Your Football CV: Pro Guide to Getting Trials
'''Your football CV has one job: to get a coach, scout, or agent to watch your highlight video. That's it. It’s the first filter. If your CV is unprofessional, hard to read, or missing key information, you're making it easy for them to say no before they've even seen you play. Think about a scout at a club in the Swedish Ettanfotboll or a Spanish Tercera Federación side. They might get 50-100 player emails a day. Yours has about ten seconds to make an impression. A messy, confusing CV gets deleted. A sharp, professional one gets a click. This guide will show you how to build the kind of CV that gets that click. ## What is a Football CV and Why Do You Need One? A football CV (or player resume) is a one-page document summarising your career. It’s your professional passport. It provides a snapshot of your identity, physical attributes, playing history, and key achievements. You need one because it's the standard way to introduce yourself to a club, agent, or scout. Sending an email that just says "I'm a good player, give me a trial" won't work. You need to present your information in a structured, professional format that they can assess quickly. A good CV answers the club's initial questions: * Who is this player? (Name, age, nationality) * What position do they play? (Primary and secondary) * What's their physical profile? (Height, weight, preferred foot) * Where have they played before? (Club history, level) * Can I legally sign them? (Passport, visa status) * How can I see them play? (Highlight video link) ## What to Include in Your Football CV (The Essentials) Keep it to one page. No scout has time to read a novel about your life story. Here’s a breakdown of the essential sections, from top to bottom. ### 1. Personal and Contact Information This goes right at the top. It needs to be crystal clear. * Full Name: Your legal name. * Date of Birth & Age: (DD/MM/YYYY) and your current age. * Nationality / Passport(s): This is critical. If you have a European Union passport, state it clearly. It makes you a much more attractive option for clubs in Europe. List all passports you hold. * Height & Weight: Use both metric (cm/kg) and imperial (ft/in, lbs) to be safe. * Email Address: A professional one (e.g., firstname.lastname@email.com), not one from your school days. * Phone Number: Include the international dialling code (e.g., +44 for UK, +1 for USA). * Current Location: City and country. ### 2. Playing Position Self-awareness is key here. Be specific. * Primary Position: The one you are best at. Don't just say "Midfielder." Is it Defensive Midfielder (#6), Central Midfielder (#8), or Attacking Midfielder (#10)? * Secondary Position(s): Where else can you play comfortably? If you're a left-back who can also play as a left-winger, mention it. * Preferred Foot: Right, Left, or Both. ### 3. Key Attributes (Optional but Recommended) A short bulleted list of 3-5 of your best on-field qualities can be powerful. This helps paint a picture of your playing style. Examples for a Centre-Back: * Dominant in aerial duels * Strong 1v1 defender * Comfortable playing out from the back * Vocal organiser and leader ### 4. Highlight Video & Transfermarkt Links This is the most important part of the CV. Make the links clickable and easy to find. Don't bury them at the bottom. I recommend putting this section right after your personal info and position. * Highlight Video: The link to your 3-5 minute highlights on YouTube or Vimeo. Title the link clearly: "Clickable Highlight Video Link". * Transfermarkt Profile: If you have one, include the link. It adds legitimacy. * Full Match Footage: Optional, but if you have a full game recording, you can include a link. Label it "Full Match Footage (Optional)". ### 5. Playing History (In Reverse Chronological Order) This is your career timeline. Start with your most recent club and work backwards. For each club, provide: * Years: e.g., "2022-2024" * Club Name: Full name of the club. * League/Division: Be specific (e.g., "NPL Victoria," "Isthmian League Premier Division," "U18 English Schools' FA"). This tells the scout the level you