“I am extremely grateful to The FBA who made it possible and have been very reliable throughout this year. This experience has definitely been a steppingstone towards my career and one I will remember for years to come.”
Football has always been my passion from a very young age. I’ve always been determined to make an impact in the football industry but was never quite sure which department attracted me the most. After completing my studies in Marketing and Finance at HEC Montreal, I developed an interest in data analytics and worked at Nielsen as an analyst for 3 years. I was convinced that these tools were essential and in demand in the developing football industry.
When I felt ready to start my journey, The FBA opened its doors and I immediately took upon the challenge and never looked back. Thanks to The FBA, I found myself surrounded with people who shared the same passion, dream and determination as me with whom I’ve developed a great relationship with. Furthermore, I have been exposed and put in contact with people that I could only dream of meeting and could help kickstart my career in the next couple of months/years.
The year 2020 has been particularly difficult for most because of the pandemic that has altered everyone’s life. I consider myself one of the lucky ones because The FBA was able to find me an internship at Mazatlán FC and give me the chance to work as an analyst in the sports intelligence department. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to showcase my skills in a football club, especially in a city like Mazatlán with a perfect weather, phenomenal food and joyful team to work with.
Mazatlán FC is a newly promoted side, playing its first year in the 1st division of the Liga MX. With the staff fairly new, it was a challenge making the team competitive and resourceful. This meant that I was assigned interesting projects and felt like an integral part of the team.
Since the first day, I felt the trust and value that was given to me from my mentor. With my English-speaking background, I was assigned to make contact and later interact and negotiate with a service provider that would help the scouting department. Learning how to use the platform and determine its value to football clubs was an experience in itself and helped me better understand the language, needs and resourcefulness of football clubs.
I arrived near the end of the Apertura 2020. This was a crucial time for the club as they were getting a better sense of their identity, had hired a new coach and were getting ready for the Clausura 2021 season. This gave me a good platform to show my impact as I was assigned to present a review of the club’s first season and analyze which aspect needed improvement. I was also tasked to help the scouting department look for reinforcements in certain positions with some players destined to leave the following season. Lastly, I had the chance to watch two games in the stadium alongside the other analysts, with limited fans and felt the passion and excitement around the game of football.
In the end I absolutely enjoyed my time in Mexico. I was able to learn a lot and get a sense of what the everyday life of an analyst is like. More importantly, I made great connections and expanded my network and knowledge of the football industry. I am extremely grateful to The FBA who made it possible and have been very reliable throughout this year. This experience has definitely been a steppingstone towards my career and one I will remember for years to come.
Dimitri is a Candidate of The FBA’s Professional Master in Football Business 5th Edition. He can be contacted via LinkedIn.
