A.I. In Football

Tom Butterfield & David Bromley
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AI in Football: Recruitment Decisions, Done Properly is a practical podcast about how football clubs make better recruitment decisions in an AI world — without the hype. We don’t chase novelty tools. We focus on the thinking and structure that makes any tool useful: clear role briefs, behaviours over labels, constraints and trade-offs, repeatable shortlisting, and decision review that actually improves the process. Each episode gives you something you can use: - Role Definition Templates (behaviour-based, not position labels) - Question sets that lead to better shortlists - Meeting Structures that stop recruitment becoming a persuasion contest - Simple Ways to Stress-Test Decisions (“what would make this wrong?”) - How AI Fits Safely: drafting, checking, standardising outputs — never replacing judgement If you work in recruitment, scouting, analysis, coaching, or you’re aiming to, this show is for you. Clarity First. Tools Second.

  1. 5D AGO

    Bonus Episode 2 - Replacing Heung-Min Son - Ranking The Best Fit Replacements (Xavi Simons Ranked Number 33!)

    YouTube Version Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Summary In this episode of the AI in Football podcast, hosts Tom Butterfield and David Bromley delve into the recruitment process for Tottenham Hotspur, focusing on the use of data analytics and AI in player selection. They discuss personal updates, the importance of a structured recruitment process, and the various stages involved in identifying and evaluating potential players. The conversation highlights the significance of data import, player rankings, video scouting, and the due diligence required before finalizing selections. The hosts reflect on the efficiency of the process and the need for continuous improvement in recruitment strategies. Takeaways The recruitment process is structured into multiple stages.Data analytics plays a crucial role in player selection.Pre-mortem analysis helps identify potential pitfalls in recruitment.Video scouting provides valuable insights into player performance.The target matrix is essential for tracking potential signings.Due diligence is necessary before finalizing player selections.Efficiency in scouting can lead to better recruitment outcomes.AI analysis can enhance the evaluation of player metrics.Continuous improvement is vital in recruitment strategies.Understanding the club's playing style is key to successful signings. Useful Links Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's. Instagram Youtube Channel

    40 min

  2. FEB 13

    Bonus Episode: What Type of Player Should Replace Son Heung-Min at Spurs?

    YouTube Episode Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Summary In this episode of the AI and Football podcast, hosts Tom Butterfield and David Bromley delve into the intricacies of football recruitment, particularly focusing on Tottenham Hotspur's challenges in replacing key players. They explore the role of AI in streamlining recruitment processes, defining objectives, and identifying player attributes that align with team strategies. The conversation emphasises the importance of data analysis, setting constraints, and establishing key performance indicators to evaluate potential recruits effectively. The hosts also discuss the significance of behavioural role definitions and the necessity of filtering players based on specific criteria to ensure a successful recruitment strategy. Takeaways AI can significantly enhance recruitment processes in football.Defining clear objectives is crucial for effective player replacement.Understanding player attributes helps in making informed recruitment decisions.Constraints and priorities guide the recruitment strategy.Behavioural role definitions clarify what is expected from players.Key performance indicators are essential for evaluating player effectiveness.Data analysis provides insights into player performance metrics.Filtering players based on specific criteria narrows down options.Collaboration and feedback are vital in refining recruitment strategies.The recruitment process is a continuous work in progress. Useful Links Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's. Instagram Youtube Channel

    1h 8m

  3. FEB 6

    Ep46: Identity → Game Model — Turning Words Into 'Behaviours by Phase'.

    Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Summary In this episode of the AI in Football podcast, hosts Tom Butterfield and David Bromley delve into the significance of defining a game model in football recruitment. They discuss how a clear identity can streamline recruitment decisions, emphasizing the importance of observable player behaviors and the integration of AI in enhancing scouting processes. The conversation covers the various phases of a game, the implications for recruitment, and the necessity of proof behaviors to measure team performance effectively. The episode concludes with a look ahead to future discussions on formations and role archetypes. Takeaways Recruitment decisions should align with a club's identity.Defining a game model helps clarify recruitment needs.Observable behaviors are essential for effective coaching.Simplicity in defining player roles aids understanding.Proof behaviors provide measurable standards for performance.AI can enhance the recruitment process by standardizing evaluations.Clarity in communication between coaches and scouts is crucial.Identifying specific behaviours aids in player scouting.Game phases must be understood for effective strategy implementation.A concise game model fosters better team cohesion. Useful Links Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's. Instagram Youtube Channel

    30 min

  4. JAN 30

    Ep45: Templates + Variants — Defining Identity Fast (Without Turning the Club into a Cartoon)

    Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Useful Links Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's. Instagram Youtube Channel

    27 min

  5. JAN 22

    Ep44: Identity Before Positions — Why “How We Win” Comes First

    Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Summary In this episode of the AI in Football podcast, Tom Butterfield and David Bromley discuss the critical role of identity in football recruitment. They emphasise that understanding a team's identity is essential before making recruitment decisions, as it helps define what 'fit' means for players. The conversation explores the pitfalls of relying on position labels, the importance of non-negotiables, and how AI can assist in clarifying identity. They also introduce the concept of the identity cascade and the need to avoid KPI theatre in recruitment discussions. Finally, they highlight the use of templates to streamline the recruitment process and ensure alignment across the club. Takeaways Identity should come before positions in recruitment.Understanding how to win matches is crucial.Position labels can create a false sense of agreement.Recruitment should focus on fit, not just filling positions.AI can help clarify and standardise recruitment processes.Non-negotiables are essential for defining identity.Metrics should be evidence of behaviours, not standalone indicators.Templates can speed up the alignment process in recruitment.Avoiding KPI theatre is important for effective decision-making.Clarity in identity leads to better recruitment outcomes. Useful Links Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's. Instagram Youtube Channel

    34 min

  6. JAN 15

    Ep43: The Boundary Line — Using AI in Recruitment Without Getting Burned

    Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Summary In this conversation, Tom Butterfield and David Bromley explore the role of AI in recruitment, particularly in the context of football. They emphasise the importance of clarity and structure before implementing AI tools, highlighting the risks of overconfidence in AI-generated results. The conversation explores the boundaries of AI's usefulness in recruitment, introducing a framework of Green, Amber, and Red to guide safe and effective AI usage. They discuss how AI can serve as a valuable tool for decision-making but emphasise the importance of human judgment and verification. The conversation covers the boundaries of AI's capabilities, the necessity of stress testing AI outputs, and the significance of defining recruitment needs clearly. They also address the ethical considerations surrounding data privacy and the importance of maintaining high standards in recruitment processes. The discussion concludes with a look ahead at practical applications of AI in recruitment, especially in the context of the upcoming transfer window. Takeaways AI can assist in recruitment but requires human verification.AI should be treated as a starting point, not a conclusion.Final judgments on players should not be delegated to AI.Confidential data must be handled with care in recruitment.Stress testing AI outputs is crucial for effective decision-making.Recruitment should start with clear role definitions, not player names.Constraints in recruitment are necessary for making informed decisions.AI can standardise processes but should not compromise standards.The recruitment process should include an evidence plan to validate decisions.AI should enhance human judgment, not replace it.It's important to find clarity and structure before using AI.AI can be helpful but may tempt shortcuts.Understanding where AI helps and where it doesn't is crucial.Fluency in AI responses does not guarantee accuracy.Establishing boundaries for AI use is essential.The recruitment process is brutal; mistakes can be costly.Verification is key when using AI-generated information.AI should be a thinking partner, not a decision-maker.Community involvement can enhance personal well-being.Rebranding...

    33 min

  7. JAN 9

    Ep42: Putting It Into Practice — The Context Stack As A Club Standard.

    Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Summary In this conversation, Tom Butterfield and David Bromley discuss the importance of clarity and structure in football recruitment processes. They emphasise the need for a club standard that incorporates a 'Context Stack' to ensure consistent decision-making. The role of AI is explored as a supportive tool rather than a decision-maker, with a focus on maintaining institutional memory and accountability in recruitment decisions. The discussion also highlights the significance of holding two separate meetings; Meeting 1) Defining Roles Meeting 2) Selecting Players in order to avoid confusion and ensure effective outcomes. Takeaways AI speeds up existing processes but doesn't fix vague thinking.Clarity and structure are essential before introducing tools.Good ideas often fail to become club standards under pressure.Shared language is crucial for effective communication.Recruitment meetings should focus on defined roles, not just names.Establishing a context stack helps maintain consistency.Documentation is key for learning from past decisions.AI can check, format, and record but not make final judgments.Separating definition and selection meetings improves outcomes.Building institutional memory is vital for long-term success. Useful Links Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's. Instagram Youtube Channel

    30 min

  8. JAN 2

    Ep41: From Question to Shortlist: A Repeatable AI-Supported Recruitment Workflow

    Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Summary In this episode, David Bromley and Tom Butterfield discuss a detailed analysis of football team management and recruitment processes. They explore the significance of asking the right questions, defining roles and behaviors, and understanding constraints in player recruitment. The conversation also delves into the use of AI in recruitment, emphasizing its role as a supportive tool rather than a decision-maker. The episode concludes with a focus on the importance of a structured recruitment process to ensure effective team building. Takeaways Family gatherings provide a sense of community and support.Effective communication is key in team management.Vague questions lead to vague shortlists in recruitment.Defining roles and behaviours is crucial for recruitment success.Constraints such as budget and age must be considered in recruitment.Building a market involves defining leagues and player thresholds.Shortlisting should include rationales and questions for each candidate.AI can enhance recruitment but should not replace human judgment.A structured recruitment process is essential for consistency.Iterating and validating the recruitment process leads to better outcomes. Happy New Year Everybody! Useful Links Join the Free Kickstart Challenge Support The Show - Buy David and Tom a bag of peanut M&M's. Instagram Youtube Channel

    35 min
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About

AI in Football: Recruitment Decisions, Done Properly is a practical podcast about how football clubs make better recruitment decisions in an AI world — without the hype. We don’t chase novelty tools. We focus on the thinking and structure that makes any tool useful: clear role briefs, behaviours over labels, constraints and trade-offs, repeatable shortlisting, and decision review that actually improves the process. Each episode gives you something you can use: - Role Definition Templates (behaviour-based, not position labels) - Question sets that lead to better shortlists - Meeting Structures that stop recruitment becoming a persuasion contest - Simple Ways to Stress-Test Decisions (“what would make this wrong?”) - How AI Fits Safely: drafting, checking, standardising outputs — never replacing judgement If you work in recruitment, scouting, analysis, coaching, or you’re aiming to, this show is for you. Clarity First. Tools Second.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Butterfield & David Bromley
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    149
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Tom Butterfield & David Bromley
  • Show Website
    A.I. In Football