11 Questions with Bruno Dagnino

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 Bruno Dagnino:

How did your first opportunity in football come about?

We created it :). Together with Ruben and Enzo (my friends and co-founders of  Metrica Sports), we really wanted to get involved in data and video analytics in football, but we had zero contacts or experience in the field. The best way we could think of getting into the field while working together was starting a company, and that's how Metrica Sports got started!

What attracted you to analytics /data? What’s more intriguing now names or numbers?

What attracted me to the field was the curiosity over how much of the sport could be quantified, and how that quantification could contribute back to the sport. I realized later, as most people coming into the field do, that it's not so much about the technical quality of the analysis, but about how it fits in the context of the coaching staff and team in general. Between names and numbers, definitely numbers.

What type of player fascinates you? What caught your eye?

I always liked players like Mascherano, or Puyol. I think I see myself reflected in that type of players. What I mean by this is that I like players that while talented, they are not per se the most skilled, however whatever they lack they compensate it with brains and discipline. 

What is the biggest misconception you’ve found in this space?

I think it's changing lately, but I was always surprised by how little numbers/analysis are connected back to examples or footage of the game. 

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

Business skills. Metrica was my first business and I had to learn (and I'm still learning) everything on the go. There is no really a way to learn how to run a business other than running it, so not sure I could have really build this skill before starting. However it's the one single thing I always feel I could know more about. 

What is more important domain knowledge or curiosity?

100% curiosity over domain knowledge, as long as you pair it with the discipline to sit down and pull through whatever is that you need to learn. 

What is your favorite sports moment? Why?

2015 Champions League final Barcelona - Juventus in Berlin, because I was there :). 

What coach or player would you give a lifetime contract to? Why?

Klopp, no doubt. I was a fan of him already  "way back" when he was coaching Dortmund. I love the aggressive but highly tactical football his teams play, but I also like him as a person. He is fierce, but seems to have empathy and and excellent relationship with his players and staff. That's quite difficult to find at the highest level of the sport.  

What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into this space?

I might be biased, but I see a lot of emphasis on getting into a club, but very little in getting into a company (or starting your own). If you think it from a "I just want to work at a club" perspective,  trying to get into one is of course the right choice. However if your goal is to get into the space, I think working at the company is the better choice. Salaries, benefits and working hours are (in my opinion) better in average, and you still get to enjoy working in the space. So I'd advise people to consider at least in equal terms a company job vs a club one. 

Who is your favorite athlete? Why?

Again, biased since I'm Argentinean, but I really like Manu Ginobili. An awesome combo of hard work, pure talent, humility and intelligence. 

What is your favorite quote or saying?

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."  - Robert Louis Stevenson