9 Questions with Victor Zaferson

 

@Vzaferson

How were you first attracted to scouting?

Someone from Germany's Bayer 04 contacted me in 2001. I did work as football writer at Peru.com and this person from Argentina asked me if I want to work as scout for that German club. I accepted and I worked for them 4 years.  

What skills did you realize you needed to improve once you got your first scouting job?

Watch football matches (2 times) and write all the details (players, ages, positions, how the players read the game, etc) I finally understood the game. 

How do you balance video and live scouting?

I think live scouting is better, actually it's the best choice, but video and numbers now are key. One scout has to watch around 25 full matches to figure out the category of the player at this moment. Players need to play more than 20 full matches to confirm the level. 

Where or who do you see yourself scouting for in the next five years?

I'm so happy as football consultant, scout or informant. I like to work as freelance for some agents, scouts and agencies. I think I would like to work for any football federation or agency during a time.

What do those who are looking to enter scouting need to understand about the football industry?

I think there are a lot of opportunities, but if you want to find a space, it takes time. Is not easy. You need contacts and finally you have to show your skills. I made it after years of fighting.

What is the best advice you've received on scouting?

Watch the games twice and read all the details. If you understand the game things will be easier.

How do you scout strong personalities? What do you look for?

I always see the reactions of the players. If they are mentally strong on the pitch. I think the mind is between 80% and 100%. The mind is everything. There are good players, but they are not strong mentally.

How do you improve your scouting techniques?

Watching a lot of matches helped me to discover more things on the pitch. I always talk to coaches, players, scouts, agents and sporting directors. That's the best course to increase my knowledge about scouting. Information is free around the world. If I want to learn more I always can. 

If you could start all over again in scouting what would you do first?

Watch full football matches and write about the talents in English. Scouting is 99.9% in English.