Alessio Cocollini, One of us scout, and the search for talent: “It would be good for a child to have played other sports before playing football, which train foot movement. Rather than patterns, little ones need to be taught to run…”
Alessio Cocollini, scout and head of the One of Us technical team, talks in 360 degrees about young people with the dream of becoming professionals. From today’s problems related to coordination to advice on how to become an athlete, starting from practicing other disciplines, including swimming, karate, judo and tennis. Up to the role of the scout and the evolution it has had over the years with the arrival of technology.
What are we looking for in today’s young people?
“Coordination. Today young people are not athletes. The problem arises in football schools that do not train coordination, postural and technique. The amateur kids who come to us have athletic deficiencies and this is a big flaw for me. We are looking for the intelligent player, not the one who scores from 50 meters or who discards everyone. The important thing is that he understands the game and makes the right choice in every situation, which could be winning a corner or a throw-in.”
What solution do you recommend?
“A child cannot start playing at the age of 5. It should start after doing other sports such as judo, karate, swimming, gymnastics or even tennis, where footwork is essential. There are those who are already predisposed to coordination since birth and those who, however, are clumsy and have to work on it. Then the technique can be improved even at 40 years old, coordination cannot. And you find it by starting with other disciplines. Football goes too fast. In the provincial categories you see kids who are technically good but when they move they look like robots. In professionals they choose them ready-made.”
Don’t you forget the technical aspect by doing this?
“It makes me laugh when I see 9-year-olds trying corner kick plays. They should become little athletes. Running technique is also important. Football evolves on both a technical and physical level. And if you teach a child to run, he struggles less, has greater resistance and guarantees better performance. I speak for those 8-9 years old. This is different in football schools, then in the youth sectors: we work more on explosiveness and the technical part.”
How has the figure of the scout changed in recent years?
“Technology has given a big hand but for me the field always has the last word rather than video. In person you have much more of a perception of the player. Sometimes he is chosen so superficially just because he has the competition behind him. It is essential to understand where he comes from, his family, how he mentally reacts to situations.”
Have algorithms overshadowed your role?
“I see that Atalanta uses them and brings benefits, Milan does the same but has a different result. I repeat, for me the field is the best judge. I can say that I don’t find it a solution to use algorithms to replace the figure of the scout. Also because maybe it helps you discover the player who is valid on a technical level but who struggles a lot in that environment.”
The RedBull group has built its success on a global scouting policy, identifying young talents in various continents and then developing them within their structure. Can it be an example for Italy?
“He has brought out some good talent, but I don’t see any great champions. We are always looking for something different which however complicates football, which for me remains very simple. I think the skill of the scout is to glimpse not only the talented player but also to bring him into a context suitable for him.”
A judgment on Flavio Morini, the latest winner of One of Us?
“We liked it from the beginning. Both in quality and attitude. I always try to see different aspects. I put the boy out of role to understand what reaction he has and how he can adapt. Or I don’t give him a clear foul to see if he gets up immediately to recover or if he stays down complaining. All these little things give the idea of who you are analyzing. We then create highlights that will be viewed by the companies participating in the contest.”
An unexpressed talent today?
“Leao has incredible potential. Athletically you can’t tell him anything, but he has major character limitations.”
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