First Team Opposition Analyst

First Team Opposition Analyst
Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English
Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972
and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet
Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One
in the 2023/24 season and is under the management of Head Coach John Eustace. The club
also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held
since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern
Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change
in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record
of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key
roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.
Derby County is seeking to recruit a First Team Opposition Analyst. The role will focus on
providing exceptional analysis and insight to support the First Team’s preparation and
performance. Working closely with the coaching staff, the analyst will identify trends, deliver
detailed reports and recommendations, and drive innovation to maximize the team's
effectiveness.
Key Responsibilities
• Play a key role in the department’s first team opposition analysis processes.
• Deliver high-quality insights to the coaching and analysis team, using telestration
tools and video analysis to support tactical planning and game plan creation.
• Take ownership of specific elements of the pre-match process, which may include:
o Coding or live scouting opposition fixtures.
o Creating and delivering presentations on upcoming opponents.
o Supporting on the creation of opposition reports.
• Attend and support the analysis department in live feedback at all first team fixtures.
• Contribute to the continuous development of analysis workflows, best practices, and
innovation within the department.
• Assist the wider performance analysis team with ad-hoc projects and analysis
requests under the direction of the Lead First Team Analyst.
Personal Characteristics
• Strong tactical understanding of the game.
• Highly detail-oriented and organised.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Capable of working under pressure and to quick turnaround times to match the
demands of the football season.
• Creative thinker with the ability to innovate and find new competitive advantages.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a strong work ethic and commitment to
continuous learning.
• Team player who thrives in a collaborative, high-performance environment.
• Naturally curious, with a desire to seek out answers and develop solutions
independently.
• Readiness to be flexible with working hours in line with first team schedule.
Experience and Skills
• 3+ years’ experience working within a first team environment in professional football
is essential.
• Strong proficiency with video analysis software (e.g., Sportscode, Angles,
MatchTracker, Wyscout) and video telestration software is essential (e.g. Tactic Pro,
Studio).
• Strong proficiency within Mac software to aid video presentation and report creation
(e.g. Keynote, Powerpoint).
• Holding an undergraduate and/or postgraduate degree in Performance Analysis or in
a Sports related subject is essential.
• Data Analysis, Visualisation and Programming experience (R, Python, Tableau, Power
BI) is desirable but not essential.
• Relevant coaching qualifications are desirable but not essential.
Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
The role is full-time, working 35 hours per week. Due to the demands of a professional football
environment, working evenings and weekends is required.
Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress.
Our core values are:
• We are proud of who we are and what we do
• We are positive, inspired and passionate
• We are ambitious and driven
• We are prepared, honest and humble
• We are the heartbeat of our community
• We are the club of opportunity
Derby County employee benefits include:
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks
for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community
Trust
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm
Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this
commitment.
As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.
Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.
To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE.
Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser.
More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers
The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 21 September 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early
Strictly no agencies please.
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