Further understanding the concept of ‘talent’ in football
Being called ‘talent’ can both encourage and create pressure. The term is often used subjectively, which means that some players risk being disadvantaged. In her thesis, Leah Monsees examines how the perception of talent is shaped by structures within football clubs, the media and modern technology.
“Many young athletes dream of an elite career and put in a lot of time and effort. The word ‘talent’ is often used as if it were just an innate gift, but in reality, there are years of training, sacrifice and luck behind it," says Leah Monsees, who completed her thesis at the Department of Sports Science at Malmö University.
In the thesis, she looks at, in particular, how a Swedish and a German club in their youth teams use the concept in connection with the selection and development of elite players.
“Talent is seen as a combination of skills, characteristics, development potential and environment. However, a closer look at how the concept is used in each context reveals differences. The same individual may be perceived as a talent in one context, but not in another.”
She has also analysed how the word is used in the media and how clubs use technological tools to identify talent by measuring performance and predicting physical development.
“There are structures and power distribution within clubs and pressure from the industry to use technology. However, there is often a lack of knowledge and time to learn how to use and evaluate technology. Moreover, the development of younger players is rarely linear. Therefore, coaches' gut feelings, experience and cultural norms still play a crucial role.”
Monsees notes that ‘talent’ is not an unambiguous concept. It is used in different ways by different actors – coaches, players and federations – and can be understood as innate, developable and situational. Globalisation and commercialisation also have an impact, as does a pressure to optimise the sport.
“The most important thing is to raise awareness in clubs and among talent scouts. It is vital to understand the individual's circumstances. Clubs earn money by selling players, but they need to understand what it means for a 16-year-old to be sent alone to another country.”
She believes that football clubs, as well as clubs in other sports, have everything to gain from defining selection criteria and thinking about how the word talent is used and understood.
“Understanding the consequences of being – or not being – labelled as a talent is crucial. Being labelled a talent can motivate or create pressure. Those who are not labelled risk losing confidence and leaving the sport, even though they could have developed with the right support,” she adds.
