How to Build Your Football CV: A Player's Guide

Sat Aug 29 2026

Ever wondered why some players seem to get all the trial opportunities? Sometimes, it has less to do with their highlight reel and more to do with a simple, powerful document: their Football CV.

Think of your CV as your professional passport in the football world. Before a scout watches your video, before an agent replies to your email, they will almost always scan your CV. It’s their first filter. A bad one gets you deleted. A good one gets you a proper look.

This isn’t about fancy graphics or crazy fonts. It’s about presenting the right information in a clean, professional way that makes a coach or sporting director’s job easy. You need to show them, in 30 seconds or less, that you’re a serious player worth their time.

Why Your Football CV is Non-Negotiable

Let's be direct. If you're emailing clubs or agents without a CV attached, you're wasting your time. They get hundreds of messages a day. A message saying "I'm a good player, give me a trial" with no CV is an instant red flag. It shows a lack of professionalism and a misunderstanding of how the industry works.

Your CV provides a quick, factual summary of your career. It gives scouts the context they need to understand your journey, your level, and your potential.

For Youth Players: It shows your progression through different age groups and any academy experience.
For Semi-Pro Players: It details the leagues and clubs you’ve competed in, proving you can handle men's football.
For Players Seeking Agents: It’s the first document any reputable agent will ask for.

Key Sections for a Winning Football CV

Organize your CV into clear, simple sections. Don't make a scout hunt for information. Here’s the ideal structure.

1. Personal & Contact Information

This goes right at the top. Get it wrong, and it doesn’t matter how good the rest of your CV is. They won’t be able to contact you.

Full Name: As it appears on your passport.
Date of Birth: Day/Month/Year.
Nationality / Citizenship(s): This is critical for visa and registration rules. If you hold multiple passports (e.g., Nigerian and British), list them all. This can be a huge advantage, especially for playing in Europe.
Height (cm) & Weight (kg): Use metric units as they are the global standard in sports science.
Email Address: A professional one (e.g., firstname.lastname@email.com).
Phone Number: Include the country code (e.g., +44 for the UK).
Current Location: City and Country. This helps with trial logistics.

2. Playing Position(s)

Be specific. Don't just say "Midfielder." Are you a Defensive Midfielder (#6), a Box-to-Box Midfielder (#8), or an Attacking Midfielder (#10)?

List your primary position first, followed by any secondary positions you are genuinely accomplished in. For example:

Primary: Left-Back
Secondary: Left Winger, Left Centre-Back

Don't list more than three positions. It makes you look like a jack of all trades and a master of none.

3. Key Player Attributes (Bulleted List)

Under your positions, add a short, bulleted list of your best on-pitch qualities. This is your thirty-second elevator pitch. What makes you special? A scout should be able to glance at this and immediately understand your game.

Choose 5-6 key strengths. Examples include:

Excellent 1v1 defender
High work rate and stamina
Accurate long-range passing
Composed finisher
Leader and team organizer
Pace and ability to beat defenders

4. Playing History (Chronological Order)

This is the core of your CV. List your club history starting with your current or most recent club and working backward.

For each entry, include:

Season(s): e.g., "2023-2024"
Club Name: e.g., "Dagenham & Redbridge F.C."
League/Division: e.g., "National League (English 5th Tier)"
Appearances & Goals/Assists: e.g., "28 appearances, 4 goals, 7 assists"

If you were in a youth academy, list that too. Show your progression. If you had a season ruined by a major injury, it's okay to note it (e.g., "2021-2022 - AFC Wimbledon - League One - 5 appearances (Season ended in October due to ACL injury)"). Honesty is better than an unexplained gap.

5. Links to Your Highlights

Your CV is the map; your video is the territory. Include direct, clickable links. Don't make them search for your YouTube channel.

Highlight Video: A 3-5 minute, well-edited video showing your best moments.
Full Match Footage: A link to one or two full games. This is crucial for serious clubs who want to see your decision-making, positioning, and work rate over 90 minutes.
Transfermarkt Profile: If you have one, link it. It’s a sign of credibility.

What Not to Include in Your Football CV

A photo of you on a night out. Use a clear, professional headshot or an action shot from a match.
Your life story. Keep it to football-related facts.
Exaggerated stats or clubs you never played for. The football world is small. You will be found out, and your credibility will be gone forever.
Jargon or clichés. Don't write "I have a passion for the beautiful game." Show it with your playing history and attributes.
References. You can state "References available upon request" at the bottom, but don't list contact details for former coaches without their permission.

FAQ: Your Football CV Questions Answered

How long should my football CV be?

One page. That's it. No exceptions. A sporting director needs to be able to print it and see everything on a single sheet of A4 paper. If it’s longer than one page, you’ve included too much irrelevant information.

What format should I save my CV in?

Always save and send your CV as a PDF. It keeps the formatting clean and looks professional on any device. Name the file something clear, like "John-Smith-Football-CV-2024.pdf".

Should I include my agent's details on my CV?

If you have a signed, exclusive agreement with a FIFA-licensed agent, then yes. Add their name, agency, and contact information near the top. It shows you have professional representation. If you don't have an agent, just leave this out.

I don't have much experience. What do I put?

Everyone starts somewhere. Focus on what you do have. Include your youth clubs, your school team (if it played at a high level), any district or regional representative teams you made, and any individual training you’re doing. A short, honest CV is a thousand times better than a blank email.

Building a professional CV is a simple, powerful step toward your next contract. It shows you understand the business side of the game and respect the time of the people you're contacting. Once your CV is ready, you can start using it to connect with the thousands of opportunities listed on My Football Future, from trials and open contracts to agent contacts and academy openings.