How the FCS fights for talent from abroad

FC Südtirol wants to establish itself in upscale professional football. Serie B offers the perfect opportunity to do this, as it has also made the club attractive to players from abroad. The White-Reds want to get off to a flying start, especially in the talent area. There has been intensive scouting in Austria in the last few weeks, and they have also found something in the east - including in AKA Burgenland. It is quite possible that the first talents from red-white-red academies in South Tyrol will try their luck in the summer. But other countries are also in the focus of the FCS talent hunters. S+ spoke to technical director Hannes Fink and asked him what goals the club is pursuing. Hannes Fink, as sports director Paolo Bravo's right-hand man, you also keep an eye on the FC Südtirol scouting department. How many employees are employed? “We currently have 4 scouts for the professional and Primavera teams. These people work for us and help find new players for these two teams.” How does the scouting of young talents who are given a professional opportunity work? “There are two big areas. One is the scouting of youth players from abroad, the other concerns the youth in South Tyrol and Trentino.” Let's start with the local youth... “We have now formed a partnership with almost all South Tyrolean amateur clubs. This is very important and has been intensively pursued since this season. This means we always get information about the best young players in our region, i.e. South Tyrol and Trentino. There is now a large database of players who could be interesting for FC Südtirol.” “External quality is good for the club, for the South Tyrolean players and the respective team.” Hannes Fink Let's say an amateur club has a talented young footballer. What happens then? “The partner clubs contact us and then scouting begins. We have staff who monitor players and games. If the player can convince the scouts, he will be assessed internally. If this assessment is positive, he will be invited to a trial training session. We will then discuss how to proceed again. Should the player switch to us immediately? Or does it make more sense if he stays with his hometown club for another year and we continue to monitor him? These are all criteria that we assess very carefully and that apply up to the U15 level.” What applies to the U17 and U19, i.e. the so-called Primavera team? “This is the area where we are already attractive to players from further away. This can affect abroad or the rest of Italy. From the U17 onwards it is interesting for us to bring in a few players. External quality is good for the club, for the South Tyrolean players and the respective team.” How does the FCS make itself interesting for foreign talent? “In the future we will be able to offer a home where the players can live. This is an important and necessary step. FC Südtirol now has a good name in German-speaking countries. We have built up a good network and maintain good relationships with large professional clubs. This means we are always offered interesting players.” Let's say the FCS gets an interesting name from Austria. What happens then? “Austria is extremely interesting for us. The training there is very good and there is a lot of talent. Young Austrian players often jump at the chance to play in Italian football. If we discover a talent, it is first observed via video and data collection. If the player is still interesting, he will be observed on site. The last step here is also a trial training session in South Tyrol.” “The path from Primavera to the professional team is not as long for us as it is for other clubs.” Hannes Fink In addition to Austria, which countries are being closely monitored? “Germany and Switzerland. In Germany, for example, there is only a 3rd league. Playing there is not easy for talented people. That's why many young players choose the path and go abroad to get to know something different. But Switzerland is also an interesting area for us. The scouts are given a weekly plan that they work through. So you specifically observe players and games.” Federico Pellegrino, a Canadian player who came from the 3rd league in Germany, is currently playing for the FCS juniors. What perspective does he have? “He was born in 2004 and presents himself very strongly. But there are always several factors to monitor. Pellegrino is bound to SC Freiburg for another year. So we have to see what happens next.” Why should a young player with professional ambitions choose FC Südtirol? “We want to be a stepping stone. The talents have noticed that the path from the Primavera to the professional team is not as long as at other clubs. That gives perspective. We have to intensify this path.”

Serie B Italy	SP	TV	P
1. Parma	34	59:32	70
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3. Venice	34	62:39	64
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How the FCS fights for talent from abroad

So far, FC Südtirol has mainly relied on Italian players – in the professional and youth teams. That should change in the future.

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