11 Questions with Jack Brace

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 Jack Brace, creator of Red Bull Hub:

What is your first memory of football?

I honestly don’t remember much from the match, but I would have to say England versus Croatia in 2007 is the earliest memory I have. 

What attracted you to the Red Bull setup? What’s more intriguing now: names, numbers or potential?

I first became interested in the Red Bull setup back in the summer of 2017 after reading The European Game by Daniel Fieldsend because it has a chapter on Red Bull Salzburg, and as I wanted a journalistic niche, I began researching the clubs further and became fascinated. I would have to say potential is the most intriguing as Red Bull clubs uncover a lot of raw talent from ‘obscure’ nations and it’s fascinating to see how these players develop and progress through their careers. 

What’s more intriguing to you long term in the Red Bull setup: cultivating championships or building more teams across the globe? Why?

It has to be cultivating championships because it exemplifies the progression of players and coaches under Red Bull clubs’ guidance. Although it is interesting to learn about new clubs acquired by Red Bull and how they operate, an example being Red Bull Bragantino, I think the company should avoid buying too many clubs as it will become excessive and potentially take away from the uniqueness of the operation. 

What is the biggest misconception/cliche regarding Red Bull you’ve found in this space?

That Red Bull is ruining football. While I understand people’s perspective because of how the company has acquired clubs and circumnavigated laws in the game, but the way the clubs operate through a distinct philosophy and a 23-and-under strategy in the transfer market is a perfect example of how clubs can operate within financial means and achieve success. Some people reading this may be thinking about the financial backing and while the company does make start-up financial injections, the money has to be paid back to the company over time. 

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

It would have to be perseverance. Wanting to become very knowledgeable or an expert in a specific field requires a lot of time and effort to be put in, and, admittedly, I have found it very difficult at times and self-doubt has come into play a lot, which sometimes I have let get the better of me. Therefore, it is vital that you persevere and continue to work towards your goals because you won’t progress if you’re sitting around doing nothing.

What is more important domain knowledge or curiosity?

Domain knowledge is a result of curiosity. To be knowledgeable in a certain field you have to be constantly curious as there is so much new information to be learnt every day. My life essentially revolves around Red Bull nowadays as I am constantly keeping up with the new information and even though I have been doing this for three years, I believe I have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg and still need to remain curious to discover what’s underneath the surface. 

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

He’s not a coach for a Red Bull club anymore nor a player so this may be cheating, but it would have to be Ralf Rangnick, who, as of writing this, is currently the Head of Sport and Development at Red Bull. Although, this may not be for long because he is heavily linked with a move to AC Milan.

The reason behind this is because he’s the man that orchestrated the entire Red Bull project and created a footballing philosophy based on the company’s energy drink demographic, and even though he is 61, I believe he would still have a huge impact on the project for the next decade or so. 

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

Persistently work hard to make a name for yourself. Don’t worry if you’re not getting hundreds, if not thousands, of views per article straight away, that will eventually come - focus on your development as a content creator because as your content improves, more and more people will begin to share it and learn from it. Sometimes it’s a case of having a fortunate break, so be prepared for when that day comes.

I launched Red Bull Hub in January 2018 and I garnered a decent following quite quickly through persistent work and the greater interest in Red Bull football due to Red Bull Salzburg’s run to the Europa League semi-finals a few months later. Even if you’ve achieved a bit of success, keep going as there is so much more to achieve. 

What is your favorite quote or saying?

“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” - Sigmund Freud.