How to Create a Football CV That Gets You Trials

Wed May 06 2026

An agent’s inbox gets hundreds of emails a day. A youth team scout might sift through dozens of player profiles before a weekend match. Most of them get a five-second glance before being deleted. Why? Because most football CVs are terrible. They are poorly formatted, miss key information, or are full of useless details. Yours won’t be.

A great CV is the single most important tool in your locker when you're looking for a club. It's your professional passport. It’s the difference between your highlight video being watched or ignored. It’s the first step to getting that trial, signing that contract, or finding that agent. Let's get it right.

Why Your Football CV is Your Most Important Tool

Think about it. Before a coach sees you play, before an agent watches your highlights, they see a piece of paper (or a PDF). That document has to do the heavy lifting. It has to convince them you're a serious player worthy of their time.

A good CV shows you're professional. It shows you understand the industry. It gives a clear, instant snapshot of your identity, your history, and your value. A bad CV gets you deleted. It's that simple. You could be the most talented player in your region, but if you present yourself poorly on paper, you’ve fallen at the first hurdle.

The Anatomy of a Professional Football CV

First rule: keep it to one page. Always. No exceptions. No director of football or busy agent has the time to read your life story. They want key facts, delivered instantly. Use a clean, simple, professional font. Save it and send it as a PDF, never a Word document or a Pages file, so the formatting doesn’t get messed up.

Here's the structure every great football CV follows.

Personal & Playing Details

This is the banner at the top of your CV. It’s the first thing they see and it needs to have all the essential information in one place. Don't make them hunt for it.

• Full Name: Your legal name.
• Date of Birth & Age: (e.g., 25/08/2004, 19 years old).
• Nationality / Passport(s): This is critical. List all passports you hold (e.g., Nigerian / British). EU eligibility is a massive factor for clubs in Europe.
• Height & Weight: Use cm/kg or feet/lbs, but be consistent.
• Position(s): Your primary position first, then any secondary ones (e.g., Centre-Back, Right-Back).
• Preferred Foot: Right, Left, or Both.

Contact Information & Links

Right below your personal details, make it easy for them to take the next step.

• Email: Use a professional-sounding address (e.g., Joe.Bloggs.Football@email.com, not coolguy2004@email.com).
• Phone Number: Include the full international code (e.g., +44 for the UK, +1 for the US).
• Highlight Video Link: A direct, clickable link to your YouTube or Vimeo highlights. Don’t just say "available on request".
• Transfermarkt Profile Link (if you have one): This adds instant credibility.

Playing History

This is the most important section. It’s your proof. List your experience in reverse chronological order, meaning your most recent club comes first. Be honest and accurate.

1. 2023-Present: Anytown FC, Non-League Premier Division (Step 3)
   • First Team (Semi-Professional Contract)
   • 32 Appearances, 5 Goals, 9 Assists
2. 2021-2023: Big Club FC Academy, U18 Professional Development League
   • U18 Scholar
   • 45 Appearances, 12 Goals (Captain during 2022-23 season)
3. 2019-2021: Youth Club Rovers, County Youth League U16
   • Youth Player

For each entry, you need the club name, the league they play in, the seasons you were there, and key stats. If it was a professional or semi-pro contract, state that. If you were a scholar, say so. Details matter.

Key Attributes & Strengths

This is a short, punchy section. Don't write a long paragraph. Use a bulleted list to highlight what makes you stand out in your position. A scout looking for a winger wants to see different things than one looking for a centre-half.

• Example for a Centre-Back:
  • Excellent aerial ability in both boxes
  • Comfortable playing out from the back
  • Strong 1v1 and recovery tackler
  • Vocal organiser and leader
• Example for a Winger:
  • High pace and ability to beat defenders
  • Accurate final-third crossing with both feet
  • High work rate and defensive tracking
  • Proven goal and assist recor.

Honours & Achievements

If you've won things, show it. This can be individual or team-based. Again, use a clean list.

• Non-League Premier Division Team of the Season (2023-24)
• U18 Professional Development League 2 Champions (2022-23)
• Represented Essex County FA U16s (2020.

Common CV Mistakes That Guarantee Rejection

• Lying: The football world is small. Don't lie about clubs, stats, or trials you've had. You will be found out, and your reputation will be ruined.
• Exceeding One Page: It shows you can't prioritise information.
• Spelling and Grammar Mistakes: It just looks lazy and unprofessional. Get someone to proofread it.
• A Bad Photo: Use a clear headshot in your training kit. No selfies, no blurry action shots, no pictures of you on a night out.
• Irrelevant Information: Nobody cares about your part-time job in a cafe or what grades you got in school (unless you're a youth player seeking a scholarship where education is part of the deal).

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What's the best format for a football CV?

A single-page PDF is the only professional standard. Create it in a program like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Canva, but always save and send it as a PDF to preserve the formatting. Name the file professionally, like "John-Doe-Football-CV-2024.pdf".

Should I include references on my football CV?

No, not directly on the CV. It takes up valuable space. Instead, have a list of credible references (like former coaches) ready to go. You can add a single line at the bottom of your CV that says, "References available upon request..

ow do I list academy experience on a CV?

Treat it like any other club in your Playing History. List the academy name, the specific age group team(s) you played for (e.g., U16, U18, U21), the league you competed in (e.g., Professional Development League), and the years you were there. Mention if you were a scholar, as this is a recognised status.

o I need to be a professional to have a CV?

Absolutely not. Every player needs one. Whether you are a youth player looking for your first academy trial or a semi-professional player aiming for a pro contract, your CV is your key to opening doors. It shows you are organised, professional, and serious about your career.

Once your CV is polished and professional, you need to get it in front of the right people. This is your master key, ready to be sent to clubs, agents, and scouts to unlock new opportunities. You can use the My Football Future platform to find live trials, contract offers, and agency vacancies where you can submit your new, professional CV and take the next step in your career.