get excited about but that's football.

If you could start over what skill would you build on first?

Communication is key - building the right relationships internally and externally is such an important part of this industry.  It's important to be able to get all the information you need quickly and then be able to act on it accordingly.

Do you see player development as more of an art or a science?

The development of a player in a football sense is on the onus of the coaching staff, the support staff and the player himself - as scouts we can only highlight the areas of his game that we feel need work. 

What is your favorite sports moment? Why?

The Italia 90 World Cup will always stand out for me as it was the first one I remember not only for the football and the fact that Scotland managed to qualify but looking back it just seems so iconic - classic stadiums (which I've now been lucky to visit many of), an anthem in Nessun Dorma and so many memorable players and moments.

If I have to think of a moment away from football it has to be watching Andy Murray lift his first Wimbledon title in 2013 having earlier come back from 2 sets down in the Quarter Final to beat Verdasco - both off your seat moments.

What coach/player/team inspires you? Why?

I enjoy watching young dynamic teams and in recent years have enjoyed seeing both Ajax and Red Bull Salzburg have successful European campaigns then watch their players move on to bigger and better things.  Both sides recruit effectively and give young players a platform to perform - they have a vision and it's aligned from top to bottom.

In terms of my own career I probably learnt the most while working under Sam Allardyce at Blackburn, his man management skills of both players and staff was excellent and I think that's a big reason why he was always the go to guy for struggling teams - he knew how to motivate.  I would attend games with him and we'd discuss what we'd seen (not always agreeing) on the way home.  Similarly Martyn Glover (former Chief Scout at Blackburn and current Chief Scout at Southampton) was like a mentor to me and someone I will still phone up for guidance etc.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into scouting/analytics?

It's about building up your knowledge and then if you're applying to jobs making sure the knowledge you have built is applicable to the club you are applying to.  Networking is also a big part of the industry, get your face known by going to games and attending conferences.  Having an opinion and not being afraid to stick to your guns is also vital if you are to succeed in the industry - nobody wants a yes man.   

Once you're in the industry it's about getting your head down, building a reputation and continually learning and evolving.

What is your favorite app/tool to use (for work or fun)?

It has to be Wyscout for me, a tool I've been using it since it first came in the form of an xbox type of machine.  It gives me access to almost everything I need in terms of footage on players from all over the world.  It can be used in many ways and is a first stop for players I don't know.  With the current Coronavirus crisis Wyscout is also now the only way for me to be able to continue watching players.

What other sport/hobby/discipline do you feel improves your work as an analyst/scout? Why?

To be honest I don't have enough free time to focus on another sport or hobby.  Now that I'm living and working in Germany I need to learn a new language and that is something that will benefit me in my career long term.