He worked with former Manchester United director Maurice Watkins at James Chapman and Co and was seconded to the Red Devils. Watford employ 12 senior scouts who travel the world, as well as a wider network of junior scouts, consultants and coaches, who live in different countries and provide recommendations. Role Active Director Appointed on 12 July 2012 . By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. The calendar adjusts to your time zone and will automatically update throughout the season, so you'll never miss a match! The noise weve heard at Vicarage Road in recent times has been relentless. Hes got a year left of his contract. How to get into football - the most popular sport in the world, with clubs and facilities throughout the UK. This account already exists. For me personally, its more trying to improve as a player by getting the experience that I need to get and hopefully go on to bigger things. Chalobah was recently called up by the England national team. "I've always said from day one that together we can achieve great things and it's not just rhetoric, it's the truth," he said. Watford chairman Scott Duxbury says at least six of the 20 English Premier League clubs are concerned about the plan to use neutral stadiums to finish the season. "There were other clubs they spoke to but none really had the history of Watford and quite frankly the potential. Duxbury explained: The Pozzos were quite clear that they wanted a London club because they saw that as a real attraction in terms of signing players and growing. A fresh take on sports: the biggest news and most entertaining lists. Our players and coaching staff have gone into the team hotel earlier than scheduled to take away all other distractions and ensure the sole focus hones in on delivering a performance that our supporters can be proud of this afternoon. Please report any comments that break our rules. We dont want that disruption when a coach leaves a football club., Those who take the seat in Watfords dugout understand their task is to work with the players they are given. They try to keep the identity of the club, so I think Watford fans should be really encouraged. Come to Watford, play regularly and make your name, then secure a big move. We wait until he gets his national qualifying games, and then he can come to us., I never fall in love with a player. well take a risk.. He ended up moving to West Ham and worked his way from legal advisor to chief executive, when he worked closely with Nani and Gianfranco Zola. in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, you can still find very, very good players who have the right attitude to play in Europe. Even so, the Watford way is not to be tampered with. . They employ scouts who watch players before the board convene every three months or so to be updated. The Pozzos have faced more serious allegations. One strategy is to use the loan market to their advantage. Data returned from the Piano 'meterActive/meterExpired' callback event. Well send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Life & Arts news every morning. They have bought Watford solely so it can become an established Premier League club. To find out what Watford do differently, I travelled to their training ground just off the northern edge of the M25 motorway, Londons ring road. Those regimes are motivated, at least in part, by marketing the brands of the owners. In the past, dictatorial managers such as Manchester Uniteds Sir Alex Ferguson or ArsenalsArsne Wenger, controlled most aspects of a clubs operations, including transfers. "There was moments where we weren't perhaps achieving what we thought we would do and people were turning against us, and the fans were turning against us, but we believed in what we were doing. For primary use with Football Manager 2021. One heavy defeat was all it took to suggest replacing Ben Foster, Watfords vastly experienced new goalkeeper, with Heaton, a highly rated recent England international. Everybody wins. And when I say cheap, in terms of transfer fee, it can be similar, but in terms of salary, [there is] a massive difference. But no club in the Pozzo family stable has been relegated for more than 20 years. Privacy Policy & Cookies, 2023 Training Ground Guru. Won 44 caps for Croatia and played for clubs including Everton and West Ham. The move to acquire clubs has given the Pozzos operation greater scale. That role only lasted five months, before Simm returned to Watford as first-team physio in October 2018. But what if Watford simply underpay their players relative to their true worth? Watford FC Chairman & CEO Scott Duxbury shares his thoughts ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Burnley. Also arrived with Muoz in December 2020, having worked with him at Dinamo Tbilisi. Sir Elton, a life-long fan who previously owned the club, reacted to the poor result as supporters often do; apportioning blame, calling for drastic changes. EVAN FERGUSON and Andy Moran both joined Brighton's Academy at the age of 16 from clubs in the League of Ireland. I promise you everyone is doing everything in their power to rectify this now and for the rest of the season. Their regular defence this season, for example, cost around 6million, with Kiko Femenia, Craig Cathcart and Adrian Mariappa all signed for free. But they also know most players found by scouts will not succeed. The clubs scouts had been tracking the player for months but believed he was beyond reach. . According to their recent accounts, the clubs net spend the difference between outlays on transfers minus fees received from selling players has been about 30m a season since re-entering the Premier League. . Scott Duxbury Nationality: English Qualified as a lawyer and worked in that capacity for West Ham before becoming their chief executive. They are not putting a time frame on that, but I am extremely confident it is just a matter of when, and not if. To receive exclusive content every month and other great benefits sign up to our monthly eNewsletter. Scott Duxbury sat down with the Watford Observer's Frank Smith this week. Improvements and developments must and will be made. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to Here he explains why - along with Ajax's Head of Sport Science and Data Vosse de Boode. As we chat, ravenous players filter in following a training session. It's about respecting our supporters and our club. Beneath them is best described as a scouting board, with eight or nine individuals based around the world. Two-thirds of those awarded a professional contract at the age of 18 abandon the sport by 21. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused. Compared with their rivals, the club do not tend to buy locally. Watford FC Chairman & CEO Scott Duxbury shares his thoughts ahead of this afternoon's Premier League clash with Leeds United. They leave the management to myself, Gian Luca and Gianfranco, but we know they are always there if we need help and support.. That is why he chose Watford. Instead, Watford appear to deploy a series of trading strategies that mean their recruitment choices are smarter and more bankable than their rivals: At 4.50pm on August9 2018, 10 minutes before the closure of the summer transfer window, a period in which players can be traded between clubs, Duxbury received a call. Yet few made the big time. To have great resources and for them not to bear fruit is bitterly disappointing. Place small sums into lots of high-risk ventures. contact IPSO here, 2001-2023. Worked for Tottenham for three-and-a-half years, latterly as Head of Academy Analysis, before joining Watford in June 2021. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. Its been discussed, its been accepted. Their greatest finds include Chilean striker Alexis Snchez, who has gone on to play for European superpowers such as Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United. Ultimately, the Premier League is where Duxbury and the rest of the Watford's hierarchy believe the club ought to be. WHEN Ansoumane Konde's dreams of becoming a pro ended, he found he had nothing to showcase his unique experiences in the game. Hopefully it won't be delayed & we can come back to business soon!Thank you so far for the trust & preference, especially those who became premium members! Of course, no one is perfect and Watford have made mistakes. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Between Udinese and Watford, the family own about 80 senior players, each representing a potential blockbuster transfer. Watford can now afford the price tags attached to better-known players. Role: Chairperson. However, in reality the head coach is naturally involved in discussions but the key is he is one cog of the mechanism not the entire engine. But judging ability is tricky. Joined club in November 2020, having been assistant at Deportivo Alavs in La Liga. Scott Duxbury has been with Watford since 2012, having previously worked at West Ham Watford's strategy has been to build a structure behind the scenes that they hope will help the. Theyll either be very successful and maybe go on to another bigger club or they wont work out and theyll move on. You can opt-out at any time by signing in to your account to manage your preferences. "I view it as a family," he said. The asking price for their preferred target went to a level we werent comfortable with. analyse how our Sites are used. Moving on? "The Pozzos are here for the long term and they just don't fail. Picture: Holly Cant. The close relationships with the local community in all its forms and the investment in club infrastructure will continue with purpose and enthusiasm. On Monday, Pozzo and Duxbury added: "Every club wants to be playing at the highest possible level. Watford chief executive Scott Duxbury (left) with technical director Filippo Giraldi In an office locked away from the hubbub is Gino Pozzo, Watford's owner. He aspires to scale greater heights, of course. The Pozzos may be the family with their name above the door but it will be former West Ham United duo Scott Duxbury and Gian Luca Nani who will be running the club on a daily basis. While the club has sought to extend invites to a broad church of the supporter base, everyone can have a voice whether representing a group or individually by contacting the Supporter Liaison Team via supporters@watfordfc.com. The club have 100 potential contracts already drawn up should the opportunity to sign a targeted player arise. Qualified as a lawyer and worked in that capacity for West Ham before becoming their chief executive. Arsenal 3-2 Watford: Hornets haven't been good enough this season - Deeney. But other variables, such as the ability to control a ball under pressure, are near impossible to assess empirically. We had the worldwide pandemic, we had no fans here. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Training Ground Guru Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) May 9, 2020 Watford, who are 17th in the league and only above the relegation zone on goal difference, beat runway leaders Liverpool in a shock victory at their Vicarage Road ground in February -- a result Duxbury says was influenced by . It's the biggest achievement in my career. Over the course of a decade, he held trials for five million children across Africa, Latin America and south-east Asia. The Pozzos have their own family wealth, he says. How the biggest companies plan mass lay-offs, The benefits of revealing neurodiversity in the workplace, Tim Peake: I do not see us having a problem getting to Mars, Michelle Yeoh: Finally we are being seen, Our ski trip made me question my life choices, Apocalypse then: lessons from history in tackling climate shocks, How data analysis helps football clubs make better signings. "And there weremoments where the family was a little bit against us. Earlier that day, Watford had lost 4-0 to English Premier League rivals Bournemouth on a dismal, drizzly day at their home ground of Vicarage Road. A larger scouting network is able to cover more ground. Most, however, are obsessive freelancers who travel thousands of miles a season, are paid little more than 40 pence a mile for petrol, and are sustained by a diet of bacon sandwiches. These are parts of our football club's daily life too seldom spoken about. In acknowledging the continuing uncertainties around households financial commitments, we believe to provide a discount of at least seven per cent shows our recognition of loyal support across this and many previous seasons. He is the managing director of Vitol, a Geneva-based oil trading company. Talk of buying Watford began around six months ago and negotiations started in March. "Watford have never built with a manger, you would not put a family photo on your desk or buy a house in the area. This year, Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported that tax officials in Italy and Spain were investigating the familys clubs, alleging a complex ownership structure including offshore companies helped to funnel revenues from Udinese and Granada away from local tax authorities, all to provide more funding to Watford. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. Joined in August 2020 from Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia, where he had worked since February 2019. Subscribe toFT Life on YouTube for the latest FT Weekend videos. Academic research suggests the best predictor of a teams league placing is its wage bill. He had been signed for 11m the year before and was sold with his replacement, Roberto Pereyra, already in place. For his 2018 bookThe Away Game, author Sebastian Abbot followed Spaniard Josep Colomer who, as a coach at Barcelona, nurtured a youthfulLionel Messi before the Argentine developed into the worlds best player. Some traits, such as speed and strength, are measurable. There will be more from the Hornets new chief executive in next weeks Watford Observer. All major decisions are made by a triumvirate of Pozzo, Duxbury and Giraldi. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations with other readers. Though there is a desire to develop other parts of Watfords business, from expanding their stadium and seeking sponsorship deals, the obsession is trading players. Editor's . It's surreal. Instead, the Pozzo model is akin to venture capital investing. "He has done it before. Since 2015, the clubs annual revenues have grown by more than 100m. Born on 1st March 1972. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please And only just. Analysis and opinion from our chief football writer. Others follow a similar method. You, our supporters, deserve more. Scott Duxbury, Watford FC Chairman, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Stake as our principal shirt sponsor ahead of the 2021/2022 season. Duxbury has spent most of his adult life involved in football after qualifying as a lawyer. Too often, if the football isnt successful, then the whole club is written off as being on the wrong path. The Pozzos are masters of regulatory arbitrage. Editors' Code of Practice. In the three seasons since promotion, Watford have secured 12 victories on one occasion and 11 wins in the other two. For now, then, on the back of several weeks without a home fixture, lets all come together and create something special this afternoon; something everyone can use as a catalyst for a very positive end to the season as we bid to retain Premier League status. If you look at the world in front of you, there is somewhere a better player than [the one] you are chasing., The same approach applies to managers. This is your chance to discuss club matters with senior club officials, as host Michael Kurn is joined by Scott Duxbury, CEO & Chairman, and Head Coach Vladi. If he leaves, he can be replaced and the whole system does not fall apart. Scott Duxbury, Chairman & CEO. The question ishow? Scott Duxbury in 2021. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. "There will be lessons learned and changes made but, from today, we move forward. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Calvin after shadowing people such as Mel Johnson, who spotted current international starsGareth Bale andRaheem Sterling as teenagers reckons scouts develop intuition that allows them to divine which players will make it to the top. Id take it as a point of failure, says Duxbury. Each email has a link to unsubscribe. Raffaele Riva resigned as executive chairman over the incident. Without being crude, in the morning when Im getting ready for the day ahead and Im maybe havingmy toilet break, Im texting Filippo, saying, Have you heard about this player?. In an office locked away from the hubbub is Gino Pozzo, Watfords owner. Coaches, they have a limited shelf life, says Duxbury. Watfords scouts are instructed to get to know a players agents, even his parents, to better understand their desires in advance of any transfer. To see staff profiles for other clubs, click here. Watford chief executive Scott Duxbury reveals that the Hornets will sign more new players during the January transfer window. Creative midfielder for Hajduk Split, Hapoel Tel Aviv and Austria Salzburg during an 18-year playing career. As well as various roles in the Spanish leagues, including three spells at Mlaga CF, has worked for FC Dnipro in the Ukranian Premier League and for the Panama national team. A row of small buildings contains offices, a canteen, a gym and changing facilities, with windows that look out on to a handful of carefully manicured pitches and the Hertfordshire hills in the distance. In 2009, Pozzo led the familys acquisition of Spanish club Granada (subsequently sold in 2016 to Chinese group Link International Sports for a reported 37m). But with less money to spend, Watford seek a different calculation: buying undervalued players. He has seen it at Udinese and he has seen it at Granada. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. They are footballs last romantics. Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to take Watford Football Club back to the Premier League, something we all believe we can achieve. Other organisations maintain a similar constellation of clubs. We are all focused on putting this right. Yet now, today, its not about a bid to retain status, or where we will finish in the league at the end of the season, its far more important than that. Increasingly, however, emerging English prospects, who can potentially earn higher salaries elsewhere, are also seeing the benefit. Duxbury has assumed a similar role at Watford to the one he held at West Ham, where he was criticised for his part in the Carlos Tevez affair. One of their former coaches, Manuel Sanchez, tells us why the sport is part of the football fabric there. "We have always said we are here for the long-term and we will not allow this one moment of great disappointment to stop the continued development of this club over the next eight years and beyond. Filter appointments . IMPORTANT NOTICEFINALLY, we have the new official winter patch! In his award-winning 2013 bookThe Nowhere Men, football writer Michael Calvin followed the lives of English talent spotters. Duxbury returned to England to head up a sports practice and it was then that he met Gino Pozzo. Players leaving doesnt concern me, he told talkSPORT. The likelihood is that any team that are consistently among the lowest spending in the division will eventually have a bad season. But once we make a plan, we share it. For now, at least, Watfords player trading strategy is working. atford chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury made a statement in a recent interview you would not expect from a Premier League club chief. The only place youll be able to find fresh content from throughout the club, including behind-the-scenes access at training, interviews with stars past and present and all the best action from each and every Watford FC Premier League game. We try to have independence between [Udinese and Watford], says Giraldi. The Watford hierarchy have said their "efforts surrounding the team were not good enough" following the Hornets' relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season. Scouts deliver their reports directly to the ruling trio rather than through other layers of management. PROFESSOR David Sumpter says Ajax are like a 'University of football' and are building an understanding of the game from the foundations up.